RIP - Larry Christenson

 

Stretching the era of this blog, but... 

 

Larry Christenson, a member of the Phillies' starting rotation from 1973 to 1983, passed away on August 28, 2026 at age 72.

Christenson played for 11 seasons, and all with the Phillies. He is one of less than a half-dozen players to have played at least 10 seasons, and only for the Phillies. (Comment below if you want to know the others.) 

 

He was the Phillies' 1st pick (3rd overall) in the 1972 draft, one day after his high school graduation. Christenson played A-ball that season, and made his major-league debut with the Phillies the following April, with a 7-1 complete game victory over the Mets. At age 19, he was the youngest player in the majors. 

 

Larry split the '73 and '74 seasons between the Phillies and their AAA team, then made the majors for good in 1975. 

 

He was a part of the rotation that, depending on the season, included Jim Lonborg, Jim Kaat, Dick Ruthven, Randy Lerch, and Bob Walk, all obviously slotted behind Steve Carlton. 

 

In 1977 he won a career-high 19 games, and struck out a career-high 145 in 1982. 

 

He was troubled by injuries in his last few seasons, and was released after the 1983 season, after missing most of the year following elbow surgery.

   

RIP - Gil Blanco

 

Gil Blanco, who pitched briefly for the Yankees and Athletics in the mid-1960s, passed away on July 9, 2026 at age 80.

Blanco played in the minors every season from 1964 to 1971, mostly for the Yankees and Athletics. 

 

His only major-league action was 17 games for the Yankees in 1965, and 11 games for the Kansas City Athletics in 1966. 

 

In mid-1966, the Yankees included him in the Roger Repoz for Fred Talbot trade. He finished his pro career with the Astros, Expos, and Oakland A's from 1969-71. 

    

RIP - Tommy John

 

Tommy John, who pitched for 6 teams over his 26-year career, passed away on August 15, 2026 at age 83.

John began his career with the Indians in September 1963. He also pitched for the tribe in 1964. 

 

After the season, he was part of a 3-team 8-player trade that landed him with the White Sox. John was a key member of the Sox' rotation for the next 7 seasons. In 1968 he fashioned a 1.98 ERA and was named to his first All-Star team, but it seemed like he could never get out of Gary Peters' and Joel Horlen's shadows. 

 

Following the 1971 season he was traded to the Dodgers for Dick Allen. He played for Los Angeles for 6 seasons, while also missing the 1975 season after having Tommy John surgery. In 1977 he won 20 games for the first time, and finished a distant 2nd to Steve Carlton for the Cy Young award. 

 

John was granted free agency after the 1978 season, and signed with the Yankees. He pitched there for the better part of 4 seasons, winning 20 games twice along with two more All-Star games.

 

He was traded to the Angels in late-August 1982, and pitched there until he was released in June 1985. The Athletics picked him up for the rest of the season. John did not have the success with the Angels and A's that he found with his other 3 teams. 

 

Granted free agency once again after the 1985 season, he returned to the Yankees for his final 4 seasons, until they released him in May 1989. 

 

John appeared in 760 games over 26 seasons, making 700 starts and compiling a 288-231 record while striking out 2245 batters. 

   

RIP - Derrell Griffith

 

Derrell Griffith, an outfielder and 3rd baseman for the Dodgers in the mid-1960s, passed away on June 25, 2026 at age 82.

Griffith played parts of every season from 1963 to 1966 with the Dodgers, with most of his playing time coming in 1964. 

 

In the 1966/67 off-season he was traded twice: to the Mets with Tommy Davis for Ron Hunt and Jim Hickman, then to the Astros for Sandy Alomar. In mid-1967, he was traded to the Braves in the Wade Blasingame for Claude Raymond deal. 

 

With all that traveling, he never played again in the majors after 1966. 

     

Julian Javier is 90

 

Happy 90th birthday (8/9) to Julian Javier!

Jerry McNertney is 90

 

 Happy 90th birthday (8/7) to Jerry McNertney!

RIP - Hector Valle

 

Hector Valle, a backup catcher for the Dodgers in 1965, passed away on July 11, 2026 at age 85.

Valle played minor-league ball from 1960 to 1971, for the Dodgers ('60-'67), Mets ('68), Tigers ('69-71), and Royals ('71). 

 

He also played in Mexico from 1972 to 1981. 

 

His only big-league action was 9 games for the Dodgers in 1965 (mostly in June). 

   

 

RIP - Ron Hunt

 

Ron Hunt, a 2nd baseman for the Mets, Dodgers, Giants, and Expos, passed away on July 15, 2026 at age 85.

RIP - Phil Regan

 

Phil Regan, who pitched for the Tigers, Dodgers, and Cubs from 1960 to 1972, passed away on July 8, 2026 at age 89.

Regan made his major-league debut in July 1960, with the Tigers. He was a starting pitcher for Detroit for the next 5 1/2 years. 

 

In December 1965 he was traded to the Dodgers for Dick Tracewski. (Hmm... I always thought it was for pitcher Johnny Podres. But what a steal for the Dodgers - getting a quality relief pitcher in exchange for a light-hitting utility infielder!) 

 

Upon arriving in LA, Regan was converted to a reliever, which he would do for the rest of his career. He led the league in saves in 1966, and made his only All-Star team. 

 

Regan pitched for the Dodgers for a little more than 2 seasons, but I always identify him as a Dodger, since that's where he was when I collected my first baseball cards (1967). 

 

In late-April 1968, he and Jim Hickman were traded to the Cubs for Ted Savage and a minor-league pitcher. Regan led the league in saves again in 1968. He pitched out of the Cubs' bullpen for 4 1/2 seasons, then was sold to the White Sox in June 1972. 

 

A month later he was released by the Sox, ending his 13-year career. 

 

After his playing career, Regan was a college baseball coach from 1973-86, and from 1987-2020 he coached or scouted for the Mariners, Dodgers, Indians, Cubs, and Mets. 

 

He also managed the Orioles in 1995, and was the pitching coach for the US Olympic team in 2000. 

    

RIP - Alan Closter

 

Alan Closter, who pitched briefly for the Yankees in the early 1970s, passed away on June 12, 2026 at age 82.

Closter played for the US national baseball team in the 1964 Summer Olympics. He pitched in the minors every season from 1965 to 1975, mostly for the Yankees. 

 

He made his major-league debut in April 1966, pitching 1/3 of an inning for the Senators. Then it was back to the bushes until 1971. 

 

Closter pitched 14 games for the Yankees in 1971, and 2 games for them in June 1972. His only other major-league action was 4 games for the Braves in September 1973. 

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