Sports obituaries

[sox83cubs84]

Coot Veal, a reserve SS for 6 years in the Majors, died on 3/14 at age 88.

His career, which ran from 1958-63, was spent primarily with the Tigers, although he played for the expansion Senators in 1961, and in 1 game for the Pirates in 1962.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Joe Cunningham, a 1B for 3 MLB teams in a 12-year career, died on 3/25 at age 89.

After being promoted by the Cardinals to the Majors during the 1954 season, Cunningham returned near the end of the '56 campaign after spending most of that season and all of 1955 in military service. Being named to the NL All-Star team for both of the games held in 1959, he remained with St. Louis until after the 1961 season, when he was traded to the White Sox.

The South Side of Chicago remained his MLB home through mid-1964, when he was dealt to the Senators, ending his playing career there after appearing in 4 games in April 1966.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Bobby Brown, a utility player who contributed to the Yankees for 8 seasons, died earlier this week at age 96.

Brown appeared in 4 different World Series for the Bronx Bombers, with his career spanning from 1946-54 (excluding 1953). Later in life he was the American League President from 1984-94.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Elgin Baylor, a Hall of Famer who excelled as a player and GM, and also spent 4 seasons as a head coach, died on 3/22 at age 86.

Baylor's entire NBA playing career was spent with the Lakers, beginning in 1958-59 when the Lakers played in Minneapolis, to 1971-72 when they called Los Angeles home as the team does now. In his rookie season, he took home both the NBA Rookie of the Year award and the trophy for All-Star Game MVP. He also made 10 All-NBA teams and was named to11 squads for the NBA Al-Star Game.

After his playing career was over, he spent 4 seasons as the head coach of the New Orleans Jazz and afterwards spent 20 years in the front office of the Clippers, mainly as GM.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Ed Armbrister, an OF for the Reds from 1973-77, died on 3/17 at age 72.

Armbrister was a valuable reserve flychaser for the Big Red Machine teams, earning 2 World Series rings during his 5-year career in The Show (1975-76). He is a native of the Bahamas, being born and dying both in Nassau.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Eulogio (Frankie) de la Cruz, a RHP who pitched for 4 different teams in 4 MLB seasons, died on 3/14, 2 days after his 37th birthday.

He pitched for the Tigers (2007), Marlins (2008), Padres (2009) and Brewers (2011), finishing his MLB log with a career high of 11 appearances in one season (2011), exclusively in relief except for 1 start in 2008, and retired with a 0-0 won-lost ledger and no saves.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Jim Snyder, a 2B for the Twins in the early 1960s, died on 3/9 at age 88.

Snyder was a September call-up for Minnesota in 1961, and was a back-up 2B in 1962 and 1964.

He also spent most of the 1988 season as manager of the Seattle Mariners. Taking over the post from Dick Williams, Snyder went 45-60 as the manager.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Jeff Goldbach, whose career in pro ball began as a promising prospect in the Cubs minor league system, died on 3/7 at age 41.

A catcher who also played at 1B and in LF, Goldbach was in the Cubs organization from 1998-2002. He began the 2003 season at AA Frisco (Rangers) but never got past Double-A ball, so he turned to the independent minor leagues in mid-2003, playing there until his retirement after the 2006 season performing his trade in both the Northern League and the Frontier League.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Norm Sherry, a C who played for 5 years in the NL, died on 3/8 at age 89.

Sherry began his career in the Bigs with the 1959 World Series Champion Dodgers alongside his brother Larry, a main cog in the Dodgers relief corps. He remained with Los Angeles through 1962, before playing his last season in 1963 as a Met.

After that he spent numerous years in the Majors as a coach. He also spent portions of the 1976 and 1977 seasons as the manager of the California Angels.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Al Naples, a SS whose MLB career was limited to starting two consecutive games for the 1949 Browns, died on 2/26 at age 94.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Irv Cross, a CB who played for the Eagles (1961-65 and 1969) and the Rams (1966-68) died on 2/28 at age 81.

Cross was a member of 2 Pro Bowl teams and wore #27 his entire NFL career.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Joe Altobelli, best remembered as the manager of the 1983 World Series winning Baltimore Orioles, died on 3/3 at age 88.

Altobelli's best season was also his first go-round managing the O's through mid-1985. Before that, he was the field boss for the Giants (1977-79) and afterwards served as an interim manager for the Cubs for 1 game in 1991.

Joe's MLB playing career as a LF-PH-1B was sporadic, with stints with Cleveland in both 1955 and 1957 and his last hurrah as a player with the Twins in 1961.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Rheal Cormier, a LHP for several MLB teams, died on3/8 at age 53, a victim of cancer.

A native of Canada, Cormier pitched for 16 seasons in The Show. He is best remembered as a Cardinal (1991-94) and as a Phillie (2001-06). His career also had stops in Boston (1995, 1999-2000), Montreal (1966-67) and Cincinnati (2006-07).

Dave Miedema

[KDolch]

Hey Dave,
Its been quite along time since we have had contact. I bought a few things from you back in the day. Just found this site and found you. I am always looking for Bernie Carbo game used items as well as Charlie O'Brien and Bill Wegman. Let me know if you have any or have any leads. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks. Ken

[sox83cubs84]

Mark Pavelich, a member of the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team (The Miracle On Ice) died recently at age 63.

After his Olympics success, he moved on to the NHL, playing for 7 seasons with the Rangers, North Stars and Sharks.

Dave Miedema