Some Obituaries of Recently Deceased Major Leaguers

[redsmetz]

Mel Parnell, Bosox winningest lefty pitcher, dies at age 89

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/sp...ref=obituaries

[Bob Borkowski]

I just wanted to add some names here which may or may not have been mentioned in other RedsZone threads.

If you are a younger baseball fan most of these names might be unfamiliar to you but if you are on the more mature side (like yours truly) quite a few of these guys bring back some kind of baseball memory.

The link is: http://www.thedeadballera.com/passings.html

Allie Clark

Jerry Lynch (former Red)

Ray Narleski

Dennis Bennett

Dave Philley

Tuny Andrews

Harry Wendelstedt (umpire)

Jay Ward

Don Mincher

Terry Mathews

Howie Nunn (former Red)

Gary Carter

Danny Clyburn Jr.

Bud Byerly (former Red)

Cliff Chambers

Andy Musser (broadcaster)

Marty Springstead (umpire)

Howie Koplitz

Randy Stein

Ted Beard

Rosman Garcia

Bud Bloomfield

Joe Lonnett

Greg Halman

Sonny Dixon

Nick Strincevich

Ben McCoy

--Time marches on--

[Bob Borkowski]

Bill 'Moose' Skowron - RIP

A slugger in Yankees 'Golden Era' of the 50s and early 60s.

The article gives the story of how he got his nickname...I had never heard this before.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/28/sp...ies-at-81.html

[George Anderson]

Originally Posted by Bob Borkowski

Bill 'Moose' Skowron - RIP

A slugger in Yankees 'Golden Era' of the 50s and early 60s.

The article gives the story of how he got his nickname...I had never heard this before.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/28/sp...ies-at-81.html

I saw him speak years ago and he was an absolute riot. I remember he said todays players are um pansy's compared to the players of his day. Of course a more colorful word than pansy was actually used.

[redsmetz]

I figured I'd post this here instead of starting it's own thread, but the Reds fan with the longest streak of Opening Day starts died this week at the age of 93. He started going to Opening Day when he was 16 and made every one until this year - 75 years straight. Here's a tip of the Reds cap to Paul Minnick, a big-league fan.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...ing-Day-record

[redsmetz]

Another non-major league player obit - just saw this over on the NY Times, one of the best players from the women's league passed away recently at the age of 85.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/02/sp...ref=obituaries

[redsmetz]

Just saw this today, from a few weeks ago. This is the Dodger who lost his spot to Jackie Robinson, Ed Stevens. Interesting read.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/sp...t-87.html?_r=1

[redsmetz]

Some will recall that my sister-in-law's uncle, Tommy Umphlett, played major league baseball breaking in for the Red Sox in 1953, replacing Dom DiMaggio in center field. He then was traded to the Senators, but didn't see the same success there. He spent many more years playing minor league baseball, as well as managing and scouting over the years.

http://www.roanoke-chowannewsherald....as-m-umphlett/

[RANDY IN INDY]

My son played baseball with Tom Umphlett's grandson, Christian, in Charlotte, NC, and I coached that team along with Mike Umphlett, Tom's son. They are wonderful people. I met Tom several times. Condolences to the family.

[redsmetz]

Originally Posted by RANDY IN INDY

My son played baseball with Tom Umphlett's grandson, Christian, in Charlotte, NC, and I coached that team along with Mike Umphlett, Tom's son. They are wonderful people. I met Tom several times. Condolences to the family.

I remember you saying that before, Randy. I'll have to pass that on to my sister-in-law. She was fairly sad. I think he was the only one of her mother's family that was still around, always a hard thing.

[RANDY IN INDY]

Talked to Mike for a while this morning. They were on their way to Virginia for the viewing and funeral. He was sad but holding up well. Mike is a good friend. In my prayers.

[redsmetz]

From a couple of days ago, this obituary for Eddie Yost, nicknamed "The Walking Man" for his propensity for taking walks. His career OBP was .394. As the obit notes, today he'd likely be the poster child for Moneyball baseball. Casey Stengal said every time he looked up "that feller was on base." Not to be confused with one-time Reds player Eddie Joost who died last year, but whose career overlapped with Yost. He was briefly a teammate of my sister-in-law's uncle during the couple of seasons he played for the Senators.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/sp...?smid=pl-share

[Tony Cloninger]

Champ Summers passed away. He was supposed to replace Driessen as the LH bat off the bench in 1977. Was part of a weak bench in 1977 and was Reds Minor League Player of the year in 1978. Reds had no room or use for his non-defensive ways and traded him to DET in 1979. Hit very well for them and took a lot of walks. I think lack of bench depth in 1978, along with a gas can bullpen.....prevented the Reds from winning the division that year.

[George Anderson]

This breaks my heart. Champ Summers was a boyhood idol of mine while playing for Indianapolis. In 1978 he was "Minor League Player of the Year" after hitting .368 with 34 HR's and 124 RBI's in 132 games. He just missed the Triple Crown that year by 2 percentage points on the batting title. He and Arthuro DeFreites terrorized the American Association in 1978. To bad for Champ he was 32 in 1978.

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...=Champ-Summers

Kinda crazy but I actually just used Summers name to create a "fake" email account for playoff tickets a few weeks ago.

[Tony Cloninger]

Originally Posted by George Anderson

This breaks my heart. Champ Summers was a boyhood idol of mine while playing for Indianapolis. In 1978 he was "Minor League Player of the Year" after hitting .368 with 34 HR's and 124 RBI's in 132 games. He just missed the Triple Crown that year by 2 percentage points on the batting title. He and Arthuro DeFreites terrorized the American Association in 1978. To bad for Champ he was 32 in 1978.

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...=Champ-Summers

Kinda crazy but I actually just used Summers name to create a "fake" email account for playoff tickets a few weeks ago.

Could NOT figure out why the Reds insisted on using Ken Henderson, who was hurt and very Miguel Cairo 2012 ineffective...while they had Champ down there....hitting.
Ken could play CF though and Dave Collins was not hitting either. They needed defense. Sounds familiar.