R.I.P CELEBRITY DEATHS(NON WRESTLING) 2018

[topdollar]

The oldest living Major League Baseball Hall Of Famer Red Schoendienst was from Germantown, IL which is near my hometown of Centralia. The Germantown Reds of the Clinton County Baseball League play at Schoendienst Field. The entire area was so proud that a hometown boy made it big in MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals. He won the World Series as both a player and a manager. He also hit the game-winning home run in extra innings of an All-Star Game. But more importantly, Red was a good man. He gave back to the community and to baseball. It was always good to see him show up in uniform at Spring Training to help instruct young players and hit fungoes--even in his 90's. He was a coach for Hall of Fame Managers Whitey Herzog, Joe Torre, and Tony LaRussa. He also served as Special Assistant to the General Manager. Everyone in the organization valued his advice. He was liked and respected by all who knew him. It was a sad day in Cardinals Nation when "Mister Cardinal" passed. Just like his roommate Stan Musial, there will never be another Red Schoendienst. He will be missed.

[jimsteel]

Philadelphia sports broadcasting icon Al Meltzer dies at 89

Al Meltzer, a legendary broadcaster and one of the leading voices in Philadelphia sports history, died Tuesday at the age of 89.

An icon among the city's sports scene, Meltzer enjoyed an award-winning 50-year career, which featured inductions into the Philadelphia Sports, Big 5 and Jewish Sports Hall of Fames.

Meltzer worked for NBC Sports Philadelphia when the company was known as Comcast SportsNet. He also spent time with NBC10, Channel 3 and WPHL-17.

A Philadelphia suburbs resident, Meltzer was regarded for his exciting energy, rich sports knowledge and, of course, his voice.

From calling games, conducting interviews, hosting shows and delivering commentary, Meltzer did it all in Philadelphia, earning numerous honors, including Emmys and the National Academy of TV Arts and Sciences' Governor's Award.

Meltzer retired in 2003 and also authored his own book, "Big Al: Fifty Years of Adventures in Sports Broadcasting."

[throwingtoasters]

RIP Koko

mobile.nytimes.com/2018/06/21/us/koko-gorilla-death-sign-language.html

Koko, the gorilla whose apparent aptitude for sign language endeared her to fans around the world, died in her sleep on Tuesday morning, according to the Gorilla Foundation, which oversaw her care. She was 46.

Koko became an instant celebrity in her youth thanks to an early facility with American Sign Language. That fame was bolstered over the years as Koko, a western lowland gorilla, charmed entertainers like Fred Rogers and Robin Williams as well as their audiences.

“Koko touched the lives of millions as an ambassador for all gorillas and an icon for interspecies communication and empathy,” the Gorilla Foundation said in a statement. “She was beloved and will be deeply missed.”

By the age of 4, Koko had developed a vocabulary of more than 170 words and showed an ability to use language creatively, Penny Patterson, her longtime caretaker and trainer, told The New York Times in 1975.

[TTX]

RIP Koko.

[jimsteel]

Charles Krauthammer, conservative commentator and Pulitzer Prize winner, dead at 68

[jimsteel]

Drummer Vinnie Paul, co-founder of metal band Pantera, has died. Currently a member of Hellyeah, Paul was 54.

His representative confirmed the legendary drummer’s death to Billboard, but added that no further details are available at this time.

[TTX]

RIP Vinnie.

[jimsteel]

Richard 'Old Man' Harrison of 'Pawn Stars' dead at 77

Richard Harrison, the curmudgeonly patriarch of the "Pawn Stars" family whose grumbling about the goings-on in the Las Vegas shop he ran with his son and grandson made him a reality TV star, has died at 77.

[TTX]

www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/deanna-lund-dead-land-giants-actress-was-81-1122920

[Texas Kid]

The beauty from Land of the Giants