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Post by jimsteel on Apr 19, 2023 10:20:13 GMT -5
Larry LeGrande, a former catcher in the Negro Leagues, passed away at the age of 83. LeGrande played for the Memphis Red Sox, Detroit Stars and Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues for 3 seasons from 1957-1959. LeGrande was chosen by Satchel Paige to play on his All-Star team. After his time in baseball, LeGrande worked at General Electric in Salem for 33 years. The following is from LeGrande's online obituary: "Larry Edwin LeGrande, Sr., 83, finished his earthly race April 13, 2023. He was born May 25, 1939, to L.S. and Fanny LeGrande in Roanoke, Virginia. He attended Carver School in Salem, Virginia, and then began his career playing baseball in the Negro Baseball League.
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Post by jimsteel on Apr 19, 2023 14:42:19 GMT -5
Former Drake All-American and NBA guard Willie McCarter died of natural causes at the age of 76. He played at Drake University, averaging 19.9 ppg in three seasons. During his time at Drake, the team made it to the Final Four but were narrowly defeated by powerhouse UCLA 85-82. After college he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 12th pick in the 1969 NBA draft, and played three seasons with the Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers. After his NBA career ended in 1972, he became the coach at Harper Creek High School in Battle Creek, Michigan. In January 1973, he signed to play with the Grand Rapids Tackers of the Continental Basketball Association, playing only when it did not conflict with his coaching. McCarter later served as head coach at the University of Detroit Mercy for three seasons from 1979 to 1982, replacing Smokey Gaines after Gaines was hired as the head basketball coach at San Diego State University. On September 23, 2005, McCarter suffered the first of three strokes within nine months. With the help of his doctors, he recovered. In February 2009, Drake University retired his No. 15 Bulldogs jersey. McCarter's younger brother Andre also played in the NBA.
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Post by TTX on Apr 19, 2023 17:32:07 GMT -5
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Post by jimsteel on Apr 19, 2023 22:59:14 GMT -5
Dave Frost, a former pitcher in MLB, passed away at the age of 70. Today on twitter the Angels made this announcement: "The Angels are saddened to learn of the passing of former Halo Dave Frost, who played for the club from 1978 - 1981. We offer our condolences to his friends and family." Frost was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round of the 1974 Major League Baseball draft. During a five-year Major League career, Frost played for the White Sox (1978), the California Angels (1978–1981), and the Kansas City Royals (1982). Frost made his MLB debut on September 11, 1977, against the California Angels at Anaheim Stadium. He turned in a quality start, pitching 6 1⁄3 innings and giving up just two earned runs. He struck out three, walked none, and received a no-decision in the 5–4 White Sox loss. His first big league win came a week later in another great start against the Angels, this time at Comiskey Park. He went 7 2⁄3 innings, gave up three runs, and won 7–3. He was traded along with Brian Downing and Chris Knapp to the Angels for Bobby Bonds, Richard Dotson and Thad Bosley on December 5, 1977. He split time between Salt Lake City (PCL) and the big leagues in 1978, and went 5–4 with a 2.58 earned-run average in 11 games for the Angels. Next year would be even better. Frost had his biggest year in 1979. He won 16, lost 10, and led Angel starters in ERA (3.57), with a winning percentage of (.615), and innings pitched (239 1⁄3). California had an impressive group of starters that year, including Frost, Nolan Ryan, Don Aase, Jim Barr, Chris Knapp and Frank Tanana. They ultimately won the American League West Division pennant that year with an 88–74 record. Unfortunately, elbow problems severely limited Frost's effectiveness for the remainder of his career. In the next three seasons (two with the Angels and one with the Kansas City Royals) he was a combined 11–22 with a 5.43 ERA. Career totals for 99 games pitched include a 33–37 record, 84 games started, 16 complete games, 3 shutouts, 1 save, and 7 games finished. He allowed 251 earned runs in 550 2⁄3 innings pitched, giving him a lifetime ERA of 4.10. Career highlights include a four-hit, no walk complete game shutout vs. the Oakland A's (July 3, 1979), an eight-strikeout, no walk complete game win (10–1) vs. the Baltimore Orioles (July 7, 1979), a ten-inning, four-hit complete game win (2–1) vs. the Minnesota Twins (April 16, 1980), holding All-Stars Sal Bando, Buddy Bell, Mike Hargrove, Rickey Henderson, Roy Howell, Pat Kelly, Hal McRae, Willie Randolph, Jim Rice, and Roy Smalley to a .103 collective batting average (15-for-145), holding Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson, Cal Ripken Jr., and Robin Yount to a .167 collective batting average (3-for-18) and throwing the opening pitch at a Los Angeles Angels game on Monday, June 27, 2011.
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Post by jimsteel on Apr 19, 2023 23:24:01 GMT -5
Don McIlhenny, a former NFL halfback, passed away at the age of 88. McIlhenny of SMU was selected in the third round of the 1956 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. As a rookie, he was the team's leading rusher during the first four games of the season, before injuries limited his productivity and finished with 372 rushing yards in 9 games. On July 25, 1957, he was traded to the Green Bay Packers along with offensive tackles Ollie Spencer and Norm Masters, and offensive guard Jim Salsbury, in exchange for quarterback Tobin Rote and defensive back Val Joe Walker. The Green Bay Packers used him as a reserve halfback for 4 seasons. He led the team in rushing in 1957 with 100 carries for 384 yards and was fifth in the league in kickoff return average (25.9 yards). McIlhenny was then selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft, becoming the first starting halfback in franchise history. In the Cowboys' 1960 inaugural season, he scored the first rushing touchdown for the Cowboys and was second on the team in rushing with 96 carries for 321 yards in 11 games (7 starts). He was waived on October 11, 1961 and subsequently claimed off waivers by the San Francisco 49ers, where he played in 5 games during the 1961 season. He retired after the 1961 season.
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Post by jimsteel on Apr 20, 2023 4:59:31 GMT -5
Bob Berry, a former NFL quarterback, passed away at the age of 81. Berry was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the eleventh round of the 1964 NFL Draft and by the Denver Broncos in the twenty-sixth round of the 1964 AFL Draft. Berry played his senior season at Oregon in 1964 and signed with the Minnesota Vikings in late November. Minnesota acquired his draft rights in an off-season trade with the Eagles. Berry was out of college during the 1961 season, a de facto redshirt year. Berry played three seasons with the Vikings, the first two under head coach Norm Van Brocklin, a former Oregon quarterback, and was primarily a reserve behind Fran Tarkenton. He made his first start in 1966, a loss in the snow at home to the expansion Atlanta Falcons on December 4. Following the 1966 season, Tarkenton demanded to be traded and was sent to the New York Giants for multiple draft picks, and Van Brocklin stepped down as head coach. Joe Kapp was the starting quarterback under new head coach Bud Grant in 1967 and Berry saw very limited action. In training camp in 1968, Berry was behind Kapp and Gary Cuozzo and missed the final cut in early September. Berry was quickly picked up by the Atlanta Falcons in 1968, and Van Brocklin became the head coach after the third game of the season. Berry started 51 games for the Falcons in five seasons, through 1972, throwing for 8,489 yards and 57 touchdowns, with a passer rating of 79.2. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1969, and was traded back to the Vikings in May 1973. Berry played for the Minnesota Vikings again for four seasons, starting in 1973. He was again the backup to Tarkenton, and Minnesota played in three Super Bowls (VIII, IX, and XI) during this second stint, all losses. Berry retired from football on the first day of 1977 training camp, July 28.
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Post by jimsteel on Apr 20, 2023 17:49:26 GMT -5
Mike Baxes, a former middle infielder in MLB, passed away at the age of 92. The following is an excerpt from Baxes' online obituary: "He went to Mission High in the city and played baseball for them until his graduation. After high school, he started his professional baseball career in 1949. He played for the Kansas City Athletics in 1956 and 1958, but two of his more memorable seasons were with the San Francisco Seals and the Buffalo Bisons in '55 and '57, during which he hit over .300 in over 1000 at bats. The '57 season with Buffalo, he was named the International League MVP after leading the league in runs, hits, and doubles. He was an avid fan of most Bay Area sports teams and would often be found watching games with his family." He played two seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily as a second baseman and shortstop, in 1956 and 1958 for the Kansas City Athletics. During his MLB career, he appeared in 146 games, registered 337 at bats, and collected 73 hits. His brother, Jim Baxes, also played for the major leagues as a second baseman and third baseman. In 1951 he was obtained by the New York Yankees from San Francisco (PCL) as part of a minor league working agreement, and then before the 1952 season he was returned to San Francisco (PCL) by the after expiration of the previous minor league working agreement. On September 21, 1955 Baxes was purchased with Bill Bradford and Dave Melton by the Kansas City Athletics from San Francisco (PCL) for $75,000. He went on to play for two seasons for Kansas City, then on April 12, 1959 he was traded by the Kansas City Athletics with Bob Martyn to the New York Yankees for Tom Carroll and Russ Snyder. He never appeared in another MLB game.
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Post by jimsteel on Apr 21, 2023 12:14:39 GMT -5
Ernie Drew "Black Jack" Barrett, a former NBA Guard and small forward, passed away at the age of 93. Barrett was recruited by coaches including Phog Allen and Henry Iba, but he chose Kansas State to play for Jack Gardner and Tex Winter in 1947. Barrett led the Kansas State Wildcats to the national championship game in 1951. He suffered a shoulder injury in the semi-finals against Oklahoma A&M, and his injury heavily impacted the Wildcats, who lost in the title game. After the conclusion of college career, Barrett was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1st round (7th pick overall) of the 1951 NBA Draft and played for the Celtics (1953–54, 1955–56) in the National Basketball Association for 131 games. He had to delay his pro basketball career for two years due to a military commitment to the USAF.
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Post by jimsteel on Apr 21, 2023 23:23:59 GMT -5
Former Olympic skier Jeremy Nobis found dead in Utah correctional facility At 52
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Post by jimsteel on Apr 23, 2023 1:02:11 GMT -5
Craig Breedlove, daring land-speed recordholder, dies at 86 Breedlove battled Tom Green and Art Arfons on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah to set and then break each other’s speed records during the freewheeling 1960s, a golden era of American motorsports. Breedlove’s final speed record was 600.6 mph (966.5 km/h) in 1965. The mark has been topped since, with the current record sitting at 760.3 mph (1,223.6 km/h) — faster than the speed of sound — but Breedlove helped make the land-speed mark a cultural phenomenon beginning in 1963.
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