Is Bill Sudakis dead?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I haven't found any independent corroboration, but a UMDB visitor is reporting that Bill Sudakis has died:

Thomas Masters September 21, 2021 Bill Sudakis passed away this week from Alzheimer's in Southern California. He was 75. His wife Sharla Jensen notified me as me and “Suds” were very good friends until he started having this medical issue. He passed Wednesday Sept. 15, 2021. He spent most of his later years in the greater Palm Springs - Palm Desert areas.,

Sudakis appeared in 18 games with the Mets in 1972.



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[stevejrogers]

I see a publicly posted Facebook posting announcing his, as a former Dodger) passing from last week from someone who knew him through a coach.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That trivia question on the back of the 1972 card has me perplexed.



WHAT TEAM LED AL IN OP'S IN 1956?



The graphic shows multiple baseballs landing in a fielder's glove. Could OP'S actually be PO'S (putouts)? No, because there's no way that a team would only have 213 putouts in a season. Outfield putouts? 213 would be slightly more than one per game, so that's not likely either. And it's not the modern-day OPS either. And I can't read the name of the team that's in upside-down answer. It looks like it's the CAMTS. I'm not familiar with a team called the Camts. (Maybe the Washington NFL team will consider calling themselves the Camts?) The AL teams in 1956 were the Yankees, Indians, White Sox, Red Sox, Tigers, Orioles, Twins, Athletics. And what kind of obscure question is this anyway? What team lead the American League in OP's in 1956??? Sixteen years earlier? I have NO idea which team led the American League in OP's in 2005. I don't even know what OP's are!

[G-Fafif]

From Facebook on September 16:

We lost one of the good guys today. Bill Sudakis former MLB Dodger. His passion was mentoring young baseball players and managing/coaching baseball. I will miss his smile, positive attitude and great sense of humor. He was also a great dancer! My song to him is ‘The Dance' by Garth Brooks!! There will be a celebration of life at a later date. Thanks to everyone who supported us and helped me during the last 6 years of his Dementia 🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️ For those that don't know, Nick & I were introduced to Bill by my good friend Coach Denny Henderson . We had moved to the Desert & Denny thought Bill would be a good coach for Nick. Bill was Nick's hitting coach from the age of 14....thru college & into pro ball, about 17 years. He was always there....he even coached Bow-Kay Esparza . She gave him a run for his $$$. From Sharla Jensen

[MFS62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: That trivia question on the back of the 1972 card has me perplexed. WHAT TEAM LED AL IN OP'S IN 1956? The graphic shows multiple baseballs landing in a fielder's glove. Could OP'S actually be PO'S (putouts)? No, because there's no way that a team would only have 213 putouts in a season. Outfield putouts? 213 would be slightly more than one per game, so that's not likely either. And it's not the modern-day OPS either.

I'm guessing it is DPs (double plays) and the ink ran on the old porous card. 213 Sounds a little high, but reasonable.

As for the team. - ???

Later



OE: According to baseball-reference. the MFYs had 214 DPs in 1956. (Maybe there was a scoring change?). No other major league team recorded over 200 that year.

[G-Fafif]

The cartoon ballplayer is catching two baseballs, Topps' graphic language for a DP — or double play.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

That 73 baseball card was one of my first -- didn't know who he was though, he was an exMet by the time I got it

[G-Fafif]