Felipe Montemayor died.
https://pittsburghbaseballnow.com/felip ... h-pirates/
Who was
Felipe Montemayor?
Felipe Ángel Montemayor, born on February 7, 1928, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, was a Mexican professional baseball player who made a brief but memorable mark in Major League Baseball. As an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he played 64 games across the 1953 and 1955 seasons. Montemayor’s MLB career, though limited, included two home runs in a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955, marking his highlight in the majors. However, his time with the Pirates was marked by struggles at the plate, batting .173 with 26 hits in 64 games.
Before his MLB stints, Montemayor had a notable career in the Cuban League with Cienfuegos, leading the league in triples and hitting two grand-slam home runs in consecutive games. He had been purchased by the Pirates from the Mexicali Eagles in 1951 after a strong performance in the Sunset League. After his brief time in the majors, Montemayor continued his career in the Mexican League, where he found more success, hitting .293 and earning a place in the Mexican baseball Hall of Fame in 1983.
Montemayor's professional career spanned 21 seasons, playing primarily in Mexico where he accumulated 133 home runs and a .250 career average in over 1,600 games. He retired from playing at age 40 and became a sportswriter in his hometown. Montemayor passed away on February 4, 2025, just a few days before his 97th birthday, leaving behind a legacy as one of the pioneering Mexican players in Major League Baseball.
Frank Saucier died.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/08/spor ... -dead.html
Who was
Frank Saucier?
Francis Field Saucier, also known as Frank, was an American professional baseball player who played as an outfielder for the St. Louis Browns during the 1951 season. Despite a promising career in the minor leagues, where he showcased his hitting talent with a .446 batting average in 1949 and a .343 average in 1950, Saucier’s major league career was brief. His 18-game stint with the Browns included only one hit in 14 at-bats, earning him a .071 batting average.
Saucier’s place in baseball history is most notably tied to a publicity stunt orchestrated by Browns’ owner Bill Veeck. On August 19, 1951, Saucier was replaced by Eddie Gaedel, the shortest player in baseball history, in a pinch-hitting appearance that garnered much attention. Despite the oddity of the moment, Saucier held no ill will toward Gaedel or the event. In fact, he had been playing with an injury and was relieved to exit the game and return to Texas, where he later worked in the oil industry and eventually became the vice president and director of the First Savings and Loan Association in Amarillo.
Saucier’s minor league career was marked by impressive achievements, including winning the 1950 Minor League Player of the Year award and leading the Big State League with a .446 average in 1949. He also served in the U.S. Navy during both World War II and the Korean War, making him one of the few major leaguers to have served in both conflicts.
Saucier’s post-baseball life included a degree in math and physics from Westminster College, and he was later honored with the naming of Frank Saucier Field at his alma mater. He passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 98 in Amarillo, Texas.
Art Schallock died.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/09/obit ... -dead.html
Who was
Art Schallock?
Arthur Lawrence Schallock, known as Art, was a professional baseball pitcher who played for the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles from 1951 to 1955. Born in 1924 in Mill Valley, California, Schallock had a strong early interest in sports and played baseball, tennis, and golf in high school. After serving as a radio operator in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he played semi-professional baseball before signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946. He spent several years in the Dodgers' minor league system before being traded to the Yankees in 1951. Schallock made his major league debut with the Yankees that same year, and he played a role in the team's success, including participating in the 1953 World Series. Though he appeared in 58 major league games, Schallock's time in the big leagues was limited, and after being picked up by the Orioles in 1955, he retired from baseball in 1957.
Post-retirement, Schallock worked as a sporting goods salesman and in public relations. He was married to Dona Bernard for 76 years, and they had two children and five grandchildren. Schallock became the oldest living former MLB player in 2022, a title he held until his death in 2025. He celebrated his 100th birthday in 2024, and during his final years, he remained in good health, living in a retirement community in Sonoma, California. Schallock passed away on March 6, 2025, at the age of 100.
