Some Obituaries of Recently Deceased Major Leaguers Part Three

[Big Klu]

The 2022 club is a bit weaker than the previous two clubs, but made some significant acquisitions late in the year. The pitching rotation was bolstered by the signings of Hall-of-Fame RHP Gaylord Perry and LHP's Curt Simmons, Dick Ellsworth, and our very own Tom Browning. (Ellsworth was eventually moved to the bullpen.) While still not as strong as the 2020 rotation featuring four Hall-of-Famers, it measures up very well with the 2021 rotation.

The bullpen was the strength of the club throughout most of the year, headlined by Hall-of-Fame RHP Bruce Sutter and supported by quality arms in RHP's Bob Locker, Mark Littell, Jim Corsi, and Jeff Innis. The only weakness was a lack of left-handers, which the club addressed by moving a surplus left-handed starter (Dick Ellsworth) to the pen in place of Innis.

Unlike the previous two seasons, there are no Hall-of-Fame quality hitters leading the offense. The 2020 lineup was nearly as loaded as its pitching staff, led by Hall-of-Famers Al Kaline, Joe Morgan, and Lou Brock, and supported by such standouts as Dick Allen, Jimmy Wynn, Bob Watson, and Tony Fernandez. The 2021 club had the legendary Henry Aaron, as well as outstanding players such as Bill Freehan and Del Crandall. The 2022 club does not have those kinds of players -- their only comparable position players are former Dodgers teammates Tommy Davis and Maury Wills.

What the 2022 club does have plenty of is a large quantity of solid role players whose strengths complement each other. The club makes extensive use of the platoon system, platooning at five positions -- 1B, 2B, 3B, CF and RF. The only full-time starters are C John Stearns, SS Maury Wills, and LF Tommy Davis. Additionally, every bench player sees significant playing time as part of a platoon with the exception of backup SS Dick Schofield, but since starting SS Maury Wills has been named player/manager, Schofield may see some more action so that Wills can focus on his off-field responsibilities. OF/1B Larry Biittner is the club's primary PH specialist, and also a platoon starter at DH when playing under AL rules.

The club did see a lot of turnover over the course of the year. Only five players from the club's initial 25-man roster posted on March 16 remained with the club through the end of the year:

RHP Ralph Terry
RHP Jim Corsi
2B Julio Cruz
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF Gene Clines

[westofyou]

“Soup” led the AL in saves in 1977 and was a solid reliever for a long time. Plus, look at that head of hair. This will always be my image of Campbell, since 1981 was the first year I really ramped up my card collecting.

Attachment 19096

What a relief ace in 76/77, 140 games, 307 IP, era of 3.00

[Ron Madden]

Campbell served as a late inning bullpen workhorse.
He topped 120 frames in each season from 1974-76, allowing fewer than four earned runs per nine innings in all three years.

During the ’76 campaign, Campbell led all big leaguers with 68 games finished and put up a 3.01 ERA over 167 2/3 innings out of the bullpen.

For his career Campbell had a 3.54 ERA in 1229 1/3 innings of work over 700 big league appearances.

[cumberlandreds]

RIP Bill Campbell. Really good reliever who pitched in a time when managers weren't afraid to use a relief pitcher more than one inning.

[50YrRedsFan]

1/5/2023...ex KC Athletic: Carl Duser, age 90. https://www.cantelmifuneralhome.com/obituary/Carl-Duser

[UKFlounder]

I need to say how much I enjoy these team updates you do.

The 2022 club is a bit weaker than the previous two clubs, but made some significant acquisitions late in the year. The pitching rotation was bolstered by the signings of Hall-of-Fame RHP Gaylord Perry and LHP's Curt Simmons, Dick Ellsworth, and our very own Tom Browning. (Ellsworth was eventually moved to the bullpen.) While still not as strong as the 2020 rotation featuring four Hall-of-Famers, it measures up very well with the 2021 rotation.

The bullpen was the strength of the club throughout most of the year, headlined by Hall-of-Fame RHP Bruce Sutter and supported by quality arms in RHP's Bob Locker, Mark Littell, Jim Corsi, and Jeff Innis. The only weakness was a lack of left-handers, which the club addressed by moving a surplus left-handed starter (Dick Ellsworth) to the pen in place of Innis.

Unlike the previous two seasons, there are no Hall-of-Fame quality hitters leading the offense. The 2020 lineup was nearly as loaded as its pitching staff, led by Hall-of-Famers Al Kaline, Joe Morgan, and Lou Brock, and supported by such standouts as Dick Allen, Jimmy Wynn, Bob Watson, and Tony Fernandez. The 2021 club had the legendary Henry Aaron, as well as outstanding players such as Bill Freehan and Del Crandall. The 2022 club does not have those kinds of players -- their only comparable position players are former Dodgers teammates Tommy Davis and Maury Wills.

What the 2022 club does have plenty of is a large quantity of solid role players whose strengths complement each other. The club makes extensive use of the platoon system, platooning at five positions -- 1B, 2B, 3B, CF and RF. The only full-time starters are C John Stearns, SS Maury Wills, and LF Tommy Davis. Additionally, every bench player sees significant playing time as part of a platoon with the exception of backup SS Dick Schofield, but since starting SS Maury Wills has been named player/manager, Schofield may see some more action so that Wills can focus on his off-field responsibilities. OF/1B Larry Biittner is the club's primary PH specialist, and also a platoon starter at DH when playing under AL rules.

The club did see a lot of turnover over the course of the year. Only five players from the club's initial 25-man roster posted on March 16 remained with the club through the end of the year:

RHP Ralph Terry
RHP Jim Corsi
2B Julio Cruz
OF/1B Larry Biittner
OF Gene Clines

[cumberlandreds]

I need to say how much I enjoy these team updates you do.

I concur. Really great idea that Klu put together.

[Big Klu]

The 2023 club announces its first three acquisitions of the year -- a three-time All-Star 1B, a former All-Star right-handed reliever, and a left-handed starting pitcher with limited major-league experience.

Transactions:
Signed 1B Nate Colbert, RHP Bill Campbell, and LHP Carl Duser.


Roster:
LHP Carl Duser
RHP Bill Campbell
1B Nate Colbert


The 2023 club makes its first acquisitions, and starts out by signing a three-time All-Star first baseman. Nate Colbert is a powerful right-handed slugger with five consecutive seasons on 20+ HR's in cavernous San Diego (later known as Jack Murphy) Stadium, including two seasons of 38 round-trippers.

The club then signs a former All-Star right-handed reliever who has pitched in a variety of roles during his career. Bill Campbell pitched extensively as a middle reliever and set-up man in his career, and also had a few seasons as an effective closer. His best seasons were 1976 with the Twins, and 1977 with the Red Sox. In 1976 with the Twins, Campbell was 17-5 with a 3.01 ERA and 20 saves in 167⅔ innings over 78 relief appearances. In 1977, Campbell signed as a free agent with the Red Sox, and was 13-9 with a 2.96 ERA and an AL-leading 31 saves in 140 innings over 69 appearances.

In their third signing, the club signs a left-handed starter with limited major-league experience. Carl Duser made only three major-league appearances (2 starts) for the A's in the 50's.

[Rantly]

I need to say how much I enjoy these team updates you do.

I agree. Unbelievable amount of thorough dedicated work being done by Big Klu on these updates!

[Ron Madden]

Former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lee Tinsley died Thursday, according to multiple reports. He was 53.
No cause of death has been given.

A native of Shelbyville, Kentucky, Tinsley was selected by the A’s with the 11th overall pick in the 1987 draft.

Tinlsey entered the Major Leagues in 1993 with the Seattle Mariners, and had two stints with the team wrapped around two stops with the Boston Red Sox and a stay with the Phillies in 1996.

After his playing days were done, Tinsley went into coaching and had stints with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and the Mariners.

Cincinnati Reds
@Reds

The Reds mourn the loss of Lee Tinsley.

“We are sad to hear of Lee’s passing,” VP/GM Nick Krall said of Tinsley, who was the Reds’ assistant hitting coach for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends, inside and outside the game.”

[50YrRedsFan]

[Bourgeois Zee]

I played against him in high school.

[Big Klu]

1/12/2023: Former Mariners, Red Sox, Phillies OF Lee Tinsley; age 53.

[Big Klu]

The 2023 club signs a switch-hitting centerfielder with decent speed.

Transactions:
Signed OF Lee Tinsley.


Roster:
LHP Carl Duser
RHP Bill Campbell
1B Nate Colbert
OF Lee Tinsley

The club signs its first outfielder. Lee Tinsley is a switch-hitter with above-average speed and occasional power. Tinsley is primarily a CF, but he is also comfortable in LF. He can play RF if necessary, though his arm is questionable. Tinsley profiles as a 4th/5th OF, or possibly as insurance at AAA.

[Ron Madden]

Ted Savage Passes Away

Former MLB outfielder Ted Savage has passed away, the Cardinals announced. He was 85 years old.

Savage was born in Venice, Illinois, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. He attended school in nearby East St. Louis, Illinois where he was a three-sport star in baseball, football, and basketball. Savage would go on to play baseball for Lincoln University before joining the US Army. He would continue his baseball career with the Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

After three years, Savage was discharged and signed a contract with the Phillies. He would make his major league debut with the club during the 1962 season, playing 127 games and slashing .266/.345/.373. Surprisingly, only one month after concluding his rookie campaign, he was traded to the Pirates. In Pittsburgh, injuries and a prominent outfield limited Savage to only 85 games during the 1963 season, and he wouldn’t make an appearance at the major league level during the 1964 season.

Savage returned to the majors in 1965 with the Cardinals and would have minor roles with the club in the 1965 and 1966 seasons before being sold to the Cubs midway through the 1967 season to the Cubs. He would spend the end of the 1967 season and part of the 1968 season with Chicago before joining the Dodgers. After another platoon role year with the Reds in 1969.

Savage latched on with the Brewers ahead of his age-33 campaign and arguably put up his best numbers, hitting a strong .279/.402/.482 in 114 games with more walks (57) than strikeouts (44).

Following his playing career, Savage would earn his Ph.D. in urban studies from St. Louis University, going on to spend nine years as Harris-Stowe State University’s athletic director. He returned to the Cardinals organization in 1987 as assistant director of community relations and minor league instruction, staying with the franchise for 25 years before retiring as director of target marketing in the Cardinals Care and community relations department.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/...sses-away.html