RIP - Bob Allen

 

Bob Allen, an Indians' reliever in the 1960s, passed away on December 12, 2023 at age 86.

Allen pitched in the Indians' farm system from 1956-60, and made his debut with the Indians in April 1961. 

 

He was with the Tribe for all of '61 and '63, and part of 1962. After 2 seasons in the minors, he returned to Cleveland for the 1966 and 1967 seasons. His final MLB appearance was in September 1967. 

 

He pitched 5 more seasons in the minors for 3 organizations (Indians, Angels, Padres), then retired in 1972.

 

Obituary 

   

RIP - Ken MacKenzie

 

Ken MacKenzie, a relief pitcher who played for the Mets and others from 1960 to 1965, passed away on December 14, 2023 at age 89.

MacKenzie was signed by the Milwaukee Braves in 1956, and made his major-league debut with them in May 1960 (at age 26). After a few token games with the Braves in '60 and '61, Ken was acquired by the fledgling Mets in October 1961.

 

He appeared in 42 games for the expansion Mets in 1962 (all but 1 in relief).  His 5-4 record was the only winning record among the 17 pitchers the Mets used that year.

 

After 34 relief appearances in 1963, he was traded to the Cardinals in early-August. Two days after the end of the regular season, he was flipped to the Giants for catcher Jimmie Coker.

 

MacKenzie spent most of 1964 in triple-A, but played 10 games for the Giants in late-May and early-June.

 

After the 1964 season he was purchased by the Houston Colt .45s.  He pitched 21 games for the Astros until he was sent down to triple-A  in early August.

 

Ken retired after the 1965 season, and coached baseball at his alma mater Yale from 1969-1979.

 

Daily Mail obituary 

 

RIP - Vic Davalillo

 

Vic Davalillo, who began his career in the 1960s as the Indians' center fielder, and ended it in the 1980s as the Dodgers' superb pinch-hitter, passed away on December 6, 2023 at age 84.

Davalillo played in the Reds' farm system from 1958-61, then was traded to the Indians after the 1961 season. He debuted with the Tribe in April 1963, and was their regular center fielder from 1963-65. He finished 3rd in AL batting in 1965. 

 

He platooned with others in center field for the next 2 seasons, then moved over to right field in 1968 until his mid-season trade to the Angels, spelling the end of his status as a full-time player. 

 

During the 1969 season, Davalillo was traded to the Cardinals, and then to the Pirates in '71 and A's in '73. 

 

After Oakland released him following the 1974 season, he spent 2 1/2 years in the Mexican League. 

 

In August 1977 the Dodgers came calling, and he joined them as a pinch-hitter for the next 2+ seasons. Although he was released after the 1979 season, the Dodgers re-signed him for the 2nd half of 1980.

 

Davalillo played in the Venezuelan Winter League through the 1987 season (at age 48).  

 

Yardbarker.com obituary  

 

True Blue LA obituary 

  

RIP - Dennis Higgins

 

Dennis Higgins, a pitcher for 4 teams from 1966-72, passed away on November 3, 2023 at age 84.

Higgins pitched 2 seasons each for the White Sox, Senators, and Cardinals. He also pitched 1 season for the Indians. Over his career, he appeared in 241 games, all but 2 in relief. 

 

Some fans may remember that between February and August 1968, the White Sox and Senators traded Ron Hansen for Tim Cullen twice. Higgins was included in that first trade. 

 

He was a cousin of the White Sox' 2002-2008 third baseman Joe Crede. 

 

Jefferson City (MO) News Tribune obituary 

 

RIP - Dick Drago

 

Dick Drago, one of the original starting pitchers for the Kansas City Royals beginning in 1969, passed away on November 2, 2023 at age 78.

Drago made his major-league debut with the Royals at the start of the 1969 season, and pitched 5 years for them. By 1971, he was the team's ace. 

 

He also pitched for the Red Sox in 2 stints totaling 5 seasons, 1 1/2 years with the Angels and a half-season with the Orioles, and then finished his career in 1981 with the Mariners. 

 

At first a starter, he converted to relieving in his 2nd year with the Red Sox. In 1976, Drago surrendered Hank Aaron's 755th and final home run.  

 

Boston.com obituary 

 

Kansas City Royals twitter 

 

RIP - Frank Howard

 

Frank Howard, a/k/a The Capital Punisher, passed away on October 30, 2023 at age 87.

Howard was one on the top sluggers of the 1960s. The 1960 Rookie of the Year with the Dodgers, he was traded to the Senators before the 1965 season. 

 

He led the AL with 44 homers in both 1968 and 1970. He also hit 48 homers in 1969, second behind Harmon Killebrew's 49. Howard also led the AL with 126 RBI in 1970. 

 

He made the AL All-star team every year from 1968 to 1971. 

 

Howard retired after playing for the Tigers in 1973 and in Japan in 1974. 

 

After his playing career, he coached for the Brewers from 1977-80 and 1984–86, Mets (1982-84 and 1994–96), Mariners (1987–88), Yankees (1989, 1991–93), and Devil Rays (1998–99).  He also managed the Padres in 1981 and the Mets in 1983. Since 2000 he worked for the Yankees. 

 

MLB.com obituary  

 

Washington Post obituary 

  

RIP - Rob Gardner

 

Rob Gardner, who pitched for six teams over eight seasons, passed away on October 21, 2023 at age 78.

Gardner began his career with the Mets in 1965, then moved on to the Cubs, Indians, Yankees, Athletics, Yankees again, then wrapped up with the Brewers in 1973. 

 

He was primarily a reliever, although he started half his games in 1966 (his most playing time) and 1972 (his best season). 

 

After his playing career, he became a fireman and a paramedic.  

 

New York Post obituary  

 

Obituary 

 

RIP - Wayne Comer

 

Wayne Comer, an outfielder for the Tigers, Pilots, and Senators, passed away on October 4, 2023 at age 79.

Comer may be best known as Jim Bouton's nemesis in the book "Ball Four". 

 

Debuting with the Tigers in September 1967, Comer played most of the 1968 season with the eventual World Champions. 

 

He was selected by the Seattle Pilots in the expansion draft, and was a regular outfielder that first year, splitting his time between center and right fields. 

 

He moved on to the Senators in mid-May 1970, but was only a spare outfielder for the Nats.

 

Comer returned to the Tigers' organization in 1971, spending 3 years in their farm system and playing a few dozen games for Detroit in 1972. 

 

He retired after playing for the Phillies' AAA team in 1974. 

 

Comer was a high school baseball coach for the last 20+ years of his life. 

 

Detroit News obituary

   

RIP - Casey Cox

 

Casey Cox, a pitcher for the Washington Senators in the late 1960s and early 1970s, passed away on October 2, 2023 at age 82.

Cox made his debut with the Senators in April 1966, and was with the team until late-1972, although he spent part of 1967 and most of 1968 back in the minors. 

 

He was primarily a relief pitcher, but was in their starting rotation for all of 1970. 

 

Cox also played for the Yankees from September 1972 until his release in mid-April 1973.  

 

Casey Cox' SABR page 

   

RIP - Joe Christopher

 

Joe Christopher, an outfielder for the Pirates, Mets, and Red Sox, passed away on October 3, 2023 at age 87.

Christopher split the '59 and '60 seasons between the Pirates and their AAA team, then spent all of 1961 as the Pirates' 4th outfielder (primarily starting 1/3 of the games in left field). 

 

After the 1961 season he was selected by the Mets in the expansion draft and was one of their top 4 outfielders for the next 4 seasons, including their everyday right fielder in 1964. 

 

Following the 1965 season he was traded to the Red Sox for shortstop Ed Bressoud, then midway through 1966 he was sent to the Tigers (with pitcher Earl Wilson) for outfielder Don Demeter. He didn't play for Detroit, and spent the next 2 1/2 seasons in the minors before retiring. 

 

New York Times obituary  

 

New York Post obituary 

    

RIP - Danny Morris

 

Danny Morris, a pitcher for the Twins in the 1960s, passed away on September 23, 2023 at age 77.

Morris pitched in the Twins' organization from 1964 to 1972, but only played in the majors for 3 games in 1968 and 3 games in 1969. 

 

He won 16 games in the minors in 1965 and again in 1968. 

 

Obituary 

 

RIP - Brooks Robinson

 

Brooks Robinson, the greatest-ever American League 3rd baseman, passed away on September 26, 2023 at age 86.

Robinson played 23 seasons (all for the Orioles) from 1955-1977, and was the team's starting 3rd baseman from April 1958 to May 1976, although he spent some time in the minors during 1959. 

 

Brooks was an 18-time All-Star and a 16-time Gold Glove award winner. He also won the AL MVP in 1964, the World Series MVP in 1970, and the All-Star Game MVP in 1966. 

 

He is 2nd on the All-Time Orioles list for games, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, and RBI (all behind Cal Ripken), and 4th in home runs.

 

Robinson retired after the 1977 season, and began broadcasting Orioles' games, through 1993.  He also worked with the players' alumni association, and owned several minor-league teams. 

 

WBAL-TV (Baltimore) obituary   

 

New York Times obituary  

 

ESPN obituary