Some Obituaries of Recently Deceased Major Leaguers Part Three

[50YrRedsFan]

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

[Big Klu]

1/15/2023: Former Phillies, Pirates, Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers, Reds, Brewers, Royals OF Ted Savage; age 85.

[Big Klu]

The 2023 club signs an athletic outfielder who can play all three OF positions.

Transactions:
Signed OF Ted Savage.


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


The club signs another versatile outfielder who is a good athlete. Ted Savage is a right-handed hitter with above-average speed and occasional power, who on paper is quite similar to recent signee Lee Tinsley. Savage is not a natural CF, but is athletic enough to play there capably. He is a plus defender at either corner OF position. Savage profiles as a 4th/5th OF, or possibly as insurance at AAA.

[50YrRedsFan]

1/16/2023...ex Pirate, Red, Cub, Brave, Met, Phillie, Astro: Frank Thomas (not the White Sox player), age 93. An original Met.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Thomas_(outfielder)

[elrojo]

Frank Thomas, the "elder," was another painful bust in Reds' history, although not his fault. The Reds obtained him in a trade
with the Pirates after Thomas had an impressive 1958 season. Because of a hand injury, he struggled with the Reds in 1959, hitting
only 12 home runs and was traded away. Later he enjoyed a comeback with the Mets. RIP

[Kc61]

Thomas was often the cleanup hitter on the early Mets. Solid hitter who had a long major league career. Three time All Star.

[HokieRed]

R.I.P. Frank Thomas. I did not know Frank Thomas had still been alive. He mostly played the outfield but also played some third base, especially for the Pirates. He had a tendency to throw the ball way high over first base. One of my best early memories of MLB players is of Thomas. One day when I was a small kid sitting in the first row down the third base line at Crosley, he came over from third during infield practice to talk to the person next to me. He shook my hand and told me to keep my head up sitting there. I remember thinking he was really big. Must have been 1956 or 57 because he was with the Pirates, not the Reds yet.

[cumberlandreds]

Frank Thomas was one of the few true MLB players on that 62 Mets team. I know he was pretty good in Strat-O-Matic for that team. He was before my time but from what I have read about him he was solid MLB player for quite a few years. RIP Frank Thomas.

[mth123]

Was Thomas the last original Met? Are any others still alive?

[cumberlandreds]

Was Thomas the last original Met? Are any others still alive?

I think Ed Kranepool is living. Also I believe Roger Craig is too.

[mth123]

I think Ed Kranepool is living. Also I believe Roger Craig is too.

Kranepool played in 3 games in September of 1962. He was there the first year, but not an "original" met. He's only 78. I'd have thought older. He was 17 when he debuted.

You're right about Roger Craig. I thought I remembered he passed a couple of years ago, but I was mistaken.

[50YrRedsFan]

Was Thomas the last original Met? Are any others still alive?

These were on the roster sometime during the 1962 season.

Hobie Landrith, Roger Craig, Jay Hook (ex Red), Galen Sisco, Craig Anderson, Ken MacKenzie,
Cliff Cook (ex Red), Rick Herrscher, Felix Mantilla, Ed Kranepool, Jim Marshall, Joe Christopher,
Jim DeMerit. All these still alive.

[westofyou]

Frank Thomas, the "elder," was another painful bust in Reds' history, although not his fault. The Reds obtained him in a trade
with the Pirates after Thomas had an impressive 1958 season. Because of a hand injury, he struggled with the Reds in 1959, hitting
only 12 home runs and was traded away. Later he enjoyed a comeback with the Mets. RIP

Traded for Smoky Burgess, Harvey Haddix and Don Hoak.

Pretty good haul for Pirates

[Kingspoint]

Kranepool played in 3 games in September of 1962. He was there the first year, but not an "original" met. He's only 78. I'd have thought older. He was 17 when he debuted.

You're right about Roger Craig. I thought I remembered he passed a couple of years ago, but I was mistaken.

Craig should have been dead 20 years ago.

[Big Klu]

The 2023 club signs a three-time All-Star corner infielder/outfielder with good right-handed power.

Transactions:
Signed OF/3B/1B Frank J. Thomas.


Roster:
LHP Carl Duser
RHP Bill Campbell
1B Nate Colbert
OF/3B/1B Frank J. Thomas
OF Ted Savage
OF Lee Tinsley


The club signs a three-time NL All-Star INF/OF with middle-of-the-order power. Frank Thomas is a big right-handed power hitter who hit 286 HR's in a 16-year career. Thomas hit 20+ HR's nine times, and topped the 30+ HR plateau three times. Thomas' best position is LF, though he is also comfortable at 3B and 1B. Thomas can even play CF at a passable level. Thomas will likely be considered for a starting role, either in the OF or at 3B.