Sports obituaries

[sox83cubs84]

Dan Pfister, a RHP whose 4-year MLB career was saddled by playing all 4 seasons with a perennial cellar dweller, died 11/9 at age 83.

Pfister's 4 seasons in the Bigs (1961-64) were all spent with the Kansas City Athletics.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

International soccer legeend Diego Maradona (from Argentina) died of a heart attack on 11/25 at age 60.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Bob Miller, a RHP who was a member of the Whiz Kids (1950 NL pennant-winning Phillies) died on 11/28 at age 94.

Miller went 11-6 with a 3.57 ERA during that memorable season. His entire 10-year MLB career (1949-58) was spent in Philadelphia. A 1959 Topps card pictures him as a St. Louis Cardinal but never appeared for them in a regular season game.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Marv Marinovich, a guard who was the captain of the 1962 NCAA Champion USC Trojans, died on 12/3 at age 81.

Marv played in one AFL game for the Raiders in 1965. His son is Todd Marinovich.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Dick Allen, a major slugger for most of the 1960s and 70s, died on 12/7 at age 78.

"Crash", as he was sometimes know, played from 1963-77, mostly with the Phillies (1963-69, 1975-76) and the White Sox (1972-74). He was the NL Rookie of the Year with Philly in 1964 and AL MVP with the Chisox in 1972. He also spent single seasons with the Cardinals (1970), Dodgers (1971) and A's (1977). He was also selected for 7 All-Star Games. Over the course of his MLB career, he slammed 351 HR and drove in 1,119 runs.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Tommy Sandt, a utility infielder who played 1 game with Oakland in 1975 and 41 more in 1976, died at age 69 on 12/1.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Bill Spanswick, a LHP who appeared in 29 games for the 1964 Red Sox, died on 12/2 at age 82.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Denis Menke, an infielder who played for 3 NL ballclubs over a 13-year career, died on 12/1 at age 80.

Menke played with the Braves (1962-67), the Astros (1968-71, 1974) and the Reds (1972-73). He was part of 2 All-Star Game teams, and played in one World Series (1972) where he was active in all 7 games and, while only collecting 2 hits, one of them was a solo HR.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Phil Linz, an infielder for 7 years in The Show, died on 12/9 at age 81.

Linz first played in the Bigs with the Yankees (1962-65). He appeared in both the '63 and '64 World Series for the Yanks, and also during his tour of duty with the 1960s version of the Bronx Bombers earned the wrath of manager Yogi Berra when, after a tough loss, Linz began playing his harmonica on the otherwise silent bus.

Linz spent 1966 and part of '67 with the Phillies. A mid-season deal sent him back to the Big Apple, but with the Mets, for whom he played until his retirement after the 1968 season.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Charley Pride, a one-time Negro League and Minor League ballplayer who went on to a lucrative career in country music, died on 12/12 at age 86.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Billy DeMars, a back-up infielder in 3 seasons in The Show, and who later become a longtime coach with the Phillies, died on 12/10 at age 95.

DeMars first appeared in the Majors with the Philadelphia A's in 1948. Not in the Majors in '49, he came back to MLB with the St. Louis
Browns for 1950-51, with his '51 ledger indicating that he only played in 1 game that season.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

[sox83cubs84]

Lorenzo Taliaferro, a RB out of Coastal Carolina who played for the Ravens for 3 seasons, died 12/16, a week before his 29th birthday. Cause of death appears to be a heart attack. His NFL career ran from 2014-2016.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Kevin Greene, a HOF LB/DE who played for 4 different NFL over 15 years, died on 12/21 at age 58. Cause of death has nott yet been announced.

Greene spent 8 seasons with the Rams (1985-92), after which he played for the Steelers (1993-95), and for the 49ers (1997), sandwiched between 2 tours of duty with Carolina (1996, 1998-99).

The Auburn alum, who wore #91 for his entire NFL career, was named to 5 Pro Bowl squads and was named to the HOF All-1990s Team.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Billy Harris, a backup infielder with short tours of duty with 2 AL teams, died on 12/20 at age 77.

Harris appeared in 38 games for the 1968 Indians, and was also an original Kansas City Royal, albeit for only 5 games.

Dave Miedema