Bob Lillis is 95

 

Happy 95th birthday (6/2) to Bob Lillis!

RIP - Rich Rollins

 

Rich Rollins, the Twins 3rd baseman in the 1960s, passed away on May 13, 2025 at age 87.

Rollins played for the Twins from 1961-68, and was their everyday 3rd baseman from 1962-64. 

 

With Harmon Killebrew moving in from left field in 1965, and splitting his time between 1B and 3B, Rollins only played about half the games at 3rd base from 1965-68.

 

He was selected by the Seattle Pilots in the 1968 post-season expansion draft, and started 44 games at 3rd base during the first half of the season. 

 

He didn't play during the second half of 1969, and was released by the Brewers in May 1970. Rollins finished up that season (and his career) with the Indians.  

 

Sports Illustrated obituary  

 

Newsweek obituary 

    

RIP - Frank Johnson

 

Frank Johnson, a bench player for the late-1960s' Giants, passed away on May 7, 2025 at age 82.

Johnson played in the Giants' farm system every season from 1961 to 1975, except for 1968 (with the Giants all season) and 1972 (played in Japan). 

 

He was with the parent club for parts of 1966-71. He played in 67 games while with the Giants for all of 1968 (starting 30 games at 3rd base), but his best season was 1970, when he hit .273 with 31 RBI over 67 games, while making 36 starts in the outfield and at 1st base. 

 

I couldn't find an obituary for him, only a Wikipedia reference and this.

   

RIP - Nate Oliver

 

Nate Oliver, a utility infielder for the Dodgers, passed away on April 5, 2025 at age 84.

Oliver played in the Dodgers' farm system from 1959-1967, and with the Dodgers for parts of 1963-67 (and all of 1966). 

 

He was traded to the Giants in 1968 in the Tom Haller-for-Ron Hunt deal. 

 

After one season in 'Frisco, he split the 1969 season between the Yankees and Cubs, then played in the minors for 1970-71.  

 

Dodger Insider obituary  

 

Sports Illustrated obituary