RIP - Al Luplow

Seems like there's been a flurry of passings in the 2nd half of December for the past few years.... :( 

1960s' outfielder Al Luplow passed away on December 28, 2017 at age 78.

Luplow played from 1961 to 1967 for the Indians, Mets, and Pirates. Most of his action came in 1962-63 with the Indians, and in 1966 with the Mets.

He retired following the 1967 season, split between the Mets and Pirates.

Saginaw, MI obituary
 

RIP - Jerry Kindall

Former Cubs, Indians, and Twins 2nd baseman Jerry Kindall passed away on December 24, 2017 at age 82.

Kindall played from 1956 to 1965, but was a regular only during the 1962 (Indians) and 1965 (Twins) seasons.

Kindall made his debut with the Cubs in July 1956, playing sparingly with the Cubs for 2 seasons as a bonus baby. He played parts of 1958-60 with the Cubs, but spent most of that time in the minors.

After playing for the Cubs in 1961, he spent 2 seasons with the Indians, and was their everyday 2nd baseman in 1962.

Kindall wrapped up his career with the Twins from 1964 to 1965. Although he was the teams' regular 2nd baseman for most of the '65 season, Frank Quilici took over at 2nd base in mid-September, including the World Series. Kindall did not appear in the post-season.

After his playing career, he was the head baseball coach at the University of Arizona for 24 years, winning 3 College World Series titles.

Chicago tribune obituary

Baseball America obituary
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RIP - Frank Lary

Frank Lary, one of the mainstays of the Tigers' starting rotation in the late 1950s and early 1960s, passed away on December 13, 2017 at age 87.

Lary pitched for the Tigers from 1954 to 1964, and had 7 solid seasons (1955-61) in their starting rotation. He won more than 20 games twice, and was a 2-time All-Star. Lary also led the AL 3 times in complete games.

From mid-1964 to mid-1965 he was traded 3 times - to the Braves, Mets, and White Sox. He retired after the 1965 season.

Detroit News obituary

Tuscaloosa (AL) News obituary


Coincidentally, another sports figure passed on the same day:

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RIP - Manny Jimenez

Early-1960s' Kansas City Athletics' outfielder Manny Jimenez passed away on December 11, 2017 at age 79.

Jimenez started 121 games for the Athletics as a rookie in 1962, batting .301 with 11 homers and 69 RBI, and was named to the Topps All-Rookie team.

The following year he came back to Earth, splitting the season between KC and their triple-A squad. Manny played all of '64 with the A's in a backup role.

After playing all of 1965 in the minors, he was up and down for the next 4 seasons, only playing a handful of games with Athletics, Pirates, and Cubs between 1966 and 1969.

YouTube obituary
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RIP - Tracy Stallard

Tracy Stallard passed away on December 7, 2017 at age 80.

Stallard pitched for the Red Sox (1960-62), Mets (1963-64) and Cardinals (1965-66), and is most famously remembered as the pitcher who gave up Roger Maris' 61st home run on the final day of the 1961 season.

Although Stallard played in the majors for 7 seasons, he spent most of the '60 and '62 seasons in the minors. He played his final big-league game in July 1966. Stallard played in the minors for the remainder of the 1966 season, and also in '67 and '69 before closing out his career with 4 seasons in Mexico.

New York Times obituary

NY Newsday obituary

Bristol (VA) Herald Courier obituary
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