Sports obituaries

[sox83cubs84]

Horace Clarke, a 2B for 10 MLB seasons, almost exclusively with the Yankees, died on 85 at age 81.

Clarke had the misfortune of playing for the Yankees when they basically sucked, never being part of a team that made the postseason. Born in the Virgin Islands, he played in The Show from 1965-74, with his only other team being the Padres, where he appeared in the final 42 games of his MLB career.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Hall of Fame pitcher and Mets legend Tom Seaver died at age 75 on 8/31, the result of a form of body dementia and also implications from COVID19.

His list of career accomplishments is long and detailed:

1967 NL Rookie of the Year
3 Cy Young Awards
3 NL ERA titles
12x NL All-Star
Ace of 1969 World Champion Mets

Seaver came within one out of throwing a perfect game against the Cubs at Shea Stadium in 1969. It was broken up by Cubs PH Jim Qualls.

His arrival with the Red Sox came during the 1986 season after a trade with the White Sox, where Boston sent Steve Lyons to the Pale Hose in exchange for Seaver. One clever sportswriter termed the swap as "Cy Young for Psy-cho".

Career totals:

W-L record: 311-205
ERA 2.86
IP 4,783
SO 3,640

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Fred Wenz, a relief pitcher in the Majors for 23 years, died on 10/6 at age 79.

After brief stints with the Red Sox (1 game in 1968, 8 games in 1969), Wenz joined the Phillies in 1970, appearing in 22 contests. All of his appearnces during his MLB career were out of the bullpen.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Jack McMahan, a LHP who split the 1956 season between the Kansas City A's and the Pittsburgh Pirates, died on 10/16 at age 88.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Johnny Paredes, a utility infielder who had short stints with the Expos and Tigers, died 11/4 at age 58.

A native of Venezuela, Paredes spent time with Montreal in 1988 and 1990, and after that Detroit in 1990-91.

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]

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