Sports obituaries

[sox83cubs84]

Cliff Anderson, a shooting guard out of St. Joseph's who spent 4 seasons in the pros, died on 7/26 at age 76.

In his first 2 NBA seasons, he played for the Lakers, before appearing in 3 games for the ABA Denver Rockets in 1969-70. In his final season, he returned to the NBA, splitting his time between the Cavs and the 76ers.

Dave M.

[sox83cubs84]

Bobby Bowden, longtime football head coach at Florida State and the second winningest head coach in Division 1 history, died on 8/8 at age 91 after a battle with cancer.

Bowden won the 1999 BCS championship, 12 ACC championship and finished in the top 5 in the AP polls for 14 season in a row.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Ron Saul a guard out of Michigan State who played for 12 years in the NFL, died on 6/15 at age 73.

Saul's pro career, which ran from 1970-81, was split evenly between two teams. The first 6 years found him playing for the Houston Oilers, and he joined the Washington Redskins for the final six.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Nino Escalera, a member of the 1954 Reds, died on 7/3 at age 91.

The first native Puerto Rican to ever play for the Reds, .Escalera played several infield and outfield positions, and also served as a pinch-hitter and pinch-runner.

Dave M.

[sox83cubs84]

Bryan Watson, a defenseman whose 16-season career began in the NHL era of the Original Six and ended in the defunct WHA, died on 7/8 at age 78.

Beginning in 1963-64, he opened his career with 2 seasons with the Canadiens. After playing the next seasons with the Red Wings, he then returned to Montreal for the 1967-68 campaign.

Beginning in 1968-69, he began a string of several years playing for teams from the Second Six, the expansion team that doubled the size of the NHL overnight. He began that run with 50 games for the Oakland Seals before being dealt to the Penguins for his final 18 games for the season. He continued with Pittsburgh until another deal sent him to the Blues for 11 games.

Watson then made a third stop during 1973-74, heading back to Detroit for his last 21 games of the season. He continued his encore with the Original 6 team into 1976-77 when, after 14 games, he was on the move again, this time to Washington. He finished the season with the Capitals, played the entire season in DC the following season, and then split his final go-round (1978-79) between the Caps and the WHA Cincinnati Stingers.

Over that long career, he only led the NHL in a single category once...212 penalty minutes in 1971-72 with the Penguins.

Dave

[sox83cubs84]

Bryan Watson, a defenseman whose 16-season career began in the NHL era of the Original Six and ended in the defunct WHA, died on 7/8 at age 78.

Beginning in 1963-64, he opened his career with 2 seasons with the Canadiens. After playing the next seasons with the Red Wings, he then returned to Montreal for the 1967-68 campaign.

Beginning in 1968-69, he began a string of several years playing for teams from the Second Six, the expansion team that doubled the size of the NHL overnight. He began that run with 50 games for the Oakland Seals before being dealt to the Penguins for his final 18 games for the season. He continued with Pittsburgh until another deal sent him to the Blues for 11 games.

Watson then made a third stop during 1973-74, heading back to Detroit for his last 21 games of the season. He continued his encore with the Original 6 team into 1976-77 when, after 14 games, he was on the move again, this time to Washington. He finished the season with the Capitals, played the entire season in DC the following season, and then split his final go-round (1978-79) between the Caps and the WHA Cincinnati Stingers.

Over that long career, he only led the NHL in a single category once...212 penalty minutes in 1971-72 with the Penguins.

Dave

[sox83cubs84]

Joe Taffoni, an offensive lineman who spent 6 seasons in the NFL, died on 7/26 at age 76.

A 4th round draft pick by the Browns in 1967, he played for Cleveland through 1970. Out of the NFL in '71, he returned to the league with the New York Giants for 1972-73.

Dave M.



On left photo, top row, center.

[sox83cubs84]

Ted Wieand, a RHP with brief MLB stints with Cincinnati, died on 7/7 at age 88.

Wieand made 6 mound appearances for the Redlegs, all in relief: 1 in 1958 and 5 in 1960.

While not to Cal McLish levels, his full name was Franklin Delano Roosevelt Wieand.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Jim Shofner, a CB who played for the Browns from 1958-63, died on 7/21 at age 85.

Dave M.

[sox83cubs84]

Ralph E. Davis, a shooting guard for 2 seasons in the NBA in the early 1960s, died on 5/30 at age 82.

Davis played for the Cincinnati Royals in 1960-61 and took the court for the Chicago Packers in 1961-62.

Dave M.