Some Obituaries of Recently Deceased Major Leaguers Part Three

[UKFlounder]

From Phillies best writer Matt Gelb on Twitter:

Curt Simmons, the last surviving member of the Whiz Kids, has died, the Phillies announced. Simmons was 93.


https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...immocu01.shtml

[westofyou]

From Phillies best writer Matt Gelb on Twitter:

Curt Simmons, the last surviving member of the Whiz Kids, has died, the Phillies announced. Simmons was 93.


https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...immocu01.shtml

I wrote this about Simmons in a piece a few years ago.

A phenom, he had his first taste of the big leagues at the age of 18, after the war. He was a lefthander with two types of fastballs. He and Robin Roberts carried the Philles to their second NL Pennant in 1950. Simmons is a unique story—20 years in the league and a man who had to reinvent himself and his career. In June of 1953, Simmons cut off part of his big toe on his pivot foot in a home lawnmower accident. This injury caused Simmons to have to adjust his approach and his delivery. His motion became more herky-jerky and he became more of a finesse pitcher. By the end of the decade, he battled shoulder issues and was released by the Phillies. He signed with the Cardinals and, as many pitchers have to do, reinvented himself on the fly.

Simmons did not like to hit batters, preferring as he said, “to keep them off base”. In his career, he hit batters at the rate of 1 for every 268 batters.

I found an odd similarity between Simmon’s career and Jerry Koosman’s:

• Curt Simmons played on 4 teams in 20 years, threw LH, faced 14,144 batters, hit 53, walked 1,063, had an ERA 0.36 better than the league, and played for his third team in Chicago.
• Jerry Koosman played on 4 teams in 19 years, threw LH, faced 15,996 batters, hit 71, walked 1,198, had an ERA 0.34 better than the league, and played for his third team in Chicago.

[elrojo]

Who knows how the 1950 Phillies would have fared against the Yankees if Simmons has been available?
Alas, the Phillies' management put him into the military reserve, thinking they had protected him from the draft. Then
along came the Korean War and Simmons' unit was called up. I believe he spent the World Series at Camp Atterbury in
Indiana.

[50YrRedsFan]

From Phillies best writer Matt Gelb on Twitter:

Curt Simmons, the last surviving member of the Whiz Kids, has died, the Phillies announced. Simmons was 93.


https://www.baseball-reference.com/p...immocu01.shtml

[ATTACH=CONFIG]19051
[/ATTACH]

[Big Klu]

The 2022 club signs a pair of left-handed pitchers -- a three-time All-Star starter, and a reliever with three major-league appearances for organizational depth.

Transactions:
Signed LHP Curt Simmons.
Optioned LHP Odalis Perez to AAA.
Designated RHP Tommy Boggs for assignment.
Outrighted LHP Pete Burnside and RHP Fred Lasher.
Signed LHP Tom Flanigan to a minor-league contract.


Lineup (8)
C John Stearns
1B Lee Thomas
2B Julio Cruz
3B Pete Ward
SS Maury Wills
LF Tommy Davis
CF Chuck Carr
RF Dwight Smith, Sr.

Bench (7)
C/1B John Ellis
C/1B/OF John Wockenfuss (platoon starter with Thomas)
SS/2B/3B Dick Schofield, Sr.
OF/3B/2B Hector Lopez (platoon starter with Ward)
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF Gene Clines (platoon starter with Smith)
OF Gerald Williams (platoon starter with Carr)

Rotation (5)
RHP Gaylord Perry
RHP Joel Horlen
LHP Curt Simmons
RHP Ralph Terry
LHP Dick Ellsworth

Bullpen (5)
RHP Bruce Sutter
RHP Bob Locker
RHP Mark Littell
RHP Jim Corsi
RHP Jeff Innis


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
LHP Odalis Perez
LHP John Cumberland
LHP David West
RHP Ike Delock
RHP Dave Hillman
RHP Anthony Varvaro
RHP Dave Wickersham

C Joe Pignatano
SS/2B Eddie Basinski
SS/2B Jerry Snyder
SS/3B/2B Tommy Matchick
OF Don Dillard
OF/1B Jeremy Giambi
OF/1B David Green
OF Leo Posada


Outright Minor-League Assignment:
LHP Pete Burnside
RHP Bill Burbach
LHP Tom Urbani
RHP Mike Adamson
RHP Bob Conley
LHP Jim Bailey
RHP Al Autry
RHP George Gerberman

RHP Fred Lasher
RHP Ed Bauta
RHP Calvin Jones
RHP Rudy Hernandez
RHP Jim Bronstad
RHP Win Remmerswaal
RHP Cholly Naranjo
RHP Ray Rippelmeyer
LHP Ken Frailing
LHP Bob G. Miller
LHP Bill Short
LHP Roger Samuels
LHP Moe Savransky
LHP Mark Schaeffer
LHP Don Collins
LHP Al Neiger
LHP Tom Flanigan
LHP Cal Browning

C Vic Roznovsky
1B George Kernek
1B Costen Shockley
1B Joe Staton
2B Marv Staehle
2B/3B/SS Ted Schreiber
SS/2B Julio Valdez
SS/2B/3B Milt Ramirez
SS John Gamble

OF Gordie Windhorn
OF Carl Boles
OF George Elder
OF Carl Linhart
OF John Sanders
OF Jack Reed
OF Gale Wade
OF Frank Cipriani
OF Ed Olivares
OF Ethan Blackaby
OF Luke Allen

RHP Tommy Boggs (DFA)


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Wills ss
Smith rf
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Thomas 1b
Stearns c
Carr cf
Cruz 2b
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Wills ss
Stearns c
Davis lf
Wockenfuss 1b
Lopez 3b
Williams cf
Clines rf
Cruz 2b
<pitcher>


vs. RHP (with DH):
Wills ss
Smith rf
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Thomas 1b
Stearns c
Biittner dh
Carr cf
Cruz 2b

vs. LHP (with DH):
Wills ss
Stearns c
Davis lf
Wockenfuss 1b
Lopez 3b
Williams cf
Ellis dh
Clines rf
Cruz 2b


The club has been very busy in the last couple of days, signing a pair of left-handers and making several player personnel moves. First and foremost among the new acquisitions is the signing of three-time All-Star left-handed starter Curt Simmons, who will settle into the middle of the rotation between right-handers Joel Horlen and Ralph Terry. To make room for Simmons in the rotation and on the 25-man active roster, the club options LHP Odalis Perez to AAA, where he will anchor the top of the AAA rotation. In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the club designates RHP Tommy Boggs for assignment.

Additionally, the club signed left-handed relief pitcher Tom Flanigan to a minor-league contract for organizational depth. In a separate transaction, the club also announces that LHP Pete Burnside and RHP Fred Lasher have both cleared waivers and accepted outright assignment to the minors.

[Big Klu]

11/5/2022: Former Astros RHP Buddy Harris; age 73.



https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries...ry?id=37026610

[Big Klu]

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

Transactions:
Signed RHP Buddy Harris to a minor-league contract.


Lineup (8)
C John Stearns
1B Lee Thomas
2B Julio Cruz
3B Pete Ward
SS Maury Wills
LF Tommy Davis
CF Chuck Carr
RF Dwight Smith, Sr.

Bench (7)
C/1B John Ellis
C/1B/OF John Wockenfuss (platoon starter with Thomas)
SS/2B/3B Dick Schofield, Sr.
OF/3B/2B Hector Lopez (platoon starter with Ward)
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF Gene Clines (platoon starter with Smith)
OF Gerald Williams (platoon starter with Carr)

Rotation (5)
RHP Gaylord Perry
RHP Joel Horlen
LHP Curt Simmons
RHP Ralph Terry
LHP Dick Ellsworth

Bullpen (5)
RHP Bruce Sutter
RHP Bob Locker
RHP Mark Littell
RHP Jim Corsi
RHP Jeff Innis


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
LHP Odalis Perez
LHP John Cumberland
LHP David West
RHP Ike Delock
RHP Dave Hillman
RHP Anthony Varvaro
RHP Dave Wickersham

C Joe Pignatano
SS/2B Eddie Basinski
SS/2B Jerry Snyder
SS/3B/2B Tommy Matchick
OF Don Dillard
OF/1B Jeremy Giambi
OF/1B David Green
OF Leo Posada


Outright Minor-League Assignment:
LHP Pete Burnside
RHP Bill Burbach
LHP Tom Urbani
RHP Mike Adamson
RHP Bob Conley
LHP Jim Bailey
RHP Al Autry
RHP George Gerberman

RHP Fred Lasher
RHP Ed Bauta
RHP Calvin Jones
RHP Rudy Hernandez
RHP Jim Bronstad
RHP Win Remmerswaal
RHP Cholly Naranjo
RHP Buddy Harris
RHP Ray Rippelmeyer
LHP Ken Frailing
LHP Bob G. Miller
LHP Bill Short
LHP Roger Samuels
LHP Moe Savransky
LHP Mark Schaeffer
LHP Don Collins
LHP Al Neiger
LHP Tom Flanigan
LHP Cal Browning

C Vic Roznovsky
1B George Kernek
1B Costen Shockley
1B Joe Staton
2B Marv Staehle
2B/3B/SS Ted Schreiber
SS/2B Julio Valdez
SS/2B/3B Milt Ramirez
SS John Gamble

OF Gordie Windhorn
OF Carl Boles
OF George Elder
OF Carl Linhart
OF John Sanders
OF Jack Reed
OF Gale Wade
OF Frank Cipriani
OF Ed Olivares
OF Ethan Blackaby
OF Luke Allen

RHP Tommy Boggs (DFA)


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Wills ss
Smith rf
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Thomas 1b
Stearns c
Carr cf
Cruz 2b
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Wills ss
Stearns c
Davis lf
Wockenfuss 1b
Lopez 3b
Williams cf
Clines rf
Cruz 2b
<pitcher>


vs. RHP (with DH):
Wills ss
Smith rf
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Thomas 1b
Stearns c
Biittner dh
Carr cf
Cruz 2b

vs. LHP (with DH):
Wills ss
Stearns c
Davis lf
Wockenfuss 1b
Lopez 3b
Williams cf
Ellis dh
Clines rf
Cruz 2b


The club signs a big (6'7", 245 lb.) hard-throwing right-handed reliever to a minor-league contract for organizational depth. Buddy Harris had been a first-round draft pick by the Astros in the secondary phase of the 1968 draft out of the University of Miami, and made 22 relief appearances over parts of two seasons for the Astros in 1970 and '71.

[Big Klu]

Wow, this one's tough...

12/19/2022: Former Reds, Royals LHP Tom Browning; age 62.





https://www.foxnews.com/sports/world...wning-dead.amp

[goreds2]

Wow, this one's tough...

Former Reds, Royals LHP Tom Browning; age 62.



https://www.foxnews.com/sports/world...wning-dead.amp

OMG - Rest in Piece

[Big Klu]

The 2022 club signs a former All-Star left-handed starting pitcher and true character of the game.

Transactions:
Signed LHP Tom Browning.
Optioned RHP Jeff Innis to AAA.
Designated SS/2B Jerry Snyder for assignment.


Lineup (8)
C John Stearns
1B Lee Thomas
2B Julio Cruz
3B Pete Ward
SS Maury Wills
LF Tommy Davis
CF Chuck Carr
RF Dwight Smith, Sr.

Bench (7)
C/1B John Ellis (personal catcher for Perry)
C/1B/OF John Wockenfuss (platoon starter with Thomas)
SS/2B/3B Dick Schofield, Sr.
OF/3B/2B Hector Lopez (platoon starter with Ward)
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF Gene Clines (platoon starter with Smith)
OF Gerald Williams (platoon starter with Carr)

Rotation (5)
RHP Gaylord Perry
LHP Curt Simmons
RHP Joel Horlen
LHP Tom Browning
RHP Ralph Terry

Bullpen (5)
RHP Bruce Sutter
RHP Bob Locker
RHP Mark Littell
RHP Jim Corsi
LHP Dick Ellsworth


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
LHP Odalis Perez
LHP John Cumberland
LHP David West
RHP Ike Delock
RHP Dave Hillman
RHP Jeff Innis
RHP Anthony Varvaro
RHP Dave Wickersham

C Joe Pignatano
SS/2B Eddie Basinski
SS/3B/2B Tommy Matchick
OF Don Dillard
OF/1B Jeremy Giambi
OF/1B David Green
OF Leo Posada


Outright Minor-League Assignment:
LHP Pete Burnside
RHP Bill Burbach
LHP Tom Urbani
RHP Mike Adamson
RHP Bob Conley
LHP Jim Bailey
RHP Al Autry
RHP George Gerberman

RHP Fred Lasher
RHP Ed Bauta
RHP Calvin Jones
RHP Rudy Hernandez
RHP Jim Bronstad
RHP Win Remmerswaal
RHP Cholly Naranjo
RHP Buddy Harris
RHP Ray Rippelmeyer
LHP Ken Frailing
LHP Bob G. Miller
LHP Bill Short
LHP Roger Samuels
LHP Moe Savransky
LHP Mark Schaeffer
LHP Don Collins
LHP Al Neiger
LHP Tom Flanigan
LHP Cal Browning

C Vic Roznovsky
1B George Kernek
1B Costen Shockley
1B Joe Staton
2B Marv Staehle
2B/3B/SS Ted Schreiber
SS/2B Julio Valdez
SS/2B/3B Milt Ramirez
SS John Gamble

OF Gordie Windhorn
OF Carl Boles
OF George Elder
OF Carl Linhart
OF John Sanders
OF Jack Reed
OF Gale Wade
OF Frank Cipriani
OF Ed Olivares
OF Ethan Blackaby
OF Luke Allen

RHP Tommy Boggs (DFA)
SS/2B Jerry Snyder (DFA)


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Wills ss
Smith rf
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Thomas 1b
Stearns c
Carr cf
Cruz 2b
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Wills ss
Stearns c
Davis lf
Wockenfuss 1b
Lopez 3b
Williams cf
Clines rf
Cruz 2b
<pitcher>


vs. RHP (with DH):
Wills ss
Smith rf
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Thomas 1b
Stearns c
Biittner dh
Carr cf
Cruz 2b

vs. LHP (with DH):
Wills ss
Stearns c
Davis lf
Wockenfuss 1b
Lopez 3b
Williams cf
Ellis dh
Clines rf
Cruz 2b


The club signs a left-handed starting pitcher and former All-Star. Tom Browning was a screwball artist (in more ways than one) and a unanimous runner-up for the 1985 NL Rookie of the Year Award (behind unanimous winner Vince Coleman). Browning was also a key player on the Reds' 1990 World Championship club. But he will always be remembered for two things -- his perfect game vs. the Dodgers at Riverfront Stadium on September 16, 1988, and his impromptu visit in uniform to the rooftops on Sheffield Ave. across from Wrigley Field on July 7, 1993, during a game with the Cubs.

Browning will be installed in the rotation, with left-hander Dick Ellsworth moving to the bullpen to give the club a lefty presence in the pen. (Though Ellsworth was known primarily as a starter, he did make almost 100 appearances in relief during his career.) To make room for Browning on the 25-man active roster, the club options RHP Jeff Innis to AAA, and to clear space for Browning on the 40-man roster, the club designates SS/2B Jerry Snyder for assignment. (Snyder, as a light-hitting right-handed hitting middle infielder, was redundant with Eddie Basinski.)

[50YrRedsFan]

12/20/2022...ex Phillie, Angel, Red Sox: Denny Doyle, age 78. https://legacy-obituaries.com/2022/1...y-passed-away/

[Number_Fourteen]

12/20/2022...ex Phillie, Angel, Red Sox: Denny Doyle, age 78. https://legacy-obituaries.com/2022/1...y-passed-away/

“The play of Doyle was a contributing factor in the Red Sox winning the World Series that year.”

This never ends. St. Peter said “no, no, no!”, unfortunately Doyle heard, go, go, go!”. Regardless, RIP Denny Doyle.

[Big Klu]

The 2022 club signs a left-handed hitting second baseman to compete for a starting role.

Transactions:
Signed 2B Denny Doyle.
Optioned OF Gerald Williams to AAA.
Designated OF Leo Posada for assignment.


Lineup (8)
C John Stearns
1B Lee Thomas
2B Denny Doyle
3B Pete Ward
SS Maury Wills
LF Tommy Davis
CF Chuck Carr
RF Dwight Smith, Sr.

Bench (7)
C/1B John Ellis (personal catcher for Perry/platoon starter with Thomas)
C/1B/OF John Wockenfuss (platoon starter with Smith)
2B Julio Cruz (platoon starter with Doyle)
SS/2B/3B Dick Schofield, Sr.
OF/3B/2B Hector Lopez (platoon starter with Ward)
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF Gene Clines (platoon starter with Carr)

Rotation (5)
RHP Gaylord Perry
LHP Curt Simmons
RHP Joel Horlen
LHP Tom Browning
RHP Ralph Terry

Bullpen (5)
RHP Bruce Sutter
RHP Bob Locker
RHP Mark Littell
RHP Jim Corsi
LHP Dick Ellsworth


The remainder of the 40-man roster:
LHP Odalis Perez
LHP John Cumberland
LHP David West
RHP Ike Delock
RHP Dave Hillman
RHP Jeff Innis
RHP Anthony Varvaro
RHP Dave Wickersham

C Joe Pignatano
SS/2B Eddie Basinski
SS/3B/2B Tommy Matchick
OF Don Dillard
OF/1B Jeremy Giambi
OF/1B David Green
OF Gerald Williams


Outright Minor-League Assignment:
LHP Pete Burnside
RHP Bill Burbach
LHP Tom Urbani
RHP Mike Adamson
RHP Bob Conley
LHP Jim Bailey
RHP Al Autry
RHP George Gerberman

RHP Fred Lasher
RHP Ed Bauta
RHP Calvin Jones
RHP Rudy Hernandez
RHP Jim Bronstad
RHP Win Remmerswaal
RHP Cholly Naranjo
RHP Buddy Harris
RHP Ray Rippelmeyer
LHP Ken Frailing
LHP Bob G. Miller
LHP Bill Short
LHP Roger Samuels
LHP Moe Savransky
LHP Mark Schaeffer
LHP Don Collins
LHP Al Neiger
LHP Tom Flanigan
LHP Cal Browning

C Vic Roznovsky
1B George Kernek
1B Costen Shockley
1B Joe Staton
2B Marv Staehle
2B/3B/SS Ted Schreiber
SS/2B Julio Valdez
SS/2B/3B Milt Ramirez
SS John Gamble

OF Gordie Windhorn
OF Carl Boles
OF George Elder
OF Carl Linhart
OF John Sanders
OF Jack Reed
OF Gale Wade
OF Frank Cipriani
OF Ed Olivares
OF Ethan Blackaby
OF Luke Allen

RHP Tommy Boggs (DFA)
SS/2B Jerry Snyder (DFA)
OF Leo Posada (DFA)


Probable Batting Order vs. RHP:
Wills ss
Smith rf
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Thomas 1b
Stearns c
Doyle 2b
Carr cf
<pitcher>

Probable Batting Order vs. LHP:
Wills ss
Stearns c
Davis lf
Wockenfuss rf
Lopez 3b
Ellis 1b
Clines cf
Cruz 2b
<pitcher>


vs. RHP (with DH):
Wills ss
Smith rf
Davis lf
Ward 3b
Thomas 1b
Stearns c
Biittner dh
Doyle 2b
Carr cf

vs. LHP (with DH):
Wills ss
Stearns c
Davis lf
Wockenfuss dh
Lopez 3b
Ellis 1b
Clines rf
Carr cf
Cruz 2b


The club signs a left-handed hitting second baseman to compete for a starting role. Denny Doyle is a classic 70's-era middle infielder -- steady and unspectacular, not much power, handles the bat well. Doyle will take over at 2B as the left-handed hitting half of a platoon with Julio Cruz. (The switch-hitting Cruz is a much better hitter from the right side than the left side.)

To make room for Doyle on the 25-man active roster, the club options OF Gerald Williams to AAA, and to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the club designates OF Leo Posada for assignment. With Williams -- who was the right-handed half of the CF platoon -- being sent down, the club has to adjust the defensive lineup vs. left-handed pitching. Gene Clines will slide over from RF to be the CF vs. LHP, while John Wockenfuss will move from 1B to RF. John Ellis will now be Lee Thomas' new platoon partner at 1B. In games involving the DH, speedy switch-hitting CF Chuck Carr (who doesn't have pronounced platoon splits) will start vs. both lefties and righties.

[cumberlandreds]

Another cardboard hero gone. I always liked the name, Denny Doyle. He was from my home state of Kentucky, Glasgow. He was a good 2nd baseman for the Phils and Red Sox mostly. He was starting 2nd baseman of the 75 Red Sox. I believe he had a brother that played briefly in the big leagues too. RIP Denny Doyle.

d

[marcshoe]

Ex Senators, Orioles outfielder Fred Valentine, age 87.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb...ay/ar-AA15Ia25





Here's a nice article about Valentine's baseball journey, including his decision to go to college instead of signing out of high school:

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/fred-valentine/