Sports obituaries

[sox83cubs84]

Phillip Adams, a DB for Oakland and 5 other NFL teams from 2010-15, died on 4/8 as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after killing 5 other people. He was 32.

It's suspected that his abnormal and criminal behavior may have stemmed from brain damage caused by multiple concussions during his NFL career, and studies are being done to determine any connection between the two.

Dave M.

[sox83cubs84]

Longtime Pacers coach Bobby "Slick" Leonard, a Basketball HoFer, died on 4/13 at age 88.

Leonard began in the NBA as a player for 7 seasons with the first five calling the shots for the Lakers (4 seasons in Minneapolis and 1 in Los Angeles), and played his final two seasons in Chicago, the first one with the Chicago Packers, and the second with the renamed Chicago Zephyrs, where he also coached the team. He remained their coach when the team moved to Baltimore and became the Bullets first head coach for just that inaugural season.

Five seasons later, he took the helm with the Indiana Pacers, remaining there for nearly 12 season, and guiding the Pacers to 3 ABA Championships during his time there.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Leroy Keyes, a DB/RB for 5 seasons in the NFL, died on 4/15 at age 74.

An alumnus of Purdue, Keyes played for 5 years in the pros: 1969-72 with the Eagles, and 1973 (Chiefs). He was a 1st round draft choice, and #3 overall in the 1969 NFL draft.

Dave M.

[sox83cubs84]

Jack Smith, a RHP who spent parts of 3 season as a reliever in the NL, died on 4/7 at age 85

Smith had roster expansion callups with the Dodgers in 1962 and '63 before pitching for a half-season in 1964 with the Braves, where he went 2-2.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Tom Robson, a PH-DH-1B who had brief playing stints with Texas in 1974 and '75 died on 4/20 at age 75.

After his retirement, Robson had coaching stints with both the Rangers and the Mets.

Dave M.

[sox83cubs84]

Terrence Clarke, a basketball star in his first season with the NCAA Kentucky Wildcats, died on 4/22 in an auto accident. He was 19.

Clarke had declared his intention to leave college for the 2021 NBA Draft, and was considered to be very likely to be picked in the draft.

Dave M.

[sox83cubs84]

Mike Davis, a DB who played for the Raiders in both Oakland and Los Angeles from 1978-85 and was a contributor to two Super Bowl Championship teams there died over the weekend at age 65.

Davis returned an interception for a TD in 1982. He attempted a comeback with the Chargers in 1987, appearing in 8 games before hanging his cleats up for good after the season.

Dave M.

[sox83cubs84]

Adrian Garrett, a LH PH-C-OF with 4 MLB teams during his 8 years in The Show, died on 4/22 at age 78.

Garrett first appeared in the Majors in 1966 with 4 games played for the first Atlanta Braves team. After serving in the military, he returned in 1970, appearing in 3 games with the Cubs. After 2 seasons with Oakland in 1971-72, he was dealt back to the Cubs, playing with them from 1973-75, joining the Angels for the later portion of '75, and remaining there in 1976 before retiring. His brother is 1969 Mets champion Wayne Garrett.

Dave M.

[sox83cubs84]

[QUOTE=sox83cubs84;413898]Adrian Garrett, a LH PH-C-OF with 4 MLB teams during his 8 years in The Show, died on 4/22 at age 78.

Garrett first appeared in the Majors in 1966 with 4 games played for the first Atlanta Braves team. After serving in the military, he returned in 1970, appearing in 3 games with the Cubs. After 2 seasons with Oakland in 1971-72, he was dealt back to the Cubs, playing with them from 1973-75, joining the Angels for the later portion of '75, and remaining there in 1976 before retiring. His brother is 1969 Mets champion Wayne Garrett.

Dave M.

Sorry...wrong photo.

[sox83cubs84]

Geno Hayes, a LB for 7 seasons in the NFL, died on 4/26 at age 33.

Drafted by Tampa Bay in the 6th round of the 2008 NFL Draft, the Florida State alum remained with the Bucs through 2011, He followed that up with one year with the Bears and closed out his career in 2014 after 2 seasons with the Jaguars.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Pete Lammons, a TE who spent 6 of his 7 years in pro football with the New York Jets, died on 4/29 at age 77.

Drafted by the Jets in the 1966 AFL Draft after a college career at Texas, Lammons was part of the fabled Super Bowl 3 Jets Champions, and also appeared in 1 Pro Bowl. His career ended in 1972 with Green Bay.

Over his 7 seasons in the NFL and AFL, he only missed 3 gams.

Dave M.

[sox83cubs84]

Granville Waiters, a center for 5 NBA seasons in the 1980s, died on 3/23 at age 60.

The ex-Buckeye spent 2 seasons (1983-84 and 1984-85) with the Pacers, the next season with Houston, and his last 2 NBA campaigns with the Bulls.

Dave M.

[sox83cubs84]

Bob Plager, one of the NHL Plager brothers who spent 14 seasons as a defenseman in the NHL, died on 3/24 at age 78.

Plager's active playing career began during the 1964-65 season in the Original 6 days with the Rangers, playing there for 3 seasons. After that he spent 11 seasons skating for the Blues, one of the league's Second Six teams.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Del Crandall, a catcher who spent 16 years in The Show and later managed in the Majors, died on 5/5 at age 91.

Crandall, as a Milwaukee Braves catcher (1953-63) played in 8 All-Star Games, won 4 Gold Gloves, and was the starting catcher on both the World Series Champion Braves in 1957 and the NL pennant winning Braves in '58.

When he was promoted to the majors by the Boston Braves in June 1949, he became the youngest starting catcher in MLB history at that point (age 19). He finished second to Brooklyn's Don Newcombe in NL Rookie of the Year voting, and played for Boston in 1950, as well, before serving the next two years in the military.

When he returned to the Braves in 1953, they had relocated to Milwaukee and were in their first season in the Beer City. After he finished his time with the Braves, he spent the final 3 years of his career with 3 different teams: Giants (1964), Pirates (1965) and Indians (1966).

After he retired, he returned to the Bigs as a manager for the Brewers (1972-75) and the Mariners (1983-84).

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Ray Miller, a longtime coach in MLB who managed both the Twins (1985-86) and the Orioles (1998-99) died earliert his week at age 76.

Miller's minor league pitching career spanned 10 seasons, mostly in the farm systems of Cleveland and Baltimore, although his initial season in pro ball was spent in the Giants organization (1964). Although his final 5 seasons of pitching were at the Triple-A level, h nver pitched in the Majors.

Dave Miedema