R.I.P. SPORTS RELATED 2023(Non Wrestlers) (*)

[jimsteel]

Calvin Muhammad, a former wide receiver in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Raiders, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers, passed away at the age of 64.

He played college football at Texas Southern University and was drafted as the 17th pick in the 12th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. Muhammad was a member of the Raiders’ XVIII Super Bowl winning team.

He played on the following NFL squads:

1982–1983 Los Angeles Raiders
1984–1985 Washington Redskins
1987 San Diego Chargers

During his career, he recorded 1276 yards of receiving with 8 touchdowns.

[jimsteel]

Ted Savage, a former MLB outfielder, passed away at the age of 86.

Savage was signed as an amateur free agent in 1960 by the Philadelphia Phillies.

He made his major league debut with the Phillies on April 9, 1962 in a 12–4 road win over the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field. Pinch-hitting for Wes Covington against Bob Miller, he grounded out but stayed in the game, playing left field. After grounding out again in the seventh inning, he notched his first major league hit and RBI with a single off pitcher Dave Hillman that drove in Tony Gonzalez. He later had another RBI single that scored Gonzalez again, off pitcher Jim Brosnan.

On November 28, 1962, Savage was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates along with Pancho Herrera in exchange for Don Hoak. In 85 games with the Pirates, he batted .195 with five home runs and 14 runs batted in (RBI).

With the 1970 Milwaukee Brewers, Savage hit for a .279 batting average with 12 home runs, 50 RBI and a .402 slugging percentage in 343 plate appearances.

Savage's final game was on July 3, 1971, for the Kansas City Royals in a 1–0 home loss to the Chicago White Sox. In the game, he recorded his final career hit, a single off Tommy John. He ended his playing career with 642 games played. He played for the following teams during his MLB career.

Philadelphia Phillies (1962)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1963)
St. Louis Cardinals (1965–1967)
Chicago Cubs (1967–1968)
Los Angeles Dodgers (1968)
Cincinnati Reds (1969)
Milwaukee Brewers (1970–1971)
Kansas City Royals (1971)

[TTX]

RIP to all who have passed.

[jimsteel]

Bill Davis, a former 1st baseman and pinch hitter in MLB, passed away at the age of 80.

Davis was originally signed before the 1964 season by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent after a stellar career at the University of Minnesota. After 33 games in both 1965 and 1966 the Indians traded the 6' 7' 1st baseman to the San Diego Padres. After Davis toiled in the Indians farm system, the San Diego Padres sent Zoilo Versalles to the Cleveland Indians to complete the trade. After a brief time up with the Padres in 1969 Davis was again traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Sonny Ruberto and John Sipin in late spring. He never again played in the Majors and was again traded to the Twins with Mel Nelson for Bill Whitby. After the 1969 season, Davis retired from professional baseball.

[jimsteel]

Devin Willock, a redshirt sophomore and offensive lineman for the University of Georgia died in a car crash early Sunday morning, along with UGA staffer ... just hours after the team's national championship parade.

Willock was just 20 years old.

[jimsteel]

Gino Odjick, a former left-wing and enforcer in the NHL, passed away at the age of 52.

He was diagnosed with a rare heart disease called amyloidosis in 2014 that resurfaced and hospitalized him two years ago. No publicly released cause of death was divulged. Odjick was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the fifth round (86th overall) in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. His primary role with the Canucks was as an enforcer. For part of his time in Vancouver, he played on a line with the high scoring Pavel Bure. For the 1993–94 NHL season, Odjick had a career-high of 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points. He played a total of 8 seasons for the Canucks from 1990–91 to 1997–98. During six of those seasons, he had over 200 penalty minutes and twice he had over 300. His sixth season (1997–98) with over 200 penalty minutes was split between the Canucks (181 penalty minutes in 35 games) and the New York Islanders (31 in 13 games).

In the 1997–98 season, Odjick was traded to the New York Islanders and played there until 1999–2000 when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. He left Philadelphia during the 2000–01 season for the Montreal Canadiens. His last NHL season was with Montreal in 2001–02. He missed most of the 2002–03 season due to concussion from a puck hitting him in the back of the head during pre-season practice, and was subsequently suspended in February 2003 by the Canadiens for failing to report to the minor-league AHL team in Utah. He retired from professional hockey thereafter, his last known organized hockey coming in 2005, when he played on the Horse Lake Thunder team featuring several hired ringers, including ex-NHLers Theo Fleury, Sasha Lakovic and Dody Wood, who made it to the semi-finals of the 2005 Allan Cup.

During his 12 year career he played in 605 games and scored 64 goals and 73 assists. Odjick played for the following teams during his 12 year career. Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and the Montreal Canadiens

[paul]

Jan 15, 2023 20:52:38 GMT -5 jimsteel said:

Gino Odjick, a former left-wing and enforcer in the NHL, passed away at the age of 52.

He was diagnosed with a rare heart disease called amyloidosis in 2014 that resurfaced and hospitalized him two years ago. No publicly released cause of death was divulged. Odjick was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the fifth round (86th overall) in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. His primary role with the Canucks was as an enforcer. For part of his time in Vancouver, he played on a line with the high scoring Pavel Bure. For the 1993–94 NHL season, Odjick had a career-high of 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points. He played a total of 8 seasons for the Canucks from 1990–91 to 1997–98. During six of those seasons, he had over 200 penalty minutes and twice he had over 300. His sixth season (1997–98) with over 200 penalty minutes was split between the Canucks (181 penalty minutes in 35 games) and the New York Islanders (31 in 13 games).

In the 1997–98 season, Odjick was traded to the New York Islanders and played there until 1999–2000 when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. He left Philadelphia during the 2000–01 season for the Montreal Canadiens. His last NHL season was with Montreal in 2001–02. He missed most of the 2002–03 season due to concussion from a puck hitting him in the back of the head during pre-season practice, and was subsequently suspended in February 2003 by the Canadiens for failing to report to the minor-league AHL team in Utah. He retired from professional hockey thereafter, his last known organized hockey coming in 2005, when he played on the Horse Lake Thunder team featuring several hired ringers, including ex-NHLers Theo Fleury, Sasha Lakovic and Dody Wood, who made it to the semi-finals of the 2005 Allan Cup.

During his 12 year career he played in 605 games and scored 64 goals and 73 assists. Odjick played for the following teams during his 12 year career. Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and the Montreal Canadiens

Horrible news. People here in Vancouver still remember Gino fondly not just for his fighting ability but also for all of his work in the community. I'm sure the Canucks will do some sort of tribute special for him this week.

My condolences to all of his friends and family.

[jimsteel]

Virginia Carver, a former 3rd baseman and outfielder in the AAGPBL, passed away at the age of 87.

The following is an excerpt from Carver's online obituary: "She graduated from New Brighton High School, leaving early in her senior year to play for the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. In 1953 she played for the South Bend Blue Sox and in 1954 she played for the Fort Wayne Daisies; who went on to win the pennant that year. After the 1954 season, the AAGPBL folded. She has a permanent mention on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame located in Cooperstown, NY. To date, the only New Brighton native to hold such an honor.

In 1956 she joined the U.S. Air Force, where she continued to play on the traveling softball team as a standout catcher, shortstop and outfielder. Her playing career spanned 8 years with the Air Force, serving a total of 11 years.

Virginia then worked for the U.S. Postal Service in California until her retirement.

In 2007 Virginia was inducted into the New Brighton Sports Hall of Fame. She is to be inducted into the 2023 Beaver County Hall of Fame this May."

[jimsteel]

Joel Wells, a former CFL & NFL halfback passed away at the age of 86.

This passing just came to light as several reference pages had not recorded Wells' passing. The following is an excerpt from Wells'

online obituary: "Joel graduated from Dreher High School in Columbia, SC and was named Mr. Football in 1954. He went on to Clemson A&M where he played football and was an All-American. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, but went on to play for the Montreal Allouettes, then the New York Giants. He is in the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame and SC Athletic Hall of Fame. Note that Mr. Wells was an all-star in the CFL in 1958.
Joel went on to a business career in Greenville, SC, where he became a partner in IH Services, retiring in 1999. He loved to play golf and travel with Zan, but mostly he loved to be with his family, whatever the occasion. He loved to have fun, and wanted others to as well. He had supported his Clemson Tigers for over 70 years."

[jimsteel]

Former MLB All-Star player Frank Thomas has died.

He was 93.

3-time All-Star who played for Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies has died

Thomas played for the Mets from 1962-1964. He also had stops with the Pirates, Reds, Cubs, Braves, Phillies and Astros. He made his Major League debut in 1951 with Pittsburgh, and played for them through the 1958 season.

He was an All-Star in 1954, 1955 and 1958.

Thomas was with the Phillies for the 1964 and 1965 seasons.

He has legendary status, too, with the Mets, after the acquired him in their inaugural season in 1962. The team was poor that year, but Thomas hit 34 homers and drove in 94 runs.

He was traded to the Phillies in 1964, but the Astros purchased his contract the next year after he hit teammate Richie Allen with a bat. He was then traded from the Astros to the Braves.

He wrapped up his career with the Cubs in 1966 and finished with a career .266 average to go with 286 homers and 962 RBIs.