Field of Dreams

[Tobywan]

Jane Jacobs





Jane Jeanette Jacobs Badini was born on June 16, 1924 in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to Charles and Virginia Jacobs. She was one of five children and preferred playing ball outside with her brothers Charles. Johnny and her twin James than dolls with her sister Mary. She began playing in organized softball leagues before beginning to play baseball in her early teens. P.K. Wrigley (then owner of the Chicago Cubs) and Branch Rickey had come to Cleveland in 1943 scouting for talented athletes to play in the newly formed All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Jane was playing for a local team and her manager told them he knew a young woman, who was better than anyone they had already.

Jacobs went to Chicago to try out, they wanted her, but she didn't sign until the following season for $50 a week and was assigned to the Racine Bells as a right handed pitcher. In her first season she pitched 230 innings with a 9-16 record in 31 games with a 2.82 ERA, she followed that with a 6-9 season with a 2.88 ERA in a 125 IP in 21 games.


Due to a plethora of pitching talent she was loaned to the Peoria Redwings for the 1946 season. Under new rules pitchers were required to gradually transition from underhand to slight sidearm delivery. With a lot of work she managed to make the switch, she went 6-12 with a 2.14 ERA (team leading and career best) in 23 games with 164 IP, but got very poor run support.


She returned to Racine in 1947 and the league changed the pitching regulations again to a full side arm. She struggled but just as she started to get the hang of it she was ordered by her manager Leo Murphy to throw at a batter's head, she refused and he benched her for a bit. When she returned to pitching he put her in the pen, she was angry but tried to make the best of it. She ended up being very effective. Though her nickname had always been "Jake" she was soon being called Fireman" a spin off of Johnny Murphy (a New York Yankees reliever know as 'Fireman') and proudly noted the name on her baseball cards. She finished the season 2-6 with a 3.30 ERA in just 13 games and 71 IP, but it would be her final season. She decided to leave the game when the league decided to switch to overhand pitching starting in 1948, she feared it would ruin her arm.

She finished her career at the age of 22 with a 24–43 record, a 2.65 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 52 Ks in 88 games, she also pitched a one-hit, complete game-shutout. She batted a career .204 with 9 RBI and one home run.



According to her AAGPBL bio she once had aspirations of becoming a reporter, but opened and ran a dry cleaning business for 40 years. She loved bowling, horseback riding and basketball. She didn't marry until 1973 when she was 49 years old. She was inducted into the "Women in Baseball" AAGPBL Permanent Display wing at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y in 1988, she did not attend. Her husband Mario Badini passed away in 1989, they never had children and she never remarried. She was inducted into the Akron Hall of Fame in 1994, a month later on her 70th birthday, Jane was diagnosed with cervical and ovarian cancer but survived the surgery and follow up treatments. After recuperating, she began a ceramics business as much of her life savings was now gone due to her illness.


She was also sought out for appearances and speaking engagements after the HOF induction and she embraced it. In 2009, she traveled to Cooperstown with her niece's family to visit the A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center to read her baseball career file and see the baseball wing for the first time. She even aided some researchers in identifying unknown players in team photos.


According to an article written in 2010, a journalist claimed that Jane kept hidden throughout her pitching career and to most outside of family that she was blind in one eye. Was unable to find any other reports of this and in the same piece many of Jacobs stats and other details don't match her bio profile from the AAGPBL archives. The writer claimed to have first met Jane in 1997.

She passed away following hospice care on September 13, 2015 in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio she was 91. Along with her twin brother James and husband Mario, she was preceded in death by parents as well as her other brothers Charles and Johnny. She is survived by her sister Mary, nieces Jeannie and Amanda and their families. She is interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Fremont, OH.

[Tobywan]

Randy Wiles





Randall E. Wiles was born on September 10, 1951 in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was one of four children for Stephen and Theda (nee Bonewell) Wiles.

He graduated from Martin Behrman High School, he went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University. He was a standout left-handed pitcher for the LSU Tigers from 1970-1973. He pitched a no-hitter against the Rice University Owls on March 3, 1972 and received All-SEC honors that same season. The following season on April 13 he pitched a one-hitter to the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He also pitched three two-hit games during his time with the Tigers. He recorded seven career shutouts, which still holds the LSU record. He is also tied with Ben McDonald, Brian Tallet and Aaron Nola in school history for the most single-season shutouts, Wiles pitched three in 1970.



Wiles was selected in the fifth round of the June 5, 1973 Major League amateur draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, beginning his pro career in the Gulf Coast League. He spent four seasons in the minor leagues that included stints in St. Petersburg, Little Rock and Tulsa. In 1974 during a full season with the Arkansas Travelers he went 8-7 with a 2.56 ERA in 30 games and 130 IP. He posted one shut out with five complete games in 12 starts.

On December 15, 1976 he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Tony La Russa. He started the 1977 season with the Iowa Oaks, he was called up and made his Major League debut on August 7. They were facing the Royals in Kansas City in a game that was started by Ken Kravec who began the ninth with a 2-2 score but was relieved by Lerrin LaGrow when he surrendered a lead off walk to Amos Otis. LaGrow got an out and intentionally walked John Mayberry. Wiles came in to face pinch hitter John Wathan who singled Otis to the plate for a walk off 3-2 win. He pitched the next night against the Seattle Mariners. He pitched the last two thirds of the 9th inning after starter Francisco Barrios gave up the tying run. Wiles retired Bill Stein and Julio Cruz leaving the game at 4-4, but Lamar Johnson hit a walk off home run giving Wiles his first ML win.

He made three more appearances including a game against the Yankees where he gave up a walk to Thurman Munson, a sacrifice to Lou Piniella and a walk-off home run to Chris Chambliss for his first loss. In August he was placed on waivers and picked up by his former team, the Cardinals. He was sent to the New Orleans Pelicans of the American Association. On December 9 he was traded by the Cardinals to the Houston Astros for Ron Selak (minors).


He spent the 1978 season at Triple-A with the Charleston Charlies of the International League, he posted a 7-6 record with a 4.92 ERA in 13 starts (29 games) including two complete games.

He never made it back to the majors leaving the game after the season, making his final ML appearance August 16, 1977. He posted a career 1-1 record with a 10.13 ERA and no strikeouts.


In October 1978 he began working as a Sales Manager for Blumenthal Print Works, he worked his way up to Vice President, he left the company in November 2009.

In 2008 he was voted to LSU's "Foundation Era" team, honoring former Tiger greats that played in the period from the opening of the original Alex Box Stadium in 1938 through 1983.


In January 2010 he became a Sales Representative for Innofa USA, a knit mattress fabric supplier he was soon promoted to Vice President of Regional Sales.


Randy passed away in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 15, 2015 after a brief battle with cancer just five days after his 64th birthday.


He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Marjie (nee Branch), children John and Meredith, one grandchild Jackson, his parents Stephen and Theda and siblings Stephen Jr., Rebecca and Robin.

[Tobywan]

Bobby Etheridge





Bobby Lamar Etheridge was born on November 25, 1941 in Greenville, Mississippi to Murray and Ezma (nee Mayo) Etheridge. Murray Sr. owned a dry cleaning plant and Bobby was one eight children.


Etheridge played baseball at Mississippi State University for two seasons before transferring to Mississippi Delta Community College where they won the state championship. He then signed with the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent just before the 1964 season.

Murray Sr. had past away on December 11, 1963, never seeing his son play professionally. The family suffered another loss exactly 10 months later. Bobby's younger brother Jimmy who was a promising baseball, basketball and football star at Greenville High School suffered a fatal neck injury during a football game between the Hornets and Clarlisdale Wildcats on Sept. 11, 1964.


The right-handed third baseman spent three seasons in the minors for Lexington, Fresno, Waterbury and Phoenix. His best full season coming in Single-A during 1965 with the Fresno Giants of the California League. He batted .329/.395/.460 in 139 games. In 1967 he was having a good season with the Phoenix Giants of the Pacific Coast League when he was called up making his ML debut on July 16 in the first game of a double header against the Chicago Cubs at Candlestick Park which featured Willie McCovey and Gaylord Perry. He was a late defensive sub in the top of the 8th with SF already down 9-0, he didn't get to bat and the score didn't change giving a loss to Perry. He made his first ML start the next day against the Cubs and logged his first hit off Rich Nye in the 6th. In the bottom of the 9th the Giants were behind 4-1 with two on, Bobby tripled them home pulling the game within one run. The next batter McCovey grounded out for a 4-3 loss. Bobby stayed up the rest of the season finishing .226 in 40 games with one home run and 15 RBI.

His first home run came off Philies right-hander Larry Jackson in a 7-2 win that went to Juan Marichal. He was named to the 1967 Topps All-Star Rookie Team. He started the 1968 season back in Phoenix and never got a call up, but made the 1969 Opening Day roster. He had just a few dozen starts and batted .260 in 56 games. He was traded on December 5 along with Bob Barton and Ron Herbel to the San Diego Padres for Frank Reberger.


He began 1970 with the Salt Lake City Bees before he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals on June 15. He spent the next two seasons with the Tulsa Oilers in the AA. He was traded to the New York Mets on September 15, 1971 for Ron Allen. He spent another two seasons in the minors at Tidewater and Memphis before retiring in 1973, never making it back to the majors.

His last MLB appearance was October 2, 1969, for the San Francisco Giants. He finished with a career .244 BA, two home runs and 25 RBI in 96 games. He spent 9 seasons in the minors with a .293 career average in 906 games.


After baseball he went back to Greenville, he played semi-pro with the Leland Bakers and also worked for Mississippi Marine as a Supply Coordinator. He enjoyed hunting and maintained a passel of beagles for that purpose. He is a member of the Mississippi Delta Hall of Fame.



His health began to decline in 2014 and he passed away on September 17, 2015 at Sharkey Issaquena Community Hospital in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, he was 73. He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings, Murray Jr., James, Mary Jane and Patricia. He is survived by his siblings Sue, Linda and Dickey, children Cissy, Bud and Jason and two grandchildren, Meredith and Brett. He is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Greenville.






With daughter Cissy.

[Tobywan]

Milo Hamilton



Leland Milo Hamilton was born on September 2, 1927 in Fairfield, Iowa to Milo and Cleo Hamilton. He first got his love of baseball from listening to the Chicago Cubs on radio and playing in small local leagues in his hometown. He joined the U.S.Navy when he was 18. While serving in Guam as a Seebee during World War II, a Marine lieutenant asked for volunteers to do play-by-play of the Pacific Servicemen's Baseball Tournament on Armed Forces Radio. It was a catalyst for a lifetime career.

After his service he used his G.I. Bill to attend the University of Iowa, they had a very good on campus radio station. He hosted music and interview shows
and began his sportscasting career calling boxing matches, high school sports as well as college football and basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes. In 1949 he provided the voice for a local minor league team. He graduated in 1950, two years later he married Arlene Weiskopf and soon had two children.



He got his first MLB announcing job in 1953 with the St. Louis Browns of the American League. This didn't last long as the team moved the next season to become the Baltimore Orioles. He stayed behind in St. Louis taking a job with the Cardinals working with Harry Caray and Jack Buck. There were tensions between him and Caray and in 1955 he was replaced with Joe Garagiola, so once again after just a year he was looking for another place. He went to the Chicago Cubs, for three years sharing the booth with Jack Brickhouse and Vince Lloyd. He was then fired by Cubs owner P. K. Wrigley and replaced with Lou Boudreau.

He was away from baseball for a few years when he went to work with the Chicago White Sox in 1961 to work with long time announcer Bob Elson.


When the Milwaukee Braves made the move to Atlanta for the 1966 season he was tagged to be their play-by-play announcer along side retired Braves player
Ernie Johnson, Sr. He became very popular and the team credited him with their high television ratings on the Braves flagship station WSB-TV. One of his most memorable Braves games was calling the 715th career home run of Hank Aaron in 1974. While he was once very popular during the early to mid 70's the Braves were not drawing well due to consecutive losing seasons, Hamilton publicly addressed and criticized the situation. This angered Braves ownership and he was fired after the 1975 season. He would miss the Braves soaring TV ratings after being sold to Ted Turner who put them on his then-cable "superstation" WTCG (later to become WTBS, now TBS) with his replacements Skip Caray and Pete Van Wieren sitting in with Johnson.

There was another job open with the Cardinals, Jack Buck was leaving to do a show for NBC, but once Hamilton found out there would be a clause that he could be replaced if with Buck should the show fail, he backed out. He took an offer from the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 1976 season taking over for Bob Prince. He was in the booth during the 1979 World Series for the champion Pirates. Prince had been on their broadcast team since 1948, fans and local beat writers didn't like Hamilton's style. When he was offered a spot back in Chicago in 1980 he took it. He re-joined Cubs announcers Brickhouse and Lloyd as well as the guy who replaced him twenty years prior, Lou Bordeau. He got the notion he would be taking over Brickhouse's role as he was close to retirement, he claims he was guaranteed it for the 1982 season. It seemed sealed after Brickhouse referred to Hamilton as "the voice of the Cubs for years to come" shortly before he left. That changed once Harry Caray became available after expressing his disenchantment with the White Sox ownership. The Tribune Company had taken over the Cubs in 1981, having no loyalty to what was "promised" to Hamilton, they gave the premiere spot to Caray. Hamilton had already disliked Caray since their days together with the Cardinals, Milo also blamed him for his losing his job to Garagiola over 25 years ago. According to Hamilton, things got even more strained between them when he claims Caray admitted to him that he had an affair with Cardinals owner Gussie Busch's daughter-in-law. It had long been rumored to be the reason why Caray was let go by St. Louis in 1969. Caray on record never admitted the affair ever took place. Milo, thought Harry was crass and a cad saying that Caray once quipped on air about mailing alimony checks to all his ex-wives. Mounting tensions likely led to Hamilton being fired in 1984, of course he blamed Caray. He told a writer that he was informed by WGN execs that he was fired because Caray wanted him gone and since Caray was the popular one, Milo had to go.


He joined the Houston Astros for the 1985 season and found his home. For the first two seasons he was the stand in for long time "voice of the Astros" Gene Elston. Elston lost his job when ownership felt his calls during the 1986 NL West clinching no-hitter by Mike Scott lacked pizzazz. Hamilton took over and remained there until 2012. Hank Aaron attended Milo's retirement party. He called Roger Maris' 61st homer (recreated on Western Union ticker) and besides Mike Scott he worked 10 other no hitters. He called games during Houston's first World Series appearance and the first Astro's appearances of Hall of Fame inductees Nolan Ryan and Craig Biggio. He called Ryan's 4,000th strikeout in 1985, Barry Bonds' 70th home run in 2001 and Biggio's 3,000th hit in 2007. He had sat in a booth at 59 different Major League ballparks at the time of his retirement. He also had gotten to meet Ronald Reagan when he was Governor of California, Reagan had also had a radio show that Milo listened to as a child.

He received the Ford Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.


After Harry Caray's death in February 1998 a story came out with some very critical comments towards the beloved Cubs announcer stated by Hamilton. This brought anger from Caray's son Skip Caray, one of Hamilton's replacements with the Atlanta Braves. According to a book later published by Milo "Making Airwaves: 60 Years at Milo's Microphone" in 2006, the quotes were from an article written 13 years prior to Caray's death, that he didn't make those statements to a reporter just after Caray passed. In the book however, there is an entire chapter devoted to Caray who Hamilton dubbed "The Canary"
calling him a "a miserable human being."

In February 2005 his wife Arlene passed away, they had been married for 53 years. In July 2006, his daughter Patricia passed away a few weeks after suffering a stroke. In October 2007, while Milo was having lunch with his son Mark, he suffered a heart attack. He had emergency surgery to unblock his arteries, recovered and was able to return to work.

Starting in 2006 he no longer traveled with the team, he made exceptions when the team traveled to newly opened parks like the new Busch Stadium, Nationals Park, Citi Field, and Marlins Park.


Along with baseball Hamilton also called games for the NBA Chicago Zephyrs, Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets, college basketball for Northwestern, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, and DePaul. Southwest Conference games for the Home Sports Entertainment channel in the '80's and college football for Northwestern, Ohio State and Georgia Tech.


He had a more reserved style and was known for the phrase "Holy Toledo, what a play!" He claims it came from his father during times he would tell stories
with his friends. The men didn't want to curse in front of the children, his father would say "Holy Toledo" instead of something more colorful and it stuck with Milo.


Along with his Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award, he was honored with induction into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame (1994), National Radio Hall of Fame (2000), Texas Radio Hall of Fame (2005), Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame (2011) and the Des Moines Sunday Register’s Iowa Sports Hall of Fame (2014). He was given the nickname "The Captain", among other honors bestowed on him were a street outside Minute Maid Park renamed Milo Hamilton Way in April 2009. That December he received MLB's “King of Baseball” award, presented each year at the MLB Winter Meetings. He was also given the Fred Hartman Long and Meritorious Service Award by the Houston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.


He continued his connection to the Astros after he retired, doing radio for select home games, he also served as master of ceremonies for Astro's events, hosted the Astros long-running, off season radio talk show, Astroline until 2014. He was master of Opening Day ceremonies each year and regularly participated in the team's Winter Caravan.

He had been diagnosed and treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia since 1974. His health started to decline in July and he passed away while in hospice care in Houston, Texas on September 17, 2015, he was 88. Condolences came from around the league, the Astros paid homage to Milo with patches throughout the rest of the season and the play-offs. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Arlene (in 2005) and daughter, Patricia (2006). He is survived by his son Mark. He was interred in a private ceremony back in his hometown of Fairfield.





With fellow Houston Astros announcer Larry Dierker, left, interviewing Nolan Ryan during the celebration of clinching the
NL West division title.

[Tobywan]

Walter Young



Walter Earnest Young, Jr. was born on February 18, 1980 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Juanita and Walter Young. He grew up playing in the Dixie Youth baseball league. He became a football and baseball standout at Purvis High School.

The left handed first baseman was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 31st round of the 1999 MLB amateur draft. He turned down a football scholarship to LSU in order to sign with the Pirates. He began his pro career in the Gulf Coast league, played a couple seasons in Williamsport, Pa., then stops in Hickory, NC, Lynchburg, VA and Bowie, MD. His first full season was 2002 playing for the Hickory Crawdads. Batting .333/.390/.563 with 25 homers in 132 games he led them to the championship and was named the South Atlantic League's Most Valuable Player. He hit 34 doubles which was a single-season Crawdads record until 2011. He led the SAL that year in doubles, home runs (25), hits (164) and total bases (277). He made the Single-A Carolina League's postseason All-Star team in 2003, batting .278 with 20 homers and 87 RBI for Lynchburg. In November 2003 he was selected off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.


In 2004 with the Bowie Baysox, he hit 33 home runs setting a club record and was named to the Eastern League All-Star Game. He spent the 2005 playing in Canada for the Ottawa Lynx hitting just 13 homers with a .288 BA, but was among the September call-ups making his MLB debut for the Orioles on September 6. The O's were facing the Toronto Blue Jays, he came in as a pinch hitter in a game featuring Brian Roberts, Miguel Tejada and most of the offense had come off the bat of Javy Lopez. Lopez had just put the game up 4-0 for the Orioles, Young came in to bat next in place of first baseman Alejandro Freire with David Newhan at 2nd and Lopez at first and two outs. Facing Dustin McGowan, Young walked to load the bases and immediately replaced for pinch runner Chris Gomez, but Eric Byrnes flied out to end the inning. The O's went on to shut out the Jays 5-0. He got his first start on September 10th in Seattle, he collected his first hit in the third against Jeff Harris and later walked in the 5-3 win. He belted his first home run during a game in Texas, leading off the 7th inning against R.A. Dickey putting the Orioles up 3-1. They went on to win 4-3. He finished going 10-for-33 with a double and home run in 14 games.


In the offseason, Young played for LaGuaria in the Venezuelan Winter League. In January 2006 he was selected off waivers by the San Diego Padres, he competed in spring with Ryan Klesko and Adrian Gonzalez. Klesko started the season on the DL and the team went with Gonzalez. Young started the season with the Portland Beavers after just 13 games he was released.


He signed with the Houston Astros in June, they sent him to the Corpis Christi Hooks for the rest of the season, The team made it all the way to the Texas League championship being led by his teammate Hunter Pence. He became a free agent in October. He got no major league offers and signed with the independent Winnepeg Goldeyes of the Northern League for 2007, he batted .313 with 21 home runs, 78 RBI, and two stolen bases. The Goldeyes exercised Young's 2008 option following the season, but instead he signed with the Sussex Skyhawks. Later in 2008, Young moved to the Sioux City Explorers and became an integral part of leading the team to the American Association playoffs where he hit .367 with 5 home runs and 29 RBI in only 26 games. In January 2009, Young re-signed with Sioux City and played for the Explorers until the end of June. In July, he signed to play for the Edmonton Capitals of the Golden Baseball League and was released on August 17. He retired and went home where he played semi-pro baseball with the Hattiesburg Black Sox in 2010 which his father, Walter Sr. had once played.


His last ML appearance was on October 2, 2005 with the Orioles, recording one home run, 3 RBI and a .303 BA in 14 games. He spent eight seasons in the minors finishing with 129 homers and a .284 BA. He is considered the heaviest recorded MLB player being listed at 320 lbs.


Before his baseball career, Young had wanted to pursue a degree in criminal justice, he began taking courses online with the University of Phoenix. He joined the Forrest County Sheriff’s Department in 2010 and began working as a shift sergeant at the county jail. He then became a resource officer for the Lamar County School District in Mississippi in 2011. He was very involved in his son's baseball team.



He passed away suddenly of a heart attack in Purvis, MS on September 19, 2015, he was just 35. He is survived by his parents Walter Sr. and Juanita, his wife Latressa, son Trey, daughter Madison and sister Damita.

[Tobywan]

Yogi Berra



Lorenzo Pietro Berra was born on May 12, 1925 in St. Louis Missouri, one of five children to Pietro and Paolina (née Longoni) Berra. As Italian immigrants the
family lived in a predominantly Italian neighborhood of St. Louis called "The Hill". Yogi's father came from Malvaglio near Milan and was processed through Ellis Island. His mother arrived later, two of Yogi's older brothers Anthony and Mario (Mike) were born in Malvaglio. He, older brother John and younger sister Josephine were all born in St. Louis. Yogi would later take a more American version of his name becoming Lawrence Peter Berra. He had been called "Lawdie" growing up due to his mother's unusual pronunciation of his chosen name of Lawrence, but while playing ball he received the one that would become a household name. It was a childhood friend that labeled him Yogi because he resembled a Hindu snake charmer they saw in a movie once.


By the mid 1930's the US was slowly trying to recover from the Great Depression, but times were still hard. Berra wasn't a very good student and wanted to help out his family. Though it caused some friction between him and his father he quit school after the eight grade taking a job in a coal yard. Things got even more tense when he lost that job due to cutting out early to play ball with his friends after they got out of school. He grew up on the same street as Joe Garagiolia, who loved baseball just as much. They became close friends and teammates on local leagues. He got another job as a Pepsi Cola truck driver for slightly more money, $27 a week, he lost that job for the same reason. After feuding with his father, Yogi was able to get a decent paying job that left him enough time for baseball. He played in the local American Legion leagues where he moved around the diamond as an outfielder, infielder and catcher, he batted left and threw right. In 1943, he garnered interest from the St. Louis Cardinals as did his buddy Garagiola. The Cards wanted Joe, giving him a $500 bonus, but offered to sign Yogi without a bonus, Yogi declined. It was later revealed that then team president Branch Rickey held back on Berra as he was leaving to take over the Brooklyn Dodgers and wanted to take Yogi with him. When Berra was approached by the Yankees who would give him the $500 bonus that Garagiola received, he signed before Branch could fill him in on his plan.


He began his pro career with the Norfolk Tars in 1943, but his career was put on hold when he entered World War II as a member of the U.S. Navy. He was a gunner's mate on the USS Bayfield which served as a transport during the D-Day invasion of France. They also provided cover with machine and rockets for soldiers for the assaults on Omaha and Utah Beach. He received commendations for his bravery, he also saw action in North Africa and Italy.

When he returned home in 1946 he played with the Newark Bears, he was called up making his MLB debut with the New York Yankees on September 22. He was in the line up as the starting catcher batting eighth in the first game of a double header against the Philadelphia A's at Yankee Stadium in a line-up that also featured Joe DiMaggio. The Yankees were ahead 2-0 heading into the fourth, Charlie Keller led off with a single, after two outs, Berra stepped in for his second at a bat of the day and homered off Jesse Flores for his first ML hit. He got into a total of seven games before the end of the season. Berra took the number 8 in honor of his mentor HOFer Bill Dickey.

He made the 1947 roster and spent the season platooning behind the plate with Aaron Robinson, though he did get a couple dozen games in the outfield. He batted .280/.310/.464 in 83 games as the Yankees wound up in first place going 97-57 to take on the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series. He played in six of the seven games batting .158 with two runs scored and 2 RBI including a home run as the Yanks took the championship. His home run in Game 3 was the first pinch-hit home run in World Series history. It came off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca (who later gave up Bobby Thomson's famous Shot Heard 'Round the World in 1951).

His life got even better when he returned home to St. Louis in the off season. While patronizing a restaurant named "Biggies" that was co-owned by Stan Musial, he met a young waitress named Carmen. Six months later they were engaged and married in January 1949 with Garagiola standing in as best man.

Berra had the good fortune of being a Yankee during one of their dominating eras. In 14 consecutive years he never played less than 114 games a season in a Yankee uniform. He appeared in 14 World Series including 10 championships for New York, both records. He also holds World Series records for most games (75), at bats (259), hits (71), doubles (10 tie with Frankie Frisch), singles (49), games caught (63), and catcher putouts (457). He was an All-Star for 15 consecutive seasons (18 games total as their were two a season from 1959-1962). He was the AL MVP in 1951, 1954, and 1955 and never finished below 4th in voting from 1950 to 1956.

Berra was known as a chatter box behind the plate and claims the only player that ever told him to shut up was Ted Williams, Yogi did not oblige. In 1950, Joe Garagiola suffered an injury that began to hamper his baseball career, by 1955 he was off the field and in the announcing booth starting with their home town St. Louis Cardinals. It led to a long, successful career on television doing everything from baseball, to commercials and game shows. Though their careers would go in two completely different directions, they remained close friends throughout their lives.

Berra got MVP votes in fifteen consecutive seasons, tied with Barry Bonds and second only to Hank Aaron's nineteen straight seasons. Though the Yankees had the likes of Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle it was Yogi that led the Yankees in RBI for seven consecutive seasons. In five seasons he had more homers than strikeouts, in 1950 he had just twelve strikeouts in 597 at-bats. While he had his share of good fortune he also made a few costly errors in his career and was part of a memorable and historic moment that went against him. In the first game of the 1955 World Series against Brooklyn, the Yankees were ahead, 6-4, in the top of the eighth when the Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson stole home. The plate umpire Bill Summers called him safe, Berra went berserk, resulting in one of the best on-field meltdowns of all time. The Yankees ended up winning the game, but lost the series. It was the only time Brooklyn ever got one over on the Yankees. More than 50 years later, he signed a photograph of the play for President Obama, writing, “Dear Mr. President, He was out!”

He caught Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, the first of only two no-hitters ever thrown in MLB postseason play. Berra is still the only player with three career home runs in the World Series against the same pitcher (Don Newcombe); all three happened to be in the 1956 Series. He took a blow to his face mask from a foul tip off the bat of the Indians' Larry Raines in 1957. Berra claimed to have suffered from sinus problems and migraines most of his life but after the hit he never had trouble with them again.

He didn't lead the league in offensive categories, but was in the top ten in slugging and home runs nine times. Berra led all AL catchers eight times in games caught and in chances accepted, six times in double plays (a major-league record), eight times in putouts, three times in assists, and once in fielding percentage. Berra left the game with the AL records for catcher putouts (8,723) and chances accepted (9,520). He was also one of only four catchers ever to field 1.000 in a season, playing 88 error-less games in 1958. He was the first catcher to leave one finger outside his glove, a style that most other catchers eventually emulated. His offensive numbers are good, but what tends to make him legendary was the combination of excellent offense and great defense.

In 1958, the cartoon production duo of Hanna-Barbera created one of its most famous characters, Yogi Bear. Everyone has always believed the lovable toon was based on Berra, including himself. He filed a lawsuit that was later dropped. Meanwhile, the company has always stood by their claim that it was purely coincidental.

Both of Yogi's parents passed away just a couple of years apart, Paolina in 1959 and Pietro in 1961. While all of his siblings chose to live around the St Louis area, Yogi stuck close to NY residing in NJ.


In June 1962 he caught an entire 22 inning, seven hour game against the Detroit Tigers, he was 37. He became a player/coach in 1963, but was released by the NY Yankees on October 29, 1963 after 18 seasons and retired as a player. He became their manager for the 1964 season replacing Ralph Houk who became the GM. There was a bit controversy, supposedly there was an incident on board the team bus in August after the team suffered a loss. Infielder Phil Linz was playing a harmonica, Berra wanted him to stop. Linz didn't hear what was said, always the prankster, Mickey Mantle told Linz that Yogi said “play louder.” Linz obliged and an enraged Berra slapped the instrument away. All seemed to be forgiven when they finished 93-63 for first place. However, they lost the World Series in seven games to the St Louis Cardinals. Houk fired Berra after the season claiming the bus incident had nothing to do with the decision, but rather that he didn't feel Berra was ready. He was replaced by Johnny Keane, who had just managed the Cardinals. It ended the great Yankee dynasty that began with Casey Stengel's appointment as manager in 1949.

The Yankees offered him a scouting job, meanwhile the other NY team, were being run by two former Yankees, GM George Weiss and manager Casey Stengel, they wanted him in a Mets uniform as a coach. He even played a couple games making his last MLB appearance on May 9 just a few days shy of his 40th birthday. He finished with a career BA of .285, 358 home runs and 1,430 RBI in 2,120 games. At the time of his retirement, his 306 homers as a catcher were the most ever at the position. In his 18-year career, he drew 704 walks against just 414 strikeouts.


He continued to coach for the Mets until 1971 when he was promoted to manager after the sudden death of Gil Hodges during spring training in 1972. He was skipper from 1972-75, in 1973 the Mets surged late in the season to win the NL East. During Game 3 of the NLCS against the Cincinnati Reds, a fight broke out between Bud Harrelson and Pete Rose in the top of the fifth inning. Benches cleared, brawl ensued then after things calmed down and the game resumed, fans started to throw objects at Rose in left field. Reds manager Sparky Anderson pulled his entire team off the field. NL president Chub Feeney threatened the Mets with a forfeit, so Berra, along with Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub, and Cleon Jones walked to the outfield pleading with fans to keep calm. The Mets went on to win to advance but lost the World Series to the Oakland Athletics. When he was let go by the Mets he went back to the Yankees as a coach from 1976-83 then managed them for two seasons. The Yankees didn't go to a World Series for 11 seasons after Yogi was fired until he came back as a coach, winning three consecutive AL pennants and the 1977 and 1978 WS. He was named manager in 1984, after a disappointing season he was assured his job would be safe by owner George Steinbrenner himself if he returned. However, just 16 games into the 1985 season he was terminated and replaced by the new Steinbrenner whipping boy, Billy Martin. Yogi was angered that George didn't tell him directly, choosing to send his adviser Clyde King. This caused bad blood between Berra and Steinbrenner for almost 15 years.


His last major league job was as a coach for the Houston Astros from 1986-89, which included making it to the NLCS, but losing in six games to the Mets. Upon retiring he had a managerial career regular-season record of 484–444 and a playoff record of 9–10. In total, he went to 21 World Series and was part of 13 championship teams. His number 8 was retired in 1972 (jointly with his hero Bill Dickey ), his plaque was installed at Yankee Stadium in 1988, though still angry with the Boss, he didn't attend the ceremony. He was named to the MLB All-Century Team in a vote by fans in 1999. Montclair State University gave him an honorary doctorate in 1996, named their campus stadium after him and installed the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in 1998, Yogi was very involved. On October 8, 2014, a break-in and theft occurred at the museum and several of Berra's World Series rings and other memorabilia were stolen. He was inducted into the St Louis Walk of Fame and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. He made the New Jersey HOF in 2008.



In 1999, George Steinbrenner went to Berra's home in New Jersey to apologize in person for Berra's firing all those years ago. Berra forgave and accepted an invitation to work and mentor catcher Jorge Posada in spring camp. He remained closely associated with the franchise for the remainder of his life.


Outside the game, He and former teammate Phil Rizzuto opened a bowling alley in Clifton, New Jersey called Rizzuto-Berra Lanes in 1959. They later sold the business but the alley eventually went under in 1999. He was part owner of the YooHoo Company until 1981, was featured in commercials and getting most of the credit for making the chocolate beverage popular. He was also involved in causes related to his heritage like the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and was inducted into the Italian American Hall of Fame in 2004. He also received the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America. In October 2013 he received MLB's first Bob Feller Act of Valor Award.


One of the things that endeared him to fans all over were his quips that came to be known as "Yogi-isms". Some of the best known were "90 percent of it is half mental" "It ain't over till it's over", "It's like déjà vu all over again", and "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." He has been portrayed in TV and Broadway productions. In a 2007 miniseries, "The Bronx is Burning" and the HBO sports docudrama 61* which was directed by life long Yankee fan Billy Crystal. Both he and his wife Carmen were portrayed in the 2013 Broadway play, Bronx Bombers. He also has co-written several baseball related books throughout his career.


Yogi and Carmen had three sons, all of whom played pro sports and lived most of their married life in Montclair, New Jersey. Larry Berra played for three minor league teams in the New York Mets organization. Dale Berra played shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees ( while managed by Yogi in 1984–85), and the Houston Astros. He also caused the family some grief due to a drug problem. Tim Berra played pro football for the Baltimore Colts as a wide receiver in 1974. When Carmen's health declined they moved into an assisted living facility, she suffered a stroke and passed away in March 2014 just a couple of months after their 65th wedding anniversary.


Yogi passed away in his sleep at the same facility in West Caldwell, New Jersey, on September 22, 2015, at age 90, 69 years to the day of his MLB debut. Along with his parents and wife, Carmen, he was also preceded in death by all of his siblings, John (1972), Tony (1977), Mike (1995) and Josie (2010). He is survived by his sons, Dale, Tim and Larry, their wives, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He was cremated, his urn is interred with Carmen at the Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in East Hanover, New Jersey. His funeral on September 29 was broadcast by the YES Network, Joe Torre gave the eulogy, his life long friend Joe Gargiola Sr. was unable to attend due to poor health, but his son Joe Jr. went
in his stead. Former Yankees captain Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Tino Martinez, Reggie Jackson, Mariano Rivera, GM Brian Cashman and principal owner Hal Steinbrenner were also among the mourners.


Tributes poured in, the Yankees donned a #8 patch on their uniforms and held a special tribute at Yankee Stadium. They also held a moment of silence on September 23 as did the Dodgers, Astros, Mets, Nationals, Tigers, Pirates, his hometown St. Louis Cardinals and the ALPB's Long Island Ducks. The Empire State Building was lit with blue and white vertical "pinstripes". New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered all flags in the city to be lowered to half-staff for a day in tribute. The Yogi Berra Museum held a tribute to Berra on October 4. He was also awarded the Medal of Freedom posthumously.








Yogi and Bobby Thomson



Stan Musial, Joe Garagiola , Yogi and with George Steinbrenner


with Don Zimmer

[Tobywan]

Ed Sukla



Edward Anthony Sukla was born on March 3, 1943 in Long Beach, California. He was the second child born to Edward and Mary, when Eddie was a few years old the family moved to Huntington Beach. In high school he excelled in many sports, he was the starting quarterback in football, starting guard in basketball, the ace pitcher on the baseball team, and the school's best pole vaulter.

This caused legendary USC Baseball Coach Rod Dedeaux to gush saying he was one of the best natural athletes he had ever seen, he offered Eddie
a baseball scholarship. However, when the Los Angeles Angels offered the right handed pitcher a contract with a bonus he took it, signing just after graduation from Huntington Beach High in 1961. He began his pro career pitching for the Quad Cities Angels in Iowa in 1962, he went 10-8 with a 2.43 ERA in 152 IP.
After three minor league seasons he made his MLB debut on September 17, 1964 for the LA Angels. On the road at Yankee Stadium, he came in to relieve starter Fred Newman after the Yankees went ahead 4-0 in the 6th. He allowed a single but got the last two strike outs of the inning. The Angels lost 6-2. He pitched in one more game, another loss to Baltimore.

He began 1965 in the minors, but was called up in early July and pitched through the end of the season. He collected his first save on July 2 against the White Sox and his first win against Boston on August 1.

He made the 1966 roster with the renamed California Angels and recorded the first win by an Angels pitcher at the new Angel Stadium on April 20 against the White Sox. They had lost the home opener the day before. Some of his more notable teammates were Dean Chance, Jim Piersall, Jose Cardenal and Jim Fregosi.

He was pitching well through the first month, but began having soreness after the first game in May against Boston at Fenway. He woke up the next morning in a lot of pain, but these were the days before rehab techniques or surgeries, you just worked through it. His ERA ballooned and after three weeks he was sent back to the Triple-A Seattle, he pitched in 21 games before being shut down for the season. Seattle went on to win the 1966 PCL title Eddie requested a championship ring from GM Edo Vanni and got one. He was suffering from tendinitis and would never be the same, though he played another nine years, including short stints in the Phillies and Giants organizations, he never again made it out of Triple-A ball.

His last MLB appearance was on May 22, 1966 for the California Angels, finishing with a 3-5 record, 5.26 ERA and 26 Ks.


While pitching in the minors for the Triple-A Seattle Angels in 1965 he noticed an attractive woman seated near the dugout before a game, he sent a bat boy over with a note asking to meet, she turned down the offer. He kept seeing her at the games and kept asking. After hearing him on the radio during a couple interviews she decided to give him a chance. He married Diane Vandemore (Miss Seattle 1964) in 1967, but they divorced six years later.

He retired from the game in 1975, in 14 minor league seasons he had a 78-59 record with a 3.04 ERA with 683 Ks in 1,141 IP.

He joined the Major League Scouting Bureau not long after retirement, in 2007 was named National Scout of the Year and West Coast scout of the year in 2008.


He remained active in other sports, he became a tournament pool player, an avid bowler, with several 300 games. He took up tennis becoming a nationally ranked senior until injuries took a toll in his fifties and he moved onto golf. In 2006 he was running on a treadmill when he felt a pop in his knee, when the pain wouldn't go away he gave in and went to a doctor. He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. He needed surgery more complex than a simple knee replacement at UCLA. He was on crutches for seven months and it appeared the cancer was gone. It came back though and he began a long battle with the disease.


He passed away on September 24, 2015 in Irvine, CA, he was 72. He is survived by his older sister Connie (she lost her husband just a month later of colon cancer) and her daughter Darcy. Though Eddie re-married and his wife Mary Ann went through his first battle of cancer as of 2008, there is no mention of her in his obituary. It is unclear if they divorced or if she predeceased him. It appears he never had children of his own. There was no formal funeral but a memorial service in celebration of his life was held on November 8 at the Huntington Beach Hyatt Regency.

[realmofotalk]

Donnie Moore is reunited with Dave Henderson in the Field of Dreams.

[Tobywan]

Quite a few sports related deaths over the past couple of days.

[Tobywan]

Tom Kelley


Thomas Henry Kelley was born on January 5, 1944 in Manchester, Connecticut one of three sons to George and Harriet (nee Berry) Kelley.


The RHP signed with the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent in 1963, beginning his career with the Dubuque Packers (Iowa) of the Midwest League. He began the 1964 season with the Double-A Charleston Indians, before he was called up to make his ML debut on May 5, 1964, for the Tribe. He came in to pitch one inning of relief behind starter Pedro Ramos against the Boston Red Sox. The Sox were ahead 4-0 when he walked the first batter, Chuck Schilling, then Eddie Bressoud reached on an error. He got Carl Yastrzemski to ground into a double play and then Frank Malzone grounded out to end the inning. The Tribe never scored, so it was a 4-0 loss. He would get four more appearances before being sent back to the minors and called up again in September for one game. He recorded no wins, losses or saves.

He had a great season in 1965 with Triple-A Portland Beavers of Pacific Coast League going 16-3 with a 2.38 ERA in 26 starts and got another call up. He made four appearances going 2-1 with a 2.40 ERA. He was with the Indians for all of 1966, but went 4-8 with a 4.34 ERA in 31 games, including seven starts.


He only had one inning with Cleveland in 1967 and a handful in the minors before needing shoulder surgery that limited him for the next few years. He was released by Cleveland before the start of the 1970 season signing with the Atlanta Braves in May. He made it back to the majors in 1971 for his best season going 9-5 in 28 games (20 starts, 5 CG), a 2.96 ERA and 143 IP. He was part of a pitching staff featuring Phil Niekro, Ron Reed, George Stone and Pat Jarvis and witnessed Hank Aaron's 600th career home run. He made his last MLB appearance with the Braves on May 20, 1973.

He played two more seasons with the Braves Triple A team and one in the Mets organization before retiring in 1976. In seven ML season he finished with a 20-22 record, 3.75 ERA, 234 strikeouts with 480 IP in 104 games.


After hanging up the cleats Kelley worked fifteen years for United Parcel Service retiring as a center manager. He moved to Myrtle Beach in order to enjoy the golf courses. He was inducted into the Manchester (CT) Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.


He passed away on September 25, 2015 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, he was 71. He is survived by his wife, Diane M. Kelley, son, Michael, daughter, Carol, brothers, Michael and George, a grandchild, Jordan and many other extended family members.

[Tobywan]

Carlos Diaz





Carlos Antonio Diaz Diaz Jr. was born on January 7, 1958 in Kaneohe, Hawaii, one of 10 children born to Carlos A. and Cecilia R. (nee Hesia) Diaz Diaz.


He was first drafted out of Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA in the 3rd round of the amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners in January 1979, but did not sign. The M's were still interested and drafted him 6 months later in the first round of the secondary draft in June, the lefty pitcher finally decided to sign. He was first sent to the Bellingham Mariners, pitching just two games before their season ended. He was then sent to the Single-A San Jose Missions of the California League. After spending 1980 in Spokane he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Jeff Burroughs just as the 1981 spring training games were getting underway. He spent the season with the Triple-A Richmond Braves.


He would begin the 1982 season in the minors, but got the call up on June 30 to make his ML debut against the Houston Astros. Phil Niekro started the game, pitching 8 innings but left with the Braves trailing 3-1. Diaz entered in the top of the 9th, but gave up consecutive doubles to Ray Knight and Jose Cruz for another run. Behind 4-1 heading into the bottom of the 9th, Dale Murphy and Bob Horner belted back-to-back homers to make it 4-3. Astros pitchers Bob Knepper and Randy Moffitt loaded the bases. Facing pinch hitter Biff Pocoroba, Moffitt let up a 2 run single giving the Braves and Diaz a 5-4 victory. Diaz became the thirteenth native Hawaiian to have played in the major leagues. He made 18 more appearances going 3-2 with a save before being traded on September 10 to the NY Mets for Tom Hausman. The Braves went on to take first place in the NL West, but were swept in the NLCS by the St. Louis Cardinals.


In 1983 with the Mets he had a career high in games (54) and IP (83.1) with a 2.05 ERA. That winter he was traded along with Bob Bailor to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Sid Fernandez and Ross Jones. While the trade involving Diaz and Fernandez was unique as both were Hawaiian natives, the deal was not very popular among the fans in NY. However, Fernandez would have success with NY as a member of the rotation for 10 years.

In 1985 he went 6-3 with LA posting a 2.61 ERA in 79.1 IP as the Dodgers went 95-67, finishing 1st in NL West. He made two appearances in the NLCS giving up one run, five hits, one walks with 2 Ks in 3 innings. The Dodgers would lose the series to the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2.


Diaz had a perfect career fielding percentage until the 12th inning of a fourteen inning marathon against the San Diego Padres on June 21, 1986. He misplayed a Tim Flannery ground ball for his only career error. He got injured in July missing the rest of the season ad was released in October. He signed with the Oakland Athletics in December but was released near the end of spring training. He wasn't bouncing back very well from injury and decided to retire, making his last MLB appearance on on July 26, 1986, for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In five seasons he held a 13-6 record, 3.21 ERA with 207 Ks in 258 IP.


He was a senior driver with Pacific Courier for 13 years and had settled in Kailua, HI.


He passed away suddenly of an apparent heart attack on September 28, 2015 in Honolulu, he was 57. He was preceded in death by his father Carlos Sr.(Feb .2014) and his mother Cecilia (Oct. 2012). He is survived by his wife Tracy Iwamoto-Diaz their children, son Cory, daughters, Kari and Erica. His children from his first marriage, sons Bryce, Vic ad Megen Miyahira, brothers, John , Dennis, Frank, Richard, Delbert and Darryl Diaz, sisters, Matilda, Emelia, Lori and six grandchildren. He is buried at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park in Kaneohe, HI.

[catman]

We lost some greats this year. Rest in peace, ladies and gentlemen.

[Tobywan]

Cal Neeman



Calvin Amandus Neeman was born on February 18, 1929 in Valmeyer, Illinois, one of four children of Amandus and Elenore (nee Johanning) Neeman. The family moved a few times when Cal was young settling in Maplewood, Ill. (better known as Cahokia today) during his teenage years. He worked odd jobs including a paper route. He was a standout baseball catcher and basketball player at Dupo High School, winning the regional basketball title during his senior year, he graduated in 1947.

Before the 1949 season he signed as an amateur free agent with the New York Yankees after an uninvited tryout in Joplin, Missouri, At the time he was attending Illinois Wesleyan University where he was also playing basketball and baseball. The Yankees assigned him to their affiliate the Joplin Minors of the Western Association. Neeman hit .292 for the Miners in 95 games to win the pennant in 1950 with help from Mickey Mantle.

He spent both the 1949 and ‘50 seasons in Joplin before being drafted by the U.S. Army. He served with the 105th Field Artillery Battalion during the Korean conflict. He missed two seasons, returning to the Yankees system in 1953 and being assigned to the Binghamton (New York) Triplets. It was there he met Mary Ann Minchich, they were married the following year. In 1955 he played for the Birmingham Barons where he had his best minor league season. He split the 1956 season between triple a clubs in Richmond and Denver.

On December 3, 1956 he was taken by the Chicago Cubs in the rule 5 draft, he likely would have never made it to the majors as one of the many being blocked at his position by Yogi Berra. He made his MLB debut on April 16, 1957 for the Cubs as the starting catcher. He would collect his first hit, a single in the 5th inning against Milwaukee Braves starter Warren Spahn, he later scored on a double by Bob Rush. It was the only run scored by the Cubs as they lost 4-1. He got his first career home run/RBI against the Braves in Milwaukee on April 23, the solo homer ended up being the winning run off Lew Burdette. The game ended with Milwaukee Hall of Famer Hank Aaron hitting a line drive caught by Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, killing a Milwaukee scoring rally. It was Neeman’s best season in the majors and the only full season of his career. He hit .258 with 10 homers and 39 RBI, while leading all National League catchers in double plays and putouts as a rookie.

He was traded with Tony Taylor to the Philadelphia Phillies in May 1960 for Ed Bouchee and Don Cardwell. While with Philadelphia, he became life long friends with the late Robin Roberts. He spent parts of seven seasons in the majors the last two with the Pirates and Senators, respectively, making his last appearance with Washington on September 29, 1963. He finished with a career .224 BA, 30 home runs and 97 RBI.

After baseball he worked as as a railroad switchman and ran a health food store before returning to school and earning a degree in education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He became a a schoolteacher, coach and mentor to many young people at his former Dupo High School and also coached baseball at Concordia Seminary. He later worked at Nystrom Company, a school supplies business before retiring to a lake community near St. Louis. He served on many local boards, was active in church and developed a passion for golf and traveling.

He passed away at his home in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri on October 1, 2015, he was 86. He was preceded in his death by his parents and an older brother who died shortly after birth. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Mary Ann, their five children, Calvin Jr., Jim, Lori, Susanne and Paul, his brother Earl, sister Adeline and seven grandchildren. He is buried at Our Lady Cemetery in Lake St. Louis, MO.

[Tobywan]

Hal Schacker


Harold Schacker was born on April 6, 1925 in Brooklyn, New York, one of three sons to Rebecca and Samuel Schacker. He served briefly during WWII and signed with the Boston Braves in 1944. He began his career pitching for the Hartford (CT) Laurels of the Eastern League. Starting the 1945 season in Hartford, he got the call up, making his ML debut on May 9, 1945 for Boston just a month after turning 20. In front of the home crowd against the Pittsburgh Pirates that featured catcher Al Lopez, the Braves were losing 9-4 in the 9th. Boston pitcher Charlie Cozart started the inning, he had walked two and gotten two outs before loading the bases on another walk, Schacker was sent in to relieve Cozart and got Bob Elliot to strikeout to end the inning. The Braves got a home run in the 9th, but lost 9-5. Hal made five more appearances, pitching 15.1 innings, the Braves lost every game he pitched. By mid-June he was back in the minors being assigned to The Indianapolis Indians.

While in the minor leagues, he met a lady named Helen and got married. After the 1946 season he was released by the Braves. He didn't play in 1947 and received no major league interest. He went to independent ball splitting the 1948 season with the Anniston Rams in Alabama and St. Petersburg Saints where he went 20-7. He bounced around the next two seasons playing in Texas and Quebec, Canada before a few seasons playing in the Manitoba-Dakota League and Central America, by 1955 as out of the game. Hal never made it back to the majors making his final game June 14, 1945. He finished with a 0-1 record, 5.28 ERA with 6 strikeouts.

He went back to NY and coached youth baseball before moving his family to Tampa securing a job with the US Postal Service in the early 1960's. He remained a Tampa resident the rest of his life.

He passed away on October 2, 2015 in Tampa, Florida, he was 90. He is survived by his wife Martha, three children, Kerri, Brian and Dale and two grandchildren. At the time of his death he was the oldest living Jewish former MLB player, 1 of the last 100 MLB/WWII vets, and 1 of the last 13 living Boston Braves (1871-1952).

[Tobywan]

Michael Nolan




Michael Joseph Nolan was born on May 26, 1992 in Yonkers, New York, the second of four sons to Jim and Donna Nolan. All four brothers were active in sports, Michael playing baseball and basketball at Saunders Trades and Technical High School, a Texas junior college and with the Oklahoma City University Stars. The left handed pitcher caught the eye of scouts, he was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 18th round (552nd overall) of the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft. He had not yet had a chance to play in the minors due to recovering from a baseball related injury.


Just after midnight on September 18, 2015, Michael was out with friends, they stopped for a bite at a Burger King in Yonkers. He was with the group outside in the parking lot when a car drove up beside them and started shooting getting off about 5 or 6 shots. Nolan received two wounds to the head and upper torso at close range.


He was placed on life support, after battling for three weeks, doctors determined that Michael was brain dead. The following day his parents allowed his organs to be harvested. He passed away on October 9, 2015 at Jacobi Medical Center in Bronx, NY, he was 23. Michael is survived by his parents Donna and Jim, three brothers James, Joseph and Nicholas, his maternal grandparents Mike and Glenda Maher and paternal grandparents Phyllis and Jim Nolan as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Hastings-On-Hudson, New York.

There have been no arrests as of yet, footage from the parking lot has been examined, a reward for tips has been posted. Investigators believe he was specifically targeted, possibly stemming from an argument earlier in the week following a drag race.



Michael (yellow shirt) with brothers.