Some Obituaries of Recently Deceased Major Leaguers Part Two

[Ky Fried Redleg]

It was a somewhat unusual decade, as each of the four divisions had one team that was dominant much of the decade and another team that almost as good, and each division producing a world champion. The AL East had the Yankees, who won three pennants and two World Series in the 70s, and the Orioles who also won three pennants with one World Series win [the 1969-71 Orioles were a great, great team]. The AL West had the hated A's, winners of three division titles, three pennants and three World Series, before they collapsed with the onset of free agency, and the Royals who won three straight divisional titles. The NL East had the Pirates, whom we've already discussed, and then the Phillies, who, like the Royals, won three straight division crowns but never made the World Series in the 70s [Both the Royals and the Phillies won two league titles and a World Series in the 80s]. Finally the NL West had the Reds, but also the Dodgers, who won three pennants but had to wait until 1981 for a World Series win. The 1975-76 Reds were the greatest team of the 1970s, but the 1970-71 Orioles were so close, and the Pirates and A's were also very good.

TRUTH!!!

[Big Klu]

4/8/2022: Former Giants OF Carl Boles; age 87.



https://www.swarkansasnews.com/2022/...-boles-may-28/

[KeefeCato]

TRUTH!!!

I didn't mean to clutter up this thread with my Pirate 2B men comment. I will say one last thing. The 70s Reds were lucky they won 2 WS. In 72 Reggie Jackson was injured and they still couldn't beat Oakland. In 75 Jim Rice was injured and Boston took them to the brink. In 76 the Phillies were ever bit as good as the Reds. I think the Reds had postseason experience that helped them tremendously in 76 playoffs. I think the Phillies would have also beat the 76 Yankees.
Reason I say the Reds were lucky to win twice in the 70s. Is what you were saying. There were so many great teams in that decade.
I have always thought had the BRM came along 10 years later that they would have been even more dominant in the 80s. I think they would have won at least 3 and possibly as many as 6 titles in the 80s. The 80s had no dominant 10 year runs from anyone really.

[Big Klu]

The 2022 club signs another right-handed hitting OF for organizational depth.

Transactions:
Signed OF Carl Boles, and optioned him to AAA.


Lineup (8)
C John Ellis
1B Jeremy Giambi
2B Julio Cruz
3B Pete Ward
SS Tommy Matchick
LF Tommy Davis
CF Gerald Williams
RF Gene Clines

Bench (7)
C Joe Pignatano
C Vic Roznovsky
SS/2B Eddie Basinski (platoon starter with Matchick)
SS/2B Jerry Snyder
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF/1B David Green
OF Don Dillard

Rotation (5)
RHP Joel Horlen
RHP Ralph Terry
LHP Odalis Perez
RHP Ike Delock
LHP John Cumberland

Bullpen (5)
RHP Jim Corsi
RHP Jeff Innis
RHP Fred Lasher
LHP David West
LHP Bob Miller


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Al Autry
RHP George Gerberman
RHP Jim Bronstad
RHP Calvin Jones
RHP Cholly Naranjo
LHP Roger Samuels
LHP Bill Short

OF Luke Allen
OF Ethan Blackaby
OF Carl Boles
OF Carl Linhart
OF John Sanders
OF Gale Wade
OF Gordie Windhorn


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Ellis c
Matchick ss
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Ellis c
Basinski ss
<pitcher>


vs. RHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Biittner 1b
Ellis c
Matchick ss

vs. LHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Green 1b
Ellis c
Basinski ss


The club signs a right-handed hitting outfielder to provide organizational depth and fill out the 40-man roster. Carl Boles is a good athlete, and had been recruited to play football at Nebraska before deciding to play baseball and basketball at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Boles signed with the Giants in 1954, and after a season in the minors, a four-year hitch in the Navy, and four more years in the minors, Boles got a brief cup of coffee with the Giants in 1962 -- hitting .375 in 24 AB's. Boles played a couple more seasons in the minors before going to Japan, where he played for six seasons. Boles will be optioned to AAA, where he will add to the surplus of outfielders in the organization.

[Big Klu]

5/30/2022: Former Phillies, Angels 1B Costen Shockley; age 80.



https://www.capegazette.com/article/...-player/241024

[Big Klu]

The 2022 club signs a slugging left-handed hitting 1B for organizational depth.

Transactions:
Signed 1B Costen Shockley, and optioned him to AAA.


Lineup (8)
C John Ellis
1B Jeremy Giambi
2B Julio Cruz
3B Pete Ward
SS Tommy Matchick
LF Tommy Davis
CF Gerald Williams
RF Gene Clines

Bench (7)
C Joe Pignatano
C Vic Roznovsky
SS/2B Eddie Basinski (platoon starter with Matchick)
SS/2B Jerry Snyder
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF/1B David Green
OF Don Dillard

Rotation (5)
RHP Joel Horlen
RHP Ralph Terry
LHP Odalis Perez
RHP Ike Delock
LHP John Cumberland

Bullpen (5)
RHP Jim Corsi
RHP Jeff Innis
RHP Fred Lasher
LHP David West
LHP Bob Miller


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Al Autry
RHP George Gerberman
RHP Jim Bronstad
RHP Calvin Jones
RHP Cholly Naranjo
LHP Roger Samuels
LHP Bill Short

1B Costen Shockley
OF Luke Allen
OF Ethan Blackaby
OF Carl Boles
OF Carl Linhart
OF John Sanders
OF Gale Wade
OF Gordie Windhorn


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Ellis c
Matchick ss
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Ellis c
Basinski ss
<pitcher>


vs. RHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Biittner 1b
Ellis c
Matchick ss

vs. LHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Green 1b
Ellis c
Basinski ss


The club signs a left-handed hitting first baseman to provide organizational depth. Costen Shockley is a big lefty slugger, and the only true first baseman in the organization. (Although Larry Biittner and David Green each have made more appearances at 1B than at any other single position, they both have made more total appearances in the OF than they have at 1B.) Shockley will be optioned to AAA, where he will be one of the top bats on the minor-league club alongside Gordie Windhorn and Carl Boles.

The addition of Shockley means that the 40-man roster is now full. The 40-man roster is currently severely out of balance, and will continue to be a work in progress. Of the 40 players on the roster, 17 are pitchers, and 14 are outfielders (three of whom are also acceptable at 1B -- though one is only barely so). There are also only three catchers, five 2B/SS/3B's, and the aforementioned Shockley at 1B. As the club acquires more talent, look for the composition of the roster to change.

[50YrRedsFan]

6/1/2022...ex Padre: Mark Schaeffer, age 73. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Schaeffer
Got his only MLB save against the Reds on July 29, 1972 retiring the final batter in a 17 inning game at Riverfront Stadium.
Sorry for the error.

[Big Klu]

Here's a bigger version of the Schaeffer card.



https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries...ry?id=35100332

[Big Klu]

The 2022 club signs a left-handed relief pitcher for organizational depth.

Transactions:
Signed LHP Mark Schaeffer, and optioned him to AAA.
Designated OF John Sanders for assignment.


Lineup (8)
C John Ellis
1B Jeremy Giambi
2B Julio Cruz
3B Pete Ward
SS Tommy Matchick
LF Tommy Davis
CF Gerald Williams
RF Gene Clines

Bench (7)
C Joe Pignatano
C Vic Roznovsky
SS/2B Eddie Basinski (platoon starter with Matchick)
SS/2B Jerry Snyder
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF/1B David Green
OF Don Dillard

Rotation (5)
RHP Joel Horlen
RHP Ralph Terry
LHP Odalis Perez
RHP Ike Delock
LHP John Cumberland

Bullpen (5)
RHP Jim Corsi
RHP Jeff Innis
RHP Fred Lasher
LHP David West
LHP Bob Miller


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Al Autry
RHP George Gerberman
RHP Jim Bronstad
RHP Calvin Jones
RHP Cholly Naranjo
LHP Roger Samuels
LHP Mark Schaeffer
LHP Bill Short

1B Costen Shockley
OF Luke Allen
OF Ethan Blackaby
OF Carl Boles
OF Carl Linhart
OF Gale Wade
OF Gordie Windhorn


Outright Minor-League Assignment:
OF John Sanders (DFA)


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Ellis c
Matchick ss
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Ellis c
Basinski ss
<pitcher>


vs. RHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Biittner 1b
Ellis c
Matchick ss

vs. LHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Green 1b
Ellis c
Basinski ss


The club signs a left-handed relief pitcher to provide organizational depth. Mark Schaeffer provides another arm to figure into the mix for the second bullpen lefty along with Bob Miller, Bill Short, and Roger Samuels. Schaeffer made 41 appearances for the Padres in 1972 -- his only major-league season -- and he pitched capably at times, though he exhibited some control issues with 28 BB's in 41.0 innings. Schaeffer will be optioned to AAA, where he will join Short and Samuels as left-handed reinforcements for the bullpen. To make room for Schaeffer on the 40-man roster, the club designates OF John Sanders for assignment. Sanders, who had been one of seven outfielders at AAA, made only one appearance in his major-league career, and it was as a pinch-runner -- he never batted or played defensively.

[50YrRedsFan]

6/7/2022...ex KC Athletic: Frank Cipriani, age 81. https://www.tributearchive.com/obitu...frank-cipriani

[Big Klu]

6/7/2022...ex KC Athletic: Frank Cipriani, age 81. https://www.tributearchive.com/obitu...frank-cipriani

Born the same day as Pete Rose.

[Big Klu]

The 2022 club signs a right-handed hitting outfielder for organizational depth.

Transactions:
Signed OF Frank Cipriani, and optioned him to AAA.
Designated OF Carl Linhart for assignment.


Lineup (8)
C John Ellis
1B Jeremy Giambi
2B Julio Cruz
3B Pete Ward
SS Tommy Matchick
LF Tommy Davis
CF Gerald Williams
RF Gene Clines

Bench (7)
C Joe Pignatano
C Vic Roznovsky
SS/2B Eddie Basinski (platoon starter with Matchick)
SS/2B Jerry Snyder
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF/1B David Green
OF Don Dillard

Rotation (5)
RHP Joel Horlen
RHP Ralph Terry
LHP Odalis Perez
RHP Ike Delock
LHP John Cumberland

Bullpen (5)
RHP Jim Corsi
RHP Jeff Innis
RHP Fred Lasher
LHP David West
LHP Bob Miller


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP Al Autry
RHP George Gerberman
RHP Jim Bronstad
RHP Calvin Jones
RHP Cholly Naranjo
LHP Roger Samuels
LHP Mark Schaeffer
LHP Bill Short

1B Costen Shockley
OF Luke Allen
OF Ethan Blackaby
OF Carl Boles
OF Frank Cipriani
OF Gale Wade
OF Gordie Windhorn


Outright Minor-League Assignment:
OF John Sanders (DFA)
OF Carl Linhart (DFA)


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Ellis c
Matchick ss
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Ellis c
Basinski ss
<pitcher>


vs. RHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Biittner 1b
Ellis c
Matchick ss

vs. LHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Green 1b
Ellis c
Basinski ss


The club signs a right-handed hitting outfielder to provide organizational depth. Frank Cipriani is a contact hitter who hits for decent average, but without much power. Defensively, Cipriani is a RF by trade, though he could probably handle LF as well. CF is questionable -- not enough data to make an evaluation one way or the other. To make room for Cipriani on the 40-man roster, the club designates OF Carl Linhart for assignment. Linhart made only three appearances in his major-league career, two as a pinch-hitter and one as a pinch-runner -- he never made an appearance in the field.

[50YrRedsFan]

6/18/2022...ex KC Athletic, Tiger, Pirate, Royal: Dave Wickersham, age 86. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Wickersham

[Big Klu]

The 2022 club signs a veteran right-handed pitcher with both starting and relieving experience.

Transactions:
Signed RHP Dave Wickersham.
Optioned LHP Bob Miller to AAA.
Designated RHP Al Autry for assignment.
Outrighted OF Carl Linhart and OF John Sanders to the minors.


Lineup (8)
C John Ellis
1B Jeremy Giambi
2B Julio Cruz
3B Pete Ward
SS Tommy Matchick
LF Tommy Davis
CF Gerald Williams
RF Gene Clines

Bench (7)
C Joe Pignatano
C Vic Roznovsky
SS/2B Eddie Basinski (platoon starter with Matchick)
SS/2B Jerry Snyder
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF/1B David Green
OF Don Dillard

Rotation (5)
RHP Joel Horlen
RHP Ralph Terry
LHP Odalis Perez
RHP Dave Wickersham
RHP Ike Delock

Bullpen (5)
RHP Jim Corsi
RHP Jeff Innis
RHP Fred Lasher
LHP David West
LHP John Cumberland


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
RHP George Gerberman
RHP Jim Bronstad
RHP Calvin Jones
RHP Cholly Naranjo
LHP Bob Miller
LHP Roger Samuels
LHP Mark Schaeffer
LHP Bill Short

1B Costen Shockley
OF Luke Allen
OF Ethan Blackaby
OF Carl Boles
OF Frank Cipriani
OF Gale Wade
OF Gordie Windhorn


Outright Minor-League Assignment:
OF Carl Linhart
OF John Sanders

RHP Al Autry (DFA)


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Ellis c
Matchick ss
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi 1b
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Ellis c
Basinski ss
<pitcher>


vs. RHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Williams cf
Biittner 1b
Ellis c
Matchick ss

vs. LHP (with DH):
Cruz 2b
Clines rf
Giambi dh
Davis lf
Williams cf
Ward 3b
Green 1b
Ellis c
Basinski ss


The club signs a right-handed pitcher (and former Ohio Bobcat) with both starting and relieving experience. Dave Wickersham was a 10-year major-league veteran who made 124 starts and 159 relief appearances during his career with the A's, Tigers, Pirates, and Royals. His best season was in 1964 with the Tigers, when he was 19-12 with a 3.44 ERA in 254.0 innings.

Wickersham is expected to move into the rotation in the #4 or #5 slot alongside RHP Ike Delock. (Wickersham is actually #9 on Delock's similarity list, according to Baseball-reference.com.) LHP John Cumberland, who had been the #5 starter, will move to the bullpen -- a role for which he is much better suited.

To make room for Wickersham on the 25-man active roster, the club options LHP Bob Miller to AAA. Miller's role in the bullpen has been largely usurped by Cumberland, who had been displaced from the rotation. To make room for Wickersham on the 40-man roster, the club designates RHP Al Autry for assignment. Autry made only one major-league appearance in his career -- a start for the Braves in which he pitched 5 innings and allowed 3 runs in earning the win. In other transactions, the club announces that OF Carl Linhart and OF John Sanders have cleared waivers and accepted outright assignment to the minors.

[50YrRedsFan]

6/20/2022...ex Tiger: Joe Staton, age 74. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Staton_(baseball)