RIP - Joe Pepitone

 

Joe Pepitone, a first baseman for the Yankees in the 1960s and several other teams in the 1970s, passed away on March 13, 2023 at age 82.

Pepitone played 1B for the Yankees from 1962-66, then switched positions with Mickey Mantle for the Mick's final 2 seasons. Following Mantle's retirement, Joe returned to first base in 1969. He won gold gloves in '65, '66, and '69. 

 

Pepitone played briefly for the Astros in 1970, before joining the Cubs in mid-season, replacing Ernie Banks. He finished up with the Braves in early 1973.

 

He coached for the Yankees in the 1980s.

 

New York Post obituary 

 

Associated Press obituary 

  

 

RIP - Jesus Alou

 

Jesus Alou, one of three Alou brothers to have played in the majors during the 1960s and 1970s, passed away on March 10, 2023 at age 80.

Alou made his major-league debut in September 1963 with the Giants. During 1 game that month, all 3 brothers played in the outfield at the same time. (A one-time-only occurrance, since some guy named Willie Mays also wanted playing time.) 

 

After a few years of the Giants shedding their excess veteran outfielders (including Orlando Cepeda and Jesus' brothers Felipe and Matty), Jay settled into a starting corner outfield job from 1965-67, and part of '68. 

 

He was selected by the Expos in the expansion draft, but was dealt to the Astros before the season as part of the Rusty Staub-for-Donn Clendenon trade. 

 

After 3 seasons as a starting outfielder for the Astros, he spent 1 1/2 seasons as a bench player, then bounced around to the Athletics, Mets, and the Mexican League. 

 

ABC 7 (San Francisco) obituary 

 

MLB obituary

  

RIP - Dan McGinn

 

Dan McGinn, a pitcher for the Montreal Expos during their first 3 seasons, passed away on March 1, 2023 at age 79.

McGinn made his major-league debut with 1 game for the Reds in September 1968, then was selected by Montreal in the expansion draft. 

 

He led the Expos' staff in games (74) and saves (6) during their inaugural season. He also hit the Expos' first home run. 

 

In 1970, French-Canadian Claude Raymond took over the closer's role. McGinn spent part of the 1971 season in the minors, then was traded to the Cubs 1 week before Opening Day 1972. That would be his last MLB season.  

 

Cooperstown in Canada obituary

 

RIP - Sandy Valdespino

 

Sandy Valdespino, a left fielder for the Twins and others, passed away on February 26, 2023 at age 84.

Valdespino played in the minor leagues from 1957 to 1974, and made his MLB debut with the Twins in 1965. By far, his most playing time came during his rookie year, when he appeared in 108 games (47 starts) and collected a career-high 22 RBI. 

 

After 2 more seasons with the Twins, he bounced around to the Braves, Astros, Pilots, Brewers, and Royals for the final 4 seasons of his MLB career. 1965 and 1967 were the only 2 seasons he didn't spend time in the minors. 

 

He also played in Mexico from 1973-74.

 

Minnesota Star-Tribune obituary  

 

TwinsDaily obituary 

 

RIP - Dave Nicholson

 

Dave Nicholson, an outfielder for the White Sox and others from 1960-67, passed away on February 25, 2023 at age 85.

Nicholson played for the Orioles in 1960 and 1962, then was included in the January 1963 Luis Aparicio-for-Hoyt Wilhelm trade with the White Sox. 

 

Dave's only season as a full-time regular was 1963, having over 500 at-bats while starting 121 games in left field. He had a part-time role with the Sox for the next 2 seasons, then was traded to the Astros, where he played 100 games (71 starts) in 1966, mostly as a corner outfielder. 

 

After 1 year he was traded to the Braves, but only played 10 games for them in 1967, all in September and October. His last MLB game was on 10/1/67. Still, he had baseball cards in the 1967 and 1969 sets. 

 

He played in AAA-ball for the Braves and Royals in his final 2 seasons. 

 

South Side Sox obituary 

   

Seasoned Veterans

 

Here are the 9 oldest living players who saw action after the 1965 season. They are all over age 90, with Roy Face leading the pack at 95. 

 

Many of them retired after the 1966 or 1967 season, but Willie Mays played through the 1973 season (including the World Series).

How old are these guys? 

- Willie Mays played in the Negro Leagues in 1948. 

- Ray Herbert and Vern Law made their MLB debut in 1950. 

- Al Worthington and Willie Mays played for the New York Giants. 

- Dick Groat played NBA basketball with the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1952. 

 

RIP - Roman Mejias

 

Roman Mejias, an outfielder for the Pirates, Colt .45s, and Red Sox, passed away on February 22, 2023 at age 97.

Mejias made his debut with the Pirates in April 1955. With Roberto Clemente, Bill Virdon, and Bob Skinner starting most games in the outfield, Mejias was a backup outfielder from 1955-59 (when not in the minors). He did play quite a bit in 1959, due to Clemente missing 52 games. 

 

After spending almost all of 1960-61 in the minors, he was selected by the Houston Colt .45s in the October 1961 expansion draft. Mejias was the Colts' starting right fielder for 137 games in 1962. 

 

After just one season, he was traded to the Red Sox for infielder Pete Runnels. He started about half the games in 1963 (mostly in center field), but only a handful of games in 1964. 

 

Mejias wrapped up his career with a season in triple-A ('65) and 1 year in Japan ('66). 

 

Career review at RetroSimba.com  

 

Obituary

  

RIP - Albie Pearson

 

Albie Pearson, an outfielder for the Angels and others from 1958 to 1966, passed away on February 22, 2023 at age 88.

Pearson was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1958. (This seems inconceivable now. In 146 games, he had 3 homers, and only 33 RBI, with a .275 batting average. Ok, he was the center fielder, so maybe he was a defensive whiz.) 

 

The following May, he was dealt to the Orioles for outfielder Lenny Green. Pearson spent most of 1959-60 in the minors, only playing 80 (in 1959) and 48 (in 1960) games for the O's. 

 

He was selected by the Angels in the expansion draft in the Fall of 1960, and was one of their starting outfielders in their first 5 seasons. A back injury during Spring Training in 1966 limited him to only 2 games that season (both in mid-July), after which he was released. 

 

Pearson became an ordained minister in 1972.  

 

MLB obituary  

 

AngelsWin.com 

   

RIP - Tim McCarver

 

Tim McCarver, a catcher for the Cardinals, Phillies, and others from 1959-80, passed away on February 16, 2023 at age 81.

McCarver played a few dozen games for the Cardinals from 1959-61, then returned to the majors in 1963 as the Cardinals' regular catcher, a job he would hold through the 1969 season. Along the way, he appeared in 3 World Series ('64, '67, '68), winning the first two. 

 

After the 1969 season, he was included in the Dick Allen for Curt Flood trade. McCarver played for the Philles for 2 1/2 seasons, including the first half of Steve Carlton's 27-win season. 

 

Beginning in June 1972, he bounced from the Phillies to the Expos, back to the Cardinals, and to the Red Sox. 

 

When Boston released him in June 1975 he signed on with the Phillies, and was one of their two backup catchers until the end of the 1979 season, normally starting every game that Steve Carlton pitched. He also played in the NLCS from 1976-78.  

 

ESPN obituary

  

RIP - Ron Tompkins

 

Ron Tompkins, who pitched briefly for the Athletics and Cubs, passed away on February 3, 2023, at age 78.

(Alas, that's not really Ron's rookie card)

 

Tompkins appeared in 5 games for the Kansas City Athletics in September 1965, then returned to the minors until pitching 35 games in relief for the Cubs in 1971. In between those 2 seasons, he spent time in the Reds', Braves', Royals', Braves' (again), and Brewers' organizations. 

 

He pitched in the minors from 1962 to 1973, except for his full season with the Cubs in 1971.

 

RIP Baseball obituary

  

RIP - Ron Campbell

 

Ron Campbell, a utility infielder for the Cubs from 1964-66, passed away on February 2, 2023 at age 82.

Campbell played parts of 3 seasons with the Cubs, appearing in only 52 games from 1964-66. (With Glenn Beckert, Don Kessinger, and Ron Santo as the starters, and a host of other infield backups, there wasn't much for Campbell to do.)  

 

RIP Baseball obituary 

  

RIP - Gary Peters

 

Gary Peters, one of the White Sox' top starting pitchers in the 1960s, passed away on January 26, 2023 at age 85.

Peters made brief appearances for the Sox from 1959-62, then won the AL Rookie of the Year award in 1963, after posting a 19-8 record and leading the league with a 2.33 ERA. His 1.98 ERA in 1966 was also tops in the league, as was his 20 wins in 1964. 

 

Peters was in Chicago's rotation through the 1969 season, then was traded to the Red Sox in a headscratcher (Peters and veteran catcher Don Pavletich for journeymen Syd O'Brien and Gerry Janeski). 

 

He finished his career with 3 seasons in Boston (the last one spent in the bullpen).  

 

Chicago Sun-Times obituary  

 

NBC Sports obituary