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 

 

Elroy Face is 95

 

How about some good news for a change? Yesterday was Elroy Face's 95th birthday!

Face pitched from 1953 to 1969, appearing in 802 games for the Pirates ('53-'68), 2 for the Tigers ('68), and 44 for the Expos ('69). 

 

Last week, I was at a local antique store, and in one showcase there were a lot of sports items, including 3 baseballs autographed (separately) by Face, Dick Hall, and Dick Groat. Coincidentally, they are each over 90 years old, and all played for the Pirates during their career. (I am not near Pittsburgh.) 

 

The Face ball was a steal at $25, while the other two were over $50, if I recall correctly. I just may go back and get that Elroy Face ball. He is currently the oldest living player who was still playing after 1966. 

  

RIP - Frank Thomas

 

Frank Thomas, a slugging outfielder for several teams in the 1950s and 1960s, passed away on January 16, 2023 at age 93.

Thomas made his debut with the Pirates in 1951, and was a regular member of their lineup from 1953 to 1958. Initially the center fielder, he moved to 3rd base upon the acquisition of Bill Virdon. 

 

After the 1958 season, he made several short stops for the remainder of his career: Reds (1959), Cubs ('60-'61), Braves ('61), Mets ('62-'64), Phillies ('64-'65), Astros ('65), Braves ('65), and Cubs ('66).

Pittsburgh Basebal Now obituary  

New York Times obituary 

 

RIP - Sal Bando

 

Sal Bando, the 3rd baseman for the championship Oakland Athletics' teams of the early-1970s, passed away on January 20, 2023 at age 78. Today would have been his 79th birthday.

Bando made his major-league debut with 11 games in September 1966, then played 47 games over 2 different stints with the team in 1967. 

 

When the team moved to Oakland in 1968, Bando became a fixture at the hot corner for the next 9 seasons, leading the league in games played with 162 in '68, '69, and '73, and 160 in 1975. He was also a 4-time All-Star ('69, '72, '73, '74), and played in the post season every year from 1971-75 (winning the World Series from 1972-74). 

 

After the 1976 season he signed with the Brewers as a free agent, and was their starting 3rd baseman for 3 seasons before becoming a part-time player in '80 and '81. 

 

After his playing career he worked for the Brewers as a scout until 1991, and as their GM from 1991-99.  

 

MLB obituary  

 

Fox News obituary 

  

RIP - Ted Savage

 

Ted Savage, a journeyman outfielder for several teams in the 1960s, passed away on January 15, 2023 at age 85.

Savage started 82 games as a rookie with the Phillies in 1962, sharing left field with Wes Covington. That was the high point of his career in terms of regular playing time. 

 

He also played for the Pirates, Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers, Reds, Brewers, and Royals, wrapping up his MLB career in 1971. He then played 2 seasons in Mexico before retiring. 

 

RIP Baseball obituary 

 

RIP - Bill Davis

 

Bill Davis, a former Indians' prospect (at least according to Topps), passed away on January 13, 2023 at age 80. 

 

Davis probably holds the record for most appearances on a Rookie Stars card. (He never did get his own card.)

He played 33 games for the Indians in '65 & '66, and 31 games for the Padres in 1969. Acquired by San Diego after the expansion draft, Davis was their opening day 1st baseman in 1969, but was soon replaced by Nate Colbert. 

 

In May '69 he was traded to the Cardinals, who flipped him to the Twins 2 months later. Davis never played for either team, not did he play in the minors after 1969. 

 

 Minnesota Star-Tribune obituary

    

RIP - Nate Colbert

 

Nate Colbert, the Padres' first slugger, passed away on January 5, 2023 at age 76.

 

Colbert came up in Cardinals' and Astros' organizations, then was taken by San Diego in the expansion draft. 

 

He was the Pads' everyday 1st baseman for their first 5 seasons, hitting 24, 38, 27, 38, and 22 homers those years. He also made the All-Star team in '71, '72, and '73.

 

In 1972, he hit 5 home runs in 1 day.

 

In 1974 the team acquired Willie McCovey, so Colbert split his time between 1B and LF. After the season he was traded to Detroit, and played his final 2 seasons with the Tigers, Expos, and Athletics. 

 

MLB obituary 

  

2022 Re-cap

 

 

1960s' baseball players who left us in 2022 (40% fewer than last year): 

 

And from outside the baseball world: 

Sidney Poitier
Peter Bogdanovich
Michael Lang (Woodstock organizer)
Bob Saget
Dwayne Hickman
Ronnie Spector
Yvette Mimieux
Meat Loaf
Louie Anderson
Howard Hesseman
Monica Vitti
Ivan Reitman
Gary Brooker (Procol Harum)
Sally Kellerman
Farrah Forke
Tim Considine
William Hurt
Madeleine Albright
Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters)
Estelle Harris (Seinfeld)
Bobby Rydell
Gilbert Gottfreid
Liz Sheridan (Seinfeld)
Robert Morse
David Birney
Naomi Judd
Fred Ward
Roger Angell
Ray Liotta
Bo Hopkins
Alec John Such (Bon Jovi)
Jim Seals (Seals and Crofts)
James Caan
Larry Storch
Ivana Trump
Bob Rafelson
Paul Sorvino
Tony Dow
Pat Carroll
Nichelle Nichols
Bill Russell
Vin Scully
Olivia Newton-John
Anne Heche
Mikhail Gorbachev
Bernard Shaw (CNN News)
Queen Elizabeth
Ramsey Lewis
Ken Starr
Henry Silva
Kitten Natividad
Coolio
Loretta Lynn
Judy Tenuta
Angela Lansbury
James McDivitt (Gemini/Apollo)
Jerry Lee Lewis
Robert Clary
Irene Cara
Christine McVie
Bob McGrath (Sesame Street)
Kirstie Alley
Pele
Barbara Walters
Anita Pointer

Also: Football deaths in 2022

   

RIP - Fred Valentine

 

Fred Valentine, an outfielder for the Senators from 1964-1968, passed away on December 26, 2022 at age 87.

Valentine debuted with a dozen games for the Orioles in September 1959. He didn't return to the Orioles until the 2nd half of 1963, making 16 pinch-hitting appearances along with a half-dozen or so starts in right field. 

 

Sold to the Senators after the 1963 season, He spent 2 years on their bench, before finally getting extended playing time in 1966 and 1967, sharing CF with Don Lock and RF with Jim King in '66, and Hank Allen (CF) and Cap Peterson (RF) in '67. 

 

With the arrival of rookie Del Unser in 1968, Valentine was mired behind Peterson and Ed Stroud in the right field mix, and by June was traded back to the Orioles for pitcher Bruce Howard.

 

Except for 12 consecutive starts in late-June, Fred rode the bench in his final months as a big-leaguer, stuck behind not only Frank Robinson and Paul Blair, but also Curt Blefary, Dan Buford, and rookies Curt Motten and Dave May. 

 

After playing all of 1969 for the O's AAA team, Valentine played in Japan in 1970 before retiring.  

 

MLB obituary  

 

MSN.com obituary