Friday, April 18, 2025

RIP - Tommie Reynolds

 
Tommie Reynolds, an outfielder for the Athletics and Mets in the 1960s, passed away on March 15, 2025 at age 83.
Reynolds played for the Kansas City Athletics from 1963-65. 
 
After spending all of 1966 in the minors, he played for the Mets in 1967. 
 
After another full season in the minors, Reynolds returned to the A's in 1969, and saw the most playing time of his career that season. 
 
He spent the next 2 seasons with the Angels, then wrapped up his major-league career with the Brewers in 1972. He played for Milwaukee's AAA team from 1973-77. 
 
Reynolds later coached for the Athletics from 1989-95.  
 
   
 

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

RIP - Eddie Fisher

 
Eddie Fisher, a knuckleballer for several teams in the 1960s, passed away on February 17, 2025 at age 88.
Fisher pitched for 15 seasons with the Giants (1959-61), White Sox (1962-66), Orioles (1966-67), Indians (1968), Angels (1969-72), White Sox again (1972-73), and Cardinals (1973). 
 
He appeared in 690 games, all but 63 in relief. He rarely started games except in 1962-63, and 1973.
 
Fisher led the AL in appearances in 1965 and 1966. 
 
He never pitched in the post-season. (His Orioles won the World Series in 1966, but they only used 3 starters and 1 reliever during their 4-game sweep of the Dodgers.) 
 
 
 
    

Monday, April 14, 2025

RIP - Don Secrist

 
Don Secrist, a White Sox pitching prospect in the late 1960s, passed away on January 30, 2025 at age 80.
Secrist pitched in the minors from 1963 to 1971. A lefthander, he was primarily a reliever but started 40% of his games in the minors with the Orioles ('63), Reds ('64-'68), White Sox ('69-'70), and Cubs ('71). 
 
After the 1968 season, the Reds traded him (along with catcher Don Pavletich) to the White Sox for pitcher Jack Fisher. Secrist was strictly used in relief during his two stints in the majors with the White Sox in 1969 (19 games) and 1970 (9 games). 
 
  

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

RIP - Jeff Torborg

 
Jeff Torborg, a backup catcher for the Dodgers and Angels, passed away on January 19, 2025 at age 83.
Torborg played for the Dodgers from 1964-70, backing up John Roseboro for 4 seasons, then Tom Haller for 3 seasons. 
 
Acquired by the Angels during Spring Training in 1971, Torborg was part of the Halos' catching carousel for 3 seasons: 
      1971: John Stephenson (74 starts), Gerry Moses (47), Jeff Torborg (30) 
      1972: Art Kusnyer (54), Torborg (54), Stephenson (37) 
      1973: Torborg (95), Stephenson (32), Kusnyer (19) 
 
Torborg was traded to the Cardinals after the 1973 season, but released in Spring Training. 
 
Later, he managed the Indians (1977-79), White Sox (1989-91), Mets (1992-93), Expos (2001), and Marlins (2002-03). 
 
He was also a broadcaster from 1994-2000, and 2004-06.