Baseball Passings 2021

[G-Fafif]

George Vass, whose byline was a staple of Baseball Digest, 93.



https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/chicagotribune/name/george-vass-obituary?n=george-vass&pid=197385023&fhid=15392&fbclid=IwAR3pMpQGTWy00kiV09B_moCfEwbxx3rlPoyWNwtC79CNWsLI92NJhysGBzohttps://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/chicagotribune/name/george-vass-obituary?n=george-vass&pid=197385023&fhid=15392&fbclid=IwAR3pMpQGTWy00kiV09B_moCfEwbxx3rlPoyWNwtC79CNWsLI92NJhysGBzo

[MFS62]

Before we get all misty, the Dick Smith who passed away was not the Dick Smith who played for the early Mets.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithdi01.shtmlhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithdi01.shtml



But, RIP.

Later

[G-Fafif]

Before we get all misty, the Dick Smith who passed away was not the Dick Smith who played for the early Mets. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithdi01.shtmlhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithdi01.shtml But, RIP. Later

The Mets' Dick Smith died in 2012, though because no obituary appeared, the baseball community didn't learn of his passing until 2015.

[G-Fafif]

Mike Sadek, 74, the Giants' version of Ron Hodges — their backup catcher for nearly a decade. Worked in the SF organization for a long time thereafter.



https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2021/01/21/mike-sadek-former-giants-catcher-dies-at-74-after-illness/https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2021/01/21/mike-sadek-former-giants-catcher-dies-at-74-after-illness/

[G-Fafif]

Ron Samford, 90, infielder on the 1954 world champion Giants. With his passing, only 12 New York Giants remain among us..

[Benjamin Grimm]

Huh! I wonder... How many Brooklyn Dodgers are left? Boston Braves? Philadelphia Athletics? St. Louis Browns?

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Huh! I wonder... How many Brooklyn Dodgers are left? Boston Braves? Philadelphia Athletics? St. Louis Browns?

14 Brooklyn Dodgers

1 Boston Brave

5 Philadelphia Athletics

6 St. Louis Browns



https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Category:Listshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Category:Lists

[Benjamin Grimm]

That last Boston Brave is Del Crandall, whose 91st birthday will be in March.



https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/26/26-162Fr.jpg>



https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Baseball/8666/8666-497046Fr.jpg>

[MFS62]

I had a Del Crandall model catcher's mitt.

Later

[MFS62]

Pitcher Paul Foytack - 90

He was on that 1961 Tiger team that won 101 games, but unfortunately came in second to the MFY powerhouse.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/foytapa01.shtmlhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/foytapa01.shtml

He passed away Jan 23rd.

RIP

Later

[Frayed Knot]

C&C (Cash & Colavito) (172) knocked in more runs than (M&M) Mantle & Maris (169) that year (1961) and

when Al Kaline [324/393/525] is your third best offensive player, you've got yourself a pretty good team.

[Edgy MD]

This begs the question (it really doesn't) of who the Mets' top similarly initialed RBI pair was.



My first guess off the top of my head is M&M 1978, with Mazzilli (61) and Montanez (96) for a total of 157.



Any others guesses? Brogna and Bonilla? Hundley and Huskey?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Frayed Knot wrote: C&C (Cash & Colavito) (172) knocked in more runs than (M&M) Mantle & Maris (169) that year (1961) and when Al Kaline [324/393/525] is your third best offensive player, you've got yourself a pretty good team.

269 for the M&M boys -- 141 (Maris) and 128.

272 for C&C.

[Chad ochoseis]

Edgy MD wrote: This begs the question (it really doesn't) of who the Mets' top similarly initialed RBI pair was. My first guess off the top of my head is M&M 1978, with Mazzilli (61) and Montanez (96) for a total of 157. Any others guesses? Brogna and Bonilla? Hundley and Huskey?

2000 Piazza (113) and Payton (62) probably win. I'd forgotten about Payton and was going with Piazza and Perez. But Piazza + any random P is a good bet.

[Edgy MD]

That's 175. Killer. Hundley (112) and Huskey (60) 1996 give us 172. In the neighborhood but just one house short.



Anybody else?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Top of the pops!

1991 Johnson - 117; Jefferies - 62 (179)



Kinda close, but no cigar:



1999 Olerud - 96; Ordonez - 60 (Ordonez!) (156)

1990 McReynolds - 82; Magadan - 72 (154)

[MFS62]

Mel Antonen -64 former MLB reporter:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2021/01/31/former-usa-today-mlb-reporter-mel-antonen-dies-64/4331940001/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2021/01/31/former-usa-today-mlb-reporter-mel-antonen-dies-64/4331940001/

I used to read his work in USA Today.



Later

[G-Fafif]

Longtime reliever and 1979 world champion Grant Jackson, 78, per his Pirate teammate Omar Moreno.

[Edgy MD]

Who didn't love that 1979 veteran Bucs bullpen? Bibby doing the long work, Romo getting the righties, Jackson getting the lefties, and Teke closing the games.

[G-Fafif]

Wayne Terwilliger, who had been the oldest surviving New York Giant, 95 (leaving the living NYG roster at 11). The man managed past the age of 80.



https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article248910134.htmlhttps://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article248910134.html

[MFS62]

=G-Fafif post_id=55368 time=1612364997 user_id=55]
Wayne Terwilliger, who had been the oldest surviving New York Giant, 95 (leaving the living NYG roster at 11). The man managed past the age of 80.

[MFS62]

Hy Cohen, who went to Brooklyn College and then pitched seven games for the Cubs - 90

He passed away yesterday. (Saw his obit on Facebook, Baseball-reference hasn't been updated yet)

Olavai Shalom.



Later

[G-Fafif]

Pedro Gomez, who covered baseball for ESPN, 58.



https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2021/02/remembering-espn-sportscenter-reporter-pedro-gomez/https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2021/02/remembering-espn-sportscenter-reporter-pedro-gomez/

[G-Fafif]

Billy C.

[Edgy MD]

Man, I feel like we've been documenting a whole lotta death these days.



If I recall correctly, Billy became something of a big karate guy following his early retirement.

[G-Fafif]

Angel Mangual, member of the A's dynasty of 1972-1974, 74.

[Edgy MD]

Had the stache to prove it.



https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CtzV4uIVMAA0iS5.jpg>

[MFS62]

Lew Krausse 77 Pitched in majors for 12 years, known best for the A's.

Later

[G-Fafif]

Juan Pizarro, two-time All-Star, 18-season veteran and 131-game winner Juan Pizarro, 84.

[Edgy MD]

Nine tours of duty with eight organizations, and his name appropriately sounded like that of a global explorer.