Sports obituaries

[sox83cubs84]

Bob Lee, a RHP who shined during his first couple of years in The Show, died on 3/25 at age 82.

He was a solid reliever for the Angels from 1964-66, and made the AL All-Star team. This honor was during a season where he finished with a 9-7 record, a 1.92 EA and 23 saves. His last 2 seasons were spent primarily with the Reds, although he began 1967 by appearing in 4 games with the Dodgers.

Dave Miedema

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Dick Hyde, a relief pitcher in the late 1950s for the original Washington Senators, died on 4/15 at age 91.

After a late season call-up to the Senators in 1955, he returned and became a key performer for Washington's bullpen from 1957-59. His best year was 1958, when he finished with a 10-3 record, a 1.75 ERA and led the AL with 44 games finished and 19 saves. He also served on the Senators' staff in 1960, before closing out his time in The Show with the Orioles in 1961.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Bart Johnson, a pitcher whose entire career was spent with the White Sox, died on 4/22 at age 70.

Johnson served both out of the bullpen and as a starter between 1969 and 1977 (did not play in 1975). His best season was 1974, when he went 10-4 with a 2.74 ERA and 8 complete games.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Jim Tucker, a power forward who played in the NBA during the 1950s, died on 5/14 at age 87.

Tucker, who played in 3 seasons with the Syracuse Nationals, had his debut in the Association on 1/30/1955. Although he only appeared in 20 regular season games, he experienced what many NBA legends never did...being part off an NBA Championship team in 1954-55, his rookie season. He played in 70 games in 1955-56, and then ended his career after 9 games in 1956-57.

Dave Miedema





Jim Tucker on left, dark uniform.

[sox83cubs84]

Bobby Locke, a RHP, mostly in relief, who spent 1959and most of the 1960's in The Show, died on 6/4 at age 86.

L0ocke made it up to the majors in 1959, pitching for 3 seasons with the indians. He appeared in 1 game for the 1962 Cardinals, then was dealt to the Phillies, where he strode the mound through 1964. After spending 1965 with the Reds, he missed the next season in MLB, before ending is career with 2 years of mound work for the Angels (1967-68). In '67, in 9 games he went 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Dick Lucas, an end who played for the 1960 NFL Champion Eagles, died on 4/29 as a result of COVID19. He was 86.

After appearing in 4 games for the 1958 Steelers, he made his mark with the Eagles from 1960-63.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

John Miller, a RHP who logged in 5 years of mound action for the Orioles, died on 6/5 at age 79.

Miller was part of the O's in 1962-63, and again from 1965-67, and was part of the 1966 World Series winning team.

Dave Miedema

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Dale Hawerchuk, a 16-year center in the NHL, a Hall of Famer, and a member of the NHL's 500-goal club, died on 8/18 at age 57 after a long battle with cancer.

Awarded the Calder Trophy (NHL Rookie of the Year) for the 1981-82 season, Hawerchuk spent the majority of his career with Winnipeg and Buffalo, along with brief stops in St. Louis and in Philadelphia in his last 2 seasons. His career goals total was 518.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Gale Sayers, a HoF RB who played his entire NFL career with the Chicago Bears, died after a long battle with dementia on 9/23. He was 77

Drafted after a stellar career at the University of Kansas, Sayers starred for the Bears from 1965-71, although he was disabled by knee injuries in three of those seasons. He led the NFL in rushing yards twice: 1966 (1,231) and 1969 (1,032). He was also valuable in returning kicks.

Named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1965, he was part of 4 Pro Bowl teams and was named to 5 All-Pro squads. He was inducted into the Pro Football HOF in 1977, the youngest inductee ever.

He also was named to the 1960s All-NFL team and tied a record by scoring 6 TDs in a game.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Carroll Hardy, who played in both MLB and the NFL, died on 8/9 at age 87.

Hardy played in the Bigs from 1958-64 with the Indians, Red Sox and Colt .45s. He also participated in 11 games for the 1967 Twins.

Before he made it to The Show, he appeared in 10 games as a RB for the 1955 49ers.

Hardy also has a one-of-a-kind status in MLB, as he was, and will remain, the only player in MLB annals ever to pinch-hit for Ted Williams.

Dave Miedema