RIP - Gary Sutherland

 

(I've skipped 13 deaths since July 1st, but this one was one of my hometown faves back in the day.) 

 

Gary Sutherland, a middle infielder for the Phillies, Expos, and Tigers, passed away on December 16, 2024 at age 80.

Pictured above is my first Gary Sutherland card, which I pulled from a pack in early-1968. As a young Phillies fan, besides the usual choices of Johnny Callison and Richie Allen, I also liked Sutherland - maybe because on this card he didn't look much older than I was at the time. (He was). 

 

Sutherland's rookie season was 1967, and he platooned at both shortstop and left field for much of that season. After riding the bench in '68, he was drafted by the expansion Expos and was their regular 2nd baseman in their first season. 

 

After 2 seasons as a part-time player, Gary was traded to the Astros, then made his way to the Tigers, where he regained a starting role in '74 and '75. Sutherland bounced around to the Brewers, Padres, and Cardinals at the end of his career. 

 

After his playing career, he worked in the Angels' front office.

 

Obituary 

  

RIP - Pete Rose

Pete Rose, the all-time Hit King, passed away on September 30, 2024 at age 83.

             

 

Rose had attended an autograph show the day prior to his death.

Some stats: 

1963 NL Rookie of the Year 

First "$100,000 singles hitter" 

17-time All-Star, and at 5 different positions 

3-time NL Batting Champ 

1973 NL MVP 

1975 World Series MVP 

3-time World Series champ 

2-time Gold Glove winner (surprisingly enough) 

Career .303 batting average

4,256 career hits 

 

After Rose was banned from baseball, he was initially still eligible for the Hall of Fame. Although not on that first ballot, many writers stated that they were going to write him in anyway (ostensibly giving the fans what they wanted). 

 

The spineless minions running the Hall of Fame quickly scurried about, changing the rules to make him ineligible for induction, rather than letting the voters decide, and having the chips fall where they may. 

 

The Baseball HOF is topped only by the Rock and Roll HOF in terms of shady eligibility and voting practices.

 

Cincinnati Enquirer obituary  

 

Philadelphia Inquirer obituary

 

MLB obituary 

 

Felix Mantilla is 90

 

Happy 90th birthday (7/29) to Felix Mantilla!

RIP - Orlando Cepeda

 

Orlando Cepeda, the 1967 National League MVP, passed away on June 27, 2024 at age 86.

Cepeda debuted with the Giants in 1958, and won the Rookie of the Year award. 

 

He led the league in homers and RBI in 1961, and was an All-Star for his first 7 seasons with the Giants. 

 

After missing much of 1965 with injuries, he was traded to the Cardinals during the following season, and went on to lead the Cardinals to the World Series in 1967, winning the MVP. 

 

(Can you imagine if the Giants had kept Cepeda, eventually giving them a lineup featuring Cepeda, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Bobby Bonds, and Jim Ray Hart?) 

 

Before the 1969 season he was traded to the Braves for Joe Torre, and 3 years later to the Athletics for Denny McLain. 

 

He also played for the Red Sox and Royals.  

 

New York Post obituary  

 

AP obituary