Sports obituaries

[sox83cubs84]

Norm Sherry, a C who played for 5 years in the NL, died on 3/8 at age 89.

Sherry began his career in the Bigs with the 1959 World Series Champion Dodgers alongside his brother Larry, a main cog in the Dodgers relief corps. He remained with Los Angeles through 1962, before playing his last season in 1963 as a Met.

After that he spent numerous years in the Majors as a coach. He also spent portions of the 1976 and 1977 seasons as the manager of the California Angels.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Jeff Goldbach, whose career in pro ball began as a promising prospect in the Cubs minor league system, died on 3/7 at age 41.

A catcher who also played at 1B and in LF, Goldbach was in the Cubs organization from 1998-2002. He began the 2003 season at AA Frisco (Rangers) but never got past Double-A ball, so he turned to the independent minor leagues in mid-2003, playing there until his retirement after the 2006 season performing his trade in both the Northern League and the Frontier League.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Jim Snyder, a 2B for the Twins in the early 1960s, died on 3/9 at age 88.

Snyder was a September call-up for Minnesota in 1961, and was a back-up 2B in 1962 and 1964.

He also spent most of the 1988 season as manager of the Seattle Mariners. Taking over the post from Dick Williams, Snyder went 45-60 as the manager.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Eulogio (Frankie) de la Cruz, a RHP who pitched for 4 different teams in 4 MLB seasons, died on 3/14, 2 days after his 37th birthday.

He pitched for the Tigers (2007), Marlins (2008), Padres (2009) and Brewers (2011), finishing his MLB log with a career high of 11 appearances in one season (2011), exclusively in relief except for 1 start in 2008, and retired with a 0-0 won-lost ledger and no saves.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Ed Armbrister, an OF for the Reds from 1973-77, died on 3/17 at age 72.

Armbrister was a valuable reserve flychaser for the Big Red Machine teams, earning 2 World Series rings during his 5-year career in The Show (1975-76). He is a native of the Bahamas, being born and dying both in Nassau.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Elgin Baylor, a Hall of Famer who excelled as a player and GM, and also spent 4 seasons as a head coach, died on 3/22 at age 86.

Baylor's entire NBA playing career was spent with the Lakers, beginning in 1958-59 when the Lakers played in Minneapolis, to 1971-72 when they called Los Angeles home as the team does now. In his rookie season, he took home both the NBA Rookie of the Year award and the trophy for All-Star Game MVP. He also made 10 All-NBA teams and was named to11 squads for the NBA Al-Star Game.

After his playing career was over, he spent 4 seasons as the head coach of the New Orleans Jazz and afterwards spent 20 years in the front office of the Clippers, mainly as GM.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Bobby Brown, a utility player who contributed to the Yankees for 8 seasons, died earlier this week at age 96.

Brown appeared in 4 different World Series for the Bronx Bombers, with his career spanning from 1946-54 (excluding 1953). Later in life he was the American League President from 1984-94.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Joe Cunningham, a 1B for 3 MLB teams in a 12-year career, died on 3/25 at age 89.

After being promoted by the Cardinals to the Majors during the 1954 season, Cunningham returned near the end of the '56 campaign after spending most of that season and all of 1955 in military service. Being named to the NL All-Star team for both of the games held in 1959, he remained with St. Louis until after the 1961 season, when he was traded to the White Sox.

The South Side of Chicago remained his MLB home through mid-1964, when he was dealt to the Senators, ending his playing career there after appearing in 4 games in April 1966.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Coot Veal, a reserve SS for 6 years in the Majors, died on 3/14 at age 88.

His career, which ran from 1958-63, was spent primarily with the Tigers, although he played for the expansion Senators in 1961, and in 1 game for the Pirates in 1962.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Mike Bell, the current bench coach for the Minnesota Twins, died on 3/26 due to cancer. He was 46.

Part of the third generation of the Bell family in MLB (son of Buddy Bell, grandson of the late Gus Bell), his playing career in The Show was limited to 19 games at 3B with the 2000 Reds.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Howard Schnellenberger, a coach for over a half century in both college football and the NFL, died over the weekend at age 87.

He was the head coach of the Baltimore Colts in 1973 and part of 1974, this after he was hired away from Miami, for whom he was offensive coordinator for the undefeated, untied 1972 team. He also guided a once-awful Miami Hurricanes NCAA team, which became a successful program after his arrival, to an NCAA Championship during his tenure there.

He left to coach a Miami entry in the then-new USFL, but the team never got off the ground, and he returned to coaching in the college ranks. His final stop was at Florida Atlantic, spending a decade there before his retirement in 2011. The team's home field was later renamed in his honor.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Schnellenberger

[sox83cubs84]

Randy Tate, a RHP who went 5-13 as a starting pitcher in his only MLB season with the 1975 Mets, died on 3/25 at age 68.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Ken Reitz, a 3B who played for 11 years in the NL, 8 of them with the Cardinals, died on 3/31 at age 69.

Nicknamed "The Zamboni" due to his sure-handed defense, Reitz was named to 1 NL All-Star team and won 1 Gold Glove during his career. In those other 3 seasons, he played for the Giants (1976), Cubs (1981) and Pirates (1982).

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Chuck Schilling, the 2B for the Red Sox from 1961-65, died on 3/30 at age 83.

His best season was his rookie season, in which he set career highs in games played (158), RBI (62) and BA (.249). He also posted his career high in fielding percentage (.991) and led the AL in plate appearances (738).

Dave M.