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Post by jimsteel on Mar 7, 2023 14:21:16 GMT -5
Pete Magrini, a former pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, passed away AT 80 and was just published by the Press Democrat on Mar. 12, 2023 in Santa rosa, Ca. This article was posted on the Baseball Passings Meta page by the Jack Morris a admin of that page. The following is an excerpt from Magrini's online obituary: "Peter attended St. Rose Catholic School, Santa Rosa Junior High, and Santa Rosa High School, where he met Judy LaFranchi, his future wife of nearly 59 years. Peter played basketball and baseball while at Santa Rosa High School and again at Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC). As a pitcher on the SRJC baseball team, he excelled as the star hurler and earned a full scholarship to Santa Clara University. The success of the Broncos' baseball team led them to compete in the finals of the 1962 College World Series in Omaha. A starter, his high points included striking out Willie Mays on three pitches in an exhibition game. Peter was scouted by several professional baseball teams and in 1964 was signed by the Minnesota Twins. In 1965, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox and signed to a pro contract, and in 1966 he made the Red Sox major league roster out of spring training. Peter played seven years of baseball and in the offseason sold cars at Zumwalt Chrysler Plymouth on Santa Rosa Avenue. When his baseball career ended, he worked at the dealership full-time. His competitive nature and work ethic propelled him from salesman to sales manager to general manager to co-owner. The car business became his second passion and Peter quickly developed into a well-known business leader, and he and Judy became local television personalities due to their popular homespun Zumwalt-Magrini Chrysler Plymouth Jeep commercials. His signature "On the Original Automobile Row" could be heard on radios and TVs throughout the North Bay during the 80s, 90s and into 2000." Magrini was signed as an amateur by the Minnesota Twins in 1964 and was drafted by Boston that November. After a stellar 18–8 record and a 2.26 earned-run average in the 1965 Double-A Eastern League, Magrini made his Major League debut for the Red Sox on April 13, 1966 against the Baltimore Orioles, going two innings and giving up two hits, two bases on balls and three earned runs. He made his only MLB start in his final game May 9 against the Kansas City Athletics, but lasted only three innings and lost his only big-league decision, 6–1. However, Magrini contributed to Boston's surprise 1967 American League pennant when he was traded with fellow pitcher Ron Klimkowski to the New York Yankees for veteran catcher Elston Howard on August 3, 1967. Howard helped guide the young Red Sox pitching staff through a five-team pennant scramble and the 1967 World Series. Magrini retired from baseball after the 1969 minor league season.
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Post by jimsteel on Mar 8, 2023 21:50:23 GMT -5
Thomas "Cam" Jacobs, a former NFL linebacker, passed away due to complications following cardiac arrest, at the age of 60. The following is an excerpt from his online obituary: "Cam's outgoing, fun loving, hilarious personality made everyone want to be his friend. He was an outstanding baseball and football player at Coral Gables High School and was recruited to play football at the University of Kentucky on a full-ride scholarship. After his success in college, he was an NFL 5th round draft pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played on the practice squad for 2 seasons. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 1 season. Cam was an enthusiastic real estate professional who had a good eye for properties with potential. He and Keri built a thriving business together. Cam was an outside the box thinker, always coming up with innovative ideas and businesses throughout his life. He enjoyed boating, beach life, and coaching Carson's football team. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and friends, watching football, and talking about sports and life with his sons.' After being drafted in 1985 by the Steelers, he was on the practice squad in both 1985 & 1986. He was then signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played 3 games during the 1987 season.
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Post by jimsteel on Mar 9, 2023 5:04:30 GMT -5
Moses Gray, a former offensive and defensive tackle in the American Football League, passed away at the age of 85. Gray played college football at the University of Indiana and after college In 1961, the NFL’s New York Giants picked Gray in the ninth round, and the AFL’s New York Titans took him in the 27th round. Subsequentially, he signed with the Titans and played for two seasons in 1961-1962. He played in 5 games during parts of those two seasons and then retired from the AFL.
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Post by TTX on Mar 9, 2023 7:54:29 GMT -5
RIP to those who passed though going to the Titans was a definite mistake (the owner couldn't really afford the team and players often did not get paid)
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Post by jimsteel on Mar 10, 2023 12:33:29 GMT -5
Long Beach diving legend Pat McCormick dies at 92
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Post by jimsteel on Mar 10, 2023 12:35:47 GMT -5
It's being reported that legendary Chiefs WR Otis Taylor has passed away at the age of 80. Taylor was a wide receiver. He played college football at Prairie View A&M University and was drafted by the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round (29th overall) of the 1965 AFL Draft. He was also selected in the 15th round of the 1965 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He chose to play in the AFL for the Chiefs where he would spend his entire career. Taylor was selected in the 1965 AFL draft (Chiefs) and the NFL draft, by the Philadelphia Eagles. After a famous "baby-sitting" incident, in which Taylor "escaped" from NFL scouts, he was signed for the Chiefs by their legendary scout Lloyd Wells. Taylor caught five touchdown passes during his rookie year, and followed that up in 1966 by leading the AFL with a 22.4 yd/catch average and finishing second in receiving yards (1,297). At season's end, he was voted First-team All-AFL and was selected for the 1966 AFL All-Star team. Taylor led the AFL in receiving touchdowns in 1967 with 11 and led the NFL in receiving yards in 1971 with 1,110 yards. He made the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl twice and in 1971 was named Consensus All-Pro by the Associated Press (AP), the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), the Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA) and Pro Football Weekly. The PFWA also named him first-team All-Pro for the 1972 season. Taylor ranks in the Chiefs' all-time list in receptions (6th, 410), receiving yards (3rd, 7,306), receiving touchdowns (3rd, 57), and 100-yard games (20). Taylor combined with running back Robert Holmes for what was at the time the longest reception in Chiefs history in 1969 when he caught a pass from quarterback Mike Livingston for 79 yards, then lateraled to Holmes, who carried it another 14 yards for a touchdown. However, Taylor's most memorable highlight from that season came in the fourth and final AFL-NFL World Championship Game on January 11, 1970, when he caught a short pass, turned downfield and stiff-armed his way to a 46-yard touchdown in the Chiefs 23-7 upset victory over the NFL's champion, the Minnesota Vikings, who, before Super Bowl IV, had been dubbed by some as "the greatest team in pro football history". "Otis made my job easy," Chiefs quarterback and Hall of Famer Len Dawson said. "If you got the pass to Otis, you knew he'd catch it."
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Post by jimsteel on Mar 10, 2023 13:05:08 GMT -5
George "Dick" Haley, a former cornerback in the NFL, passed away at the age of 85. Haley starred in football at the University of Pittsburgh and was drafted after college by the Washington Redskins in 1959. He also played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers. After his playing career Haley was a player personnel analyst for the Miami Dolphins. Haley was also director of player personnel for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1971–1990 as well as the New York Jets from 1991–2007. Haley is frequently credited with having selected the Steelers' renowned 1974 NFL Draft class, which included four future inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The rookies—Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster—would help lead the team to Super Bowl IX and three more Super Bowl championships by the end of the decade. Dick Haley is the father of Todd Haley, former offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns and the Steelers, as well as the former head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Post by jimsteel on Mar 10, 2023 13:35:53 GMT -5
Jesus Alou, a former outfielder in MLB, passed away at the age of 80 During a 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he played for the San Francisco Giants (1963–68), Houston Astros (1969–73; 1978–79), Oakland Athletics (1973–74), and New York Mets (1975). He was the youngest of a trio of baseball-playing brothers that included Felipe and Matty. Alou was considered a better prospect than either of his brothers and received a $4,000 signing bonus. He made his debut at the end of 1963, and his first game, on September 10, was notable in that all three Alou brothers batted in the same inning (they were retired in order). Five days later, for the first time, the three played in the outfield for the Giants at the same time. In his first full year of Major League action in 1964, Alou failed to live up to expectations, hitting only .274 with little power, but on July 10, he went 6–6 with five singles and a home run. Alou was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 1968 MLB expansion draft and then was dealt to Houston. He had his most active season there, hitting .306 in 487 at-bats, but with few walks and little power. He was traded to the Athletics midway through the 1973 season and served as a bench player on two World Series championship teams. He was released by the A's before the 1975 season, failed to catch on with the Mets and Córdoba of the Mexican League in short stints and did not return to the majors until Houston signed him in 1978. He responded by hitting .324 in part-time action and became a player-coach the following year before retiring. Alou later served as a scout for the Expos, then moved to the Florida Marlins as the club's director of Dominican operations. He has held the same post with the Boston Red Sox since the 2002 season. Jesús Alou was awarded the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame Pioneer Award at a pre-game ceremony at Minute Maid Park on September 23, 2008.
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Post by TTX on Mar 10, 2023 13:37:28 GMT -5
Ahh the Alous. RIP.
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Post by jimsteel on Mar 11, 2023 12:32:00 GMT -5
John Demott, a former stadium announcer for several of San Diego's major sports teams and a radio broadcaster for the San Diego Chargers, passed away on March 5th at the age of 80. Demott was the announcer at Padre games from 1970-1985 and went on to be the public address announcer for the other professional teams in the San Diego area. If you went to a game in the 70's and 80's in San Diego the voice you heard was Demott's. He was the PA announcer at the San Diego Mariners WHA hockey and San Diego Clippers games. Demott also did the duties at Jaws and Sockers games of the North American Soccer League as well as the for the indoor Sockers.
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