Baseball mourns the members of the family who passed in 2006
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From MLB.com
2006 was a significant year for losses suffered within the baseball family. From a Hall of Famer, to a current player, to a Negro Leagues legend, baseball has lost a lengthy list of contributor to our beloved game. Below is a brief and incomplete list of these notables.
Elden Auker: A former Kansas State quarterback, Auker developed his widely recognized submarine style delivery after recuperating from an injury suffered while still in school He compiled a record of 130-101 over his ten year career which was spent primarily with the Detroit Tigers. Known for a delivery in which his knuckles would occasionally scrape the mound, Auker died on August 4 in Vero Beach FL at the age of 95.
Chris Brown: Died December 26 at the age of 45, a month after suffering burns in a fire at his Houston, TX home. The second round draft pick of the Giants in 1979, Brown was the third baseman on the NL All-Rookie Team in 1985 and on the 1986 NL All-Star team. Unable to fully recover from shoulder surgery following the 1986 season, Brown moved first to San Diego and then Detroit before leaving the game for good following the 1989 season. A noted malcontent, Brown infamously missed a game with the Giants due to a strained eye lid. Post-career, Brown meritoriously served his country as a civilain employee stationed in Iraq, as a chief mechanic on 18-wheel transport trucks.
Johnny Callison: Died October 12 in his adopted home of Philadelphia, PA, at age 67. A star with the Phillies in the early '60's, Callison teamed with NL Rookie of the Year Richie Allen to power the Phillies to a near NL title in 1964. The infamous collapse, blowing a 6 1/2 game lead with 10 games to play likely cost Callison the NL MVP award. A rocket-armed right-fielder, Callison's career was cut short by numerous injuries, but basked in glory for a lifetime a walk-off homer which won the 1964 All-Star game for the National League.
Rod Dedeaux: Passed away on January 5 in Glendale, CA; age 91. Mention the name Rod Dedeaux most people relate his name to his lasting legacy as one of the greatest and most enduring coaches in the history of college baseball. Most people forget, however, Dedeaux had a long minor league playing career which was capped by a two game stint at shortstop for the 1935 Brooklyn Dodgers. During a 45-year tenure as the head coach at the University of Southern California, Dedeaux won 28 conference titles, resulting in an NCAA record 11 national championships. Over 50 of Dedeaux' players eventually made the Major Leagues, with two reaching the ultimate plateau, current Hall of Famer Tom Seaver and future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.
Pat Dobson: Died November 26 in San Diego, CA, at the age of 67, one day after being diagnosed with cancer. An eleven year ML veteran, Dobson used what was called the best curveball in the game to win 122 games, and gained forever acclaim as being one of four Baltimore Orioles pitchers to win 20 games in 1971. The brother of former ML pitcher Chuck Dobson, he remained in the game as an on field pitching coach and coordinator, and an off the field advisor, a position he held with the Giants at the time of his death.
Moe Drabowsky: Died June 10 in Little Rock, AR; age 70. A seventeen year ML veteran, Drabowsky was one of the first relief pitchers to be used extensively as a closer. As a member of the expansion Seattle Pilots in 1969, he set the record for wins by an expansion pitcher until broken by Andy Benes of the 1998 Diamondbacks. Widely acclaimed as a free spirit and practical joker, Drabowsky was a primary character in Jim Bouton's book "Ball Four", once calling for Chinese take-out to be delivered to the visitors bullpen in Baltimore.
Curt Gowdy: Died Feb. 20 in West Palm Beach, FL @ age 86: A diversely talented and capable broadcaster, Gowdy worked first as the voice of the Boston Red Sox from 1954 through 1966, and then as the primary announcer for NBC's coverage of Major League Baseball. With NBC, Gowdy broadcast 13 World Series, 16 All-Star Games, and numerous milestone events, which culminated in 1984 being awarded the Ford C. Frick Award by the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Eric Gregg: A 22 year veteran umpire in the National League, Gregg died June 5 in Philadelphia, PA. age the age of 55. A popular and colorful umpire, Gregg was not only a fan favorite but a player favorite as well. Known for a lifetime of weight problems, Gregg lost in excess of 100 pound during his last two years in the league and by all accounts had managed to keep most of the weight off post career.
Steve Howe: Killed in a single vehicle accident on April 28 in Coachella, CA. Howe, who was 48, was regarded as the best left-handed relief pitcher in baseball during the early '80.s. Howe gained infamy because of a career long battle with drugs and alcohol, eventually being suspended by ML Baseball seven times for various infractions. A hard thrower, Howe was the 1980 NL Rookie of the Year with the Dodgers.
Jim Lemon: Died on May 14 in Brandon, MS; age 78. Signed to be the Senators version of Mickey Mantle, Lemon pounded 164 home runs over a thirteen year Major League career that was interrupted by two years of military service in the Korean War. A 6'4" centerfielder with one of the best throwing arms in ML history, Lemon enjoyed his best Major League day on Aug. 31, 1956, when he hit three home runs off Yankees ace Whitey Ford, with a combined distance of over 1300 feet.
Cory Lidle: Our active ML player, Lidle died on his way home following the end of the 2006 season. With his flight instructor on board, Lidle took off from a small airport in New Jersey for a tour of Manhattan and then on to his native southern states to visit family before heading to his home in Scottsdale, AZ. Flying the normal flight pattern up the East River to the upper east side of Manhattan, then turning left and coming south following the Hudson, what was subsequently determined to be both pilot error and excessive wind gusts, Lidle's plane was blown into a large apartment building, killing both men on impact. Lidle was 34 years old.
Paul Lindblad: Died on Jan. 1 in Arlington, TX; age 64. The lefthanded member of the right/left bullpen of the "Swingin' A's" dynasty in the early seventies, Lindblad teamed with righty counterpart Rollie Fingers to help lead the Athletics to three straight World Series appearances.
Joe Niekro. The brother of Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, Joe had a great career of his own, winnning 221 games, including two 20 win seasons. Primarily a fastball/curveball pitcher, Niekro spent the first few years of his career as a journeyman. Learning the fine art of the knuckleball from his brother, Niekro emerged as one of the National League's finest starting pitchers in the late 1970s. Regarded within the game as having a better knuckler than his brother, Niekro's career took a turn for the better in 1975, when he joined the Houston Astros. In 1978, Joe became a 21-game winner with Houston, tying brother Phil for the National League lead in victories. In 1980, Niekro again reached the 20-win milestone, this time helping the Astros claim the first postseason berth in franchise history. Joe Niekro is the all-time winningest pitcher in Houston Astros history, and also the father of San Francisco Giants first baseman Lance Niekro/. Joe Niekro died October 27th in Tampa FL at age 61, shortly after appearing with his brother at the Hall of Fame Fantasy Camp in Cooperstown.
Buck O'Neil: Died on Oct. 6 in Kansas City, MO; age 94. A well-known spokesman and curator of the Negro League Museum, O'Neil was active in baseball to the very end, delivering a notable speech at this year's HOF induction ceremonies only two months before his passing. A beloved personality within the game, especially later in life, O'Neil began his professional career in the Negro Leagues as a first baseman. A slick fielding first baseman and average hitter, ONeil was a valuable player. After his playing days, he made a smooth transition to managing. O'Neil won four Negro Leagues pennants, led his clubs to two appearances in the Black World Series, and guided his teams to a perfect record of 4-0 in the East-West Game, the Negro Leagues' celebrated All-Star Game. Upon the demise of the Negro Leagues in the early fifties, O'Neil became the first black coach in the Major Leagues, with the Chicago Cubs. Having ties with the former Negro League players, O'Neil is credited with several signings as a scout, including Hall of Famer Lou Brock and notable major leaguers such as Joe Carter and Oscar Gamble.
Kirby Puckett: Hall of Famer died on March 6 after suffering a stroke in his Scottsdale AZ home the day before, at age 45. Beset by health problems his entire career, Puckett nonetheless was one of the most popular players of the 1980s and 1990s, batting .315 with 207 home runs over a 12-year career. Puckett won six Gold Gloves for his defensive play in center field, and helped the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. In addition to his HOF numbers, Puckett holds a dubious ML record, that being the only player in history to have a full season of 500 AB's with zero homers, and also a full season of 500 AB's and 30 homers. Forced to retire due to a sudden infliction of glaucoma, Puckett was honored as a first ballot HOF'er, the third youngest to reach the plateau of excellence, trailing only Lou Gehrig and Sandy Koufax.
Johnny Sain Died on Nov. 7 in Downer's Grove, IL; age 89. Sain was highly successful in two different careers within baseball; he emerged as the Milwaukee Braves' No. 2 starter behind Hall of Famer Warren Spahn during the 1940s and then became one of the game's most highly respected pitching coaches over a span of nearly three decades. A three-time All-Star who won 139 games in his career, Sain became a workhorse for the Braves, winning 24 games during their pennant-winning season of 1948 and prompting the saying, "Spahn and Sain, and pray for rain."
Larry Sherry: Died Dec. 17 in Mission Viejo, CA; age 71. With his brother Norm, formed a memorable battery combination with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959, when he won the first game of a three-game tiebreaking playoff and then recorded three wins in relief during the World Series. Sherry's postseason efforts against the Chicago White Sox earned him World Series MVP honors.
Syd Thrift:Died on Sept. 19 in Baltimore, MD; age 77).Known for his intelligence, innovation, and ego, the colorful Thrift started his career in baseball in 1949, when he joined the Yankees' organization. Thrift began to make a name for himself when he joined the Kansas City Royals in the late 1960s; he founded the team's unique Baseball Academy, which produced several Major Leaguers, including Frank White, Rodney Scott, and U.L. Washington. In 1985, Thrift became general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he established a reputation as an aggressive, freewheeling trader, acquiring talents like Bobby Bonilla, Doug Drabek, and Andy Van Slyke. Thrift also hired Jim Leyland as Pittsburgh's skipper, giving the career Minor Leaguer his first shot at managing in the Major Leagues.
Cecil Travis: (Died on Dec. 16 in Fayetteville, NC; age 93): Travis was the American League's premier shortstop in the years leading up to World War II, but the effects of the war diminished his All-Star caliber of play. From 1934 to 1941, Travis batted better than .300 every season with the exception of one, 1939. He was named to three All-Star teams and twice finished in the Top 10 in American League MVP voting. In 1941, Travis quietly led the league in hits with 218 and drove in 101 runs despite hitting only seven home runs, but his performance was overshadowed by Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak and Ted Williams' .406 season. On Christmas Eve of that year, Travis received word that he had been called to active duty in World War II. At 28, Travis would find his career interrupted for four years; he would not return to the Major Leagues until 1946, when he was 32. During his military stint, he suffered a severe case of frostbite in two of his toes. With his mobility impaired and his timing at the plate damaged, Travis struggled for two seasons before retiring.
Jose Uribe:Died on Dec. 8 near Santo Domingo, DR; age 47. Uribe died in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic. A 10-year veteran of the Major Leagues, Uribe was a fine defensive shortstop who anchored the middle infield for the San Francisco Giants' division-winning season of 1987 along side the previously mentioned Chris Brown, and their pennant-winning team of 1989. After his playing days, Uribe ran unsuccessfully for mayor in his hometown of Juan Baron.
The following is a list of other notable baseball figures who passed away in 2006:
Oscar Acosta (age 49): Minor League manager, former MLB pitching coach. Along with scout Humberto Trejo, killed in car accident in Domincan Republic. Both men were on Yankees employees.
Ace Adams (age 95): MLB right-handed pitcher; 1943 National League All-Star.
ill Baker (age 95): MLB catcher; played in 1940 World Series.
Merv Connors (age 91): MLB first baseman; slugged over 400 HR in the Minor Leagues.
Jim Delsing (age 80): MLB outfielder; pinch-ran for Eddie Gaedel in Bill Veeck's 1951 stunt. Father of PGA Tour pro Jay Delsing.
Billy Hitchcock (age 89): MLB infielder and manager; career record of 274-261.
Jeff James (age 64): MLB right-handed pitcher; pitched for Phillies in 1968 and 1969.
Bill Johnson (age 87): MLB third baseman; hit .271 over nine seasons.
Ron Jones (age 42): MLB outfielder; top prospect stalled by serious knee injury.
Buddy Kerr (age 84): MLB shortstop; 68 straight games without an error; Mets scout, 1975-1996.
Billy Klaus (age 77): MLB shortstop-third baseman; played for five teams in 11 seasons.
Joe Koppe (age 75): MLB shortstop; played for eight seasons.
Craig Kusick (age 57): MLB first baseman; was hit-by-pitch three times in one game.
Eddie Malone (age 85): MLB catcher; designed M110 bat for Hillerich and Bradsby.
Carlos Martinez (age 40): MLB infielder; hit fly ball that caromed off Jose Canseco's head into the right-field stands.
Eddie Mayo (age 96): MLB infielder; played for Tigers in 1945 World Series.
Pete Mikkelsen (age 67): MLB right-handed pitcher; pitched in 1964 World Series.
Paul Minner (age 82): MLB left-handed pitcher; won 69 games.
Seth Morehead (age 71): MLB left-handed pitcher; last pitcher to face Roy Campanella.
Bubba Morton (age 74): MLB outfielder; first black player signed by Tigers.
Ivan Murrell (age 63): MLB outfielder-first baseman and scout.
Rocky Nelson (age 81): MLB first baseman; hit home run for Bucs in 1960 World Series.
Ernie Oravetz (age 74): MLB outfielder; stood only 5-foot-4.
Jimmy Outlaw (age 93): MLB outfielder-third baseman; played parts of 10 seasons.
Eddie Pellagrini (age 88): MLB infielder; played for eight seasons.
Bill Pierro (age 79): MLB right-handed pitcher; played for 1950 Pirates.
Buddy Peterson (age 81): MLB shortstop.
Robert Peterson (age 80): author of "Only The Ball Was White".
Bo Schembechler (age 77): Tigers' president, 1990-1992.
Sibby Sisti (age 85): MLB infielder; played all 13 years of career with the Braves.
Willie Smith (age 66): MLB pitcher and outfielder with Angels; also played in Negro Leagues.
Russ Swan (age 42): MLB left-handed pitcher; pitched for Giants and Mariners.
Junior Thompson (age 89): MLB right-handed pitcher and longtime scout.
Clyde Vollmer (age 85): MLB outfielder; hit 69 home runs over a 10-year career.
Charlie Wagner (age 93): MLB right-handed pitcher, scout and coach for Red Sox.
Erik Walker (age 23): Devil Rays' Minor League pitcher; died in canoe accident.
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