RIP - Dick Hughes

 

Dick Hughes, a pitcher for the NL Champion Cardinals in 1967 and 1968, passed away on May 6, 2026 at age 88.

Hughes played in the minors from 1958 to 1966, finally making his major-league debut in September 1966 at age 28. 

 

He joined the Cards' starting rotation in 1967 (starting 27 of his 37 games), and led the team with 16 wins (2 more than Steve Carlton), and was 2nd in strikeouts with 161 (7 behind Carlton). 

 

Hughes played in 25 games in 1968, although only making 5 starts. 

 

I've often wondered why Hughes (who didn't make the majors until age 28) only pitched 2 seasons, despite having great success in his rookie year. I recently learned that he had a rotator cuff injury in early 1968, and played through it because there was no corrective surgery at the time, essentially ending his career. 

   

RIP - Bob Skinner

 

Bob Skinner, an outfielder for the Pirates and others from 1954 to 1966, passed away on May 4, 2026 at age 94.

Skinner was signed by the Pirates in 1951 and spent that season in the low minors. 

 

After missing 2 seasons to military service, he returned in 1954 and appeared in 132 games for Pittsburgh, including 116 starts at 1st base. 

 

He was back in the minors for all of 1955, but returned to the big club for good in 1956. He played over 100 games in each of the next 2 seasons as a backup outfielder and first baseman.

 

Skinner was the Bucs' everyday left fielder from 1958 to 1962, making 2 All-Star teams during those 5 seasons, as well as batting over .300 twice.  

 

In May 1963 he was traded to the Reds, and in June 1964 to the Cardinals. He finished his career in 1966, but never started more than 46 games a season for the Reds or Cards. 

 

After managing the Phillies' AAA team in 1967 and part of 1968, he managed the Phillies for the 2nd half of 1968 and the first half of 1969. He later spent many seasons as a Pirates' and Braves' coach. 

    

RIP - Chris Krug

 

Chris Krug, a catcher for the Cubs in the mid-1960s, passed away on January 16, 2026 at age 86.

Krug played in the minors every season from 1958 to 1967.  

 

He played parts of 3 seasons in the majors: 1965 and 1966 with the Cubs, and 1969 with the expansion Padres. 

 

Krug started about 25% of the Cubs' games in his rookie season, while only appearing in 10 games in 1966. 

 

After spending 1967 with the Angels' AAA team, and 1968 out of baseball, he played 8 games for the Padres in 1969 before he was released in late-May, ending his career.

    

RIP - Ellie Rodriguez

 

Ellie Rodriguez, a catcher for the Royals, Brewers, and Angels, passed away on April 23, 2026 at age 79.

Rodriguez was signed by the Kansas City Athletics in 1964. After one season, he was acquired by the Yankees in the minor league draft. He made his major-league debut in 1968 with the Yankees, playing 9 games (mostly in May and June). 

 

He was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the expansion draft, and played there for 2 full seasons, although playing only about half the games each year. He was named to the 1969 All-Star team. 

 

After the 1970 season he was traded to the Brewers, and was their starting catcher in '71 and '72, while splitting the job with Darrell Porter in 1973. He also made his 2nd All-Star team in 1972. 

 

In October 1973, he was part of a 9-player trade with the Angels. He was with the Halos for 2 seasons, playing 140 games (125 starts) in '74 and 90 games (75 starts) in '75. 

 

His last major-league action was 36 games with the Dodgers in 1976. Rodriguez played for the Pirates' AAA team in 1977, and in Mexico from 1978-82.

    

RIP - Billy Bryan

 

Billy Bryan, a backup catcher for the Athletics and Yankees, passed away on April 9, 2026 at age 87.

Bryan played parts of 1961-63, and all of 1964-65 with the Kansas City Athletics. Mostly a backup, he started about half the games in 1965. 

 

In June 1966 he was traded to the Yankees along with pitcher Fred Talbot. He spent most of 1967 with the Yankees' AAA team. 

 

Bryan split the 1968 season between the Washington Senators and their AAA team. He ended his career with the Phillies' single-A team in 1970. 

     

RIP - Bob Duliba

 

Bob Duliba, who pitched for 4 teams in the 1960s, passed away on April 4, 2026 at age 91.

Duliba was signed by the Cardinals in 1953, and pitched 176 games (all in relief) for the Cardinals (1959-60, 1962), Angels (1963-64), Red Sox (1965), and Athletics (1967). He spent all of '61 and '66 in the minors.

 

His best season was 1964 with the Angels, posting career-highs in games (58), innings (72), saves (9), and wins (6). 

    

Jimmie Schaffer is 90

 

Happy 90th birthday (4/5) to Jimmie Schaffer!

RIP - Larry Stahl

 

Larry Stahl, an outfielder for the Athletics, Mets, and Padres from 1964-1973, passed away on March 17, 2026 at age 84.

Stahl made his major-league debut with the Kansas City Athletics in September 1964. 

 

He played for them through the 1966 season, then spent 2 years with the Mets. Despite playing in 119 games in 1966 (his career high) and 71 games in 1967, he did not have a card in the 1967 Topps set. 

 

Stahl was selected by the Padres in the expansion draft and played for them from 1969-72, and was a semi-regular in '71 and '72. In September 1972, Cubs' pitcher Milt Pappas was working on a perfect game when, after retiring 26 batters, he walked Stahl with 2 outs in the 9th inning. The next batter was retired, securing a no-hitter for Pappas but losing his perfect game. 

 

Stahl finished his career with the Reds in 1973. 

   

RIP - Doug Camilli

 

Doug Camilli, a backup catcher for the Dodgers and Senators from 1960-67, passed away on March 17, 2026 at age 89.

Camilli was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957, and made his MLB debut in September 1960. He played part of 1961 and all of 1962-64 with the Dodgers, backing up John Roseboro. 

 

He played for the Senators from 1965-67, splitting time behind the plate with Mike Brumley in '65, and backing up Paul Casanova in the other years. 

 

Camilli retired after the 1967 season, then was the Nats' bullpen coach for 2 seasons, and was later reactivated in September 1969 for a few games. 

 

He coached for the Red Sox from 1970-73, then managed and coached in their farm system until 1992.

   

RIP - Wayne Granger

 

Wayne Granger, who pitched for the Reds and 6 other teams from 1968-1976, passed away on February 25, 2026 at age 81.

Granger was one of the few players I didn't get to before I shut down my 1966-70 card blogs, so more details are here.

 

He was signed by the Cardinals in 1965, and played in their farm system from 1965 until he was called up in June 1968. After posting a 4-2 record as a reliever that season, he was traded (along with outfielder Bobby Tolan) to the Reds for outfielder Vada Pinson. 

 

Granger had his best years with Cincinnati. He led the NL with 90 appearances in 1969 and 70 appearances in 1971. His career-high 35 saves in 1970 was also best in the league. 

 

After the 1971 season he was traded to the Twins for pitcher Tom Hall. Granger spent 1 season with Minnesota, then was traded back to the Cardinals for outfielder Larry Hisle and pitcher John Cumberland. 

 

In his final 4 seasons, he played for the Cardinals, Yankees, White Sox, Astros, and Expos. 

 

Granger appeared in 451 games (all in relief) over his 9-year career. He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1982, the 2nd relief pitcher to be included.

                                  (There were no inductees from 1988-97)