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) 

      

RIP - Gary Wagner

 

Gary Wagner, a relief pitcher for the Phillies in the late-1960s, passed away on March 11, 2026 at age 85.

Wagner debuted with the Phillies in 1965. That was his career year, and he did so well that the Phillies traded their bullpen ace Jack Baldschun at the end of the season. 

 

Wagner spent most of 1966-67 in the minors, but returned to pitch a full season for the Phils in 1968, picking up 8 saves. 

 

He spent most of 1969 back in the minors, and was traded to the Red Sox in the final weeks of the season. His final MLB season was 1970 with Boston. 

 

The obituary below was obviously created with AI, with its "summary" at the end. WTF? Can't a news service write a decent obituary any more? Lazy Newsweek shows "a photo of a Red Sox cap and glove on a bench". I realize some players were obscure enough to not have lots of photos taken of them, but at least they could get off their ass and search online for a baseball card!  

 

Bridgeport (IL) Today obituary

   

Galen Cisco is 90

 

Happy 90th birthday (3/7) to Galen Cisco!

Don Schwall is 90

 

Happy 90th birthday (3/2) to Don Schwall!

RIP - Bill Mazeroski

 

The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost a second all-time great in one week.  

 

Bill Mazeroski, the Bucs' long-time 2nd baseman, passed away on February 20, 2026 at age 89. His death came 8 days after the passing of pitcher Elroy Face.

Maz was the Pirates' regular 2nd baseman from July 1956 through July 1970. He alternated with Dave Cash for the rest of  '70 and '71, then wrapped up his career in 1972. 

 

Between 1958 and 1967, he made 10 All-Star teams and collected 8 Gold Glove awards, but he is most remembered for his exploits in the 1960 World Series vs. the Yankees. Maz hit .320 with 2 doubles and 2 homers, including the first Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history. He also played in the post-season from 1970-72. 

 

TribLIVE (Pittsburgh) obituary 

 

 MLB obituary 

    

RIP - Joe Nossek

 

Joe Nossek, an outfielder for the Twins and Athletics, passed away on February 12, 2026 at age 85.

 

Nossek played for the Twins from 1964-66. In May 1966 he was sold to the Athletics, and started 54 games in center field for KC that season.

 

With the arrival of rookie Rick Monday in 1967, Nossek's playing time was cut back. After spending all of 1968 and part of 1969 in the minors, the A's traded him to the Cardinals midway through the 1969 season.

 

With St. Louis, he played part of '69 and most of '70 in the minors.

 

Nossek finished his career in 1971, playing for the Brewers' AA team.

 

He later coached for the Brewers, Twins, Indians, Royals, and White Sox from 1973 to 2003.

 

Twins Daily obituary  

 

Obituary