Gone But Not Forgotten - Baseball Edition

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Texas Rangers players who passed away in 2024. Today I would like to share memories of some other baseball players that we lost last year.

Willie Mays - What more can I say about someone who would be on anyone’s list of the best all-around players of all time? The Say Hey Kid could truly do it all, and he did it with an element of flair. He wore a cap that was intentionally too large so that it would fly off when he sped around the bases, and kids everywhere tried to make a basket catch like Willie. My favorite picture of Mays shows him playing stickball with children in the streets of New York. He loved the game - and the game loved him.

Pete Rose - The all-time major league hits leader is remembered for many things; unfortunately, most associate him with a lifetime ban from baseball (and the Hall of Fame) for his admitted gambling on baseball. I like to remember “Charlie Hustle” of the 60’s and 70’s playing five different positions in a 24 year career, flying through the air like Superman as he stole a base.

Rickey Henderson - “The Man of Steal” is the game’s all-time leader in stolen bases and runs scored. The best lead off hitter ever.

Orlando Cepeda - a slugging first baseman for the Cardinals, Giants, and four other teams. “Baby Bull” went into the Hall with Nolan Ryan, Robin Yount and George Brett. What a class! Cepeda was the second Puerto Rican inductee (after Clemente)

Luis Tiant - not in the HOF but SHOULD BE! You can read my previous post for details.

Fernando Valenzuela - burst on the baseball scene in 1980 and became a huge fan favorite after he threw five shutouts in his first eight starts as a 19 year old. “Fernandomania” gripped Southern California like nothing else and spread throughout the country. One of twelve children, Valenzuela came from very humble beginnings in Mexico to be admired during and after his baseball career.

Ed Kranepool - an original New York Met who spent 18 years with the team.

Don Gullett - one of the best pitchers for the Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds of the seventies.

Carl Erskine - the last surviving player from the Brooklyn Dodgers and the last living teammate of Jackie Robinson, he is remembered as an excellent pitcher and a great humanitarian who was an ally of the Special Olympics.

Jerry Grote - a San Antonio native who had a 16 year career as a catcher. Perhaps the best tribute to his effectiveness came from contemporary Johnny Bench - “If Jerry Grote played on my team I would be playing third base”.

Ken Holtzman - had a 15 year career with 4 teams, most notably 4 years with the 70’s A’s where he averaged almost 20 wins a year.

Rocky Colavito - Old time Cleveland Indians fans still mourn that April day in April when Rocky was traded to Detroit for Harvey Kuenn. It remains as the only time a reigning home run king was traded for the league’s batting champion.

Next time we’ll discuss others from the world of sports.

That’s one man’s opinion - what’s yours?