R.I.P. SPORTS RELATED 2024(Non Wrestlers)

[jimsteel]

Billy Gardner, a former MLB manager and middle infielder, passed away at the age of 96.

The following is an excerpt from Gardner's online obituary: "He was a natural athlete at Chapman Tech and was signed by the NY Giants in 1944 at 17 years old. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1946. He returned to baseball in 1947. He played several years in the Giants Minor League system and broke into the big leagues in 1954, the same year the New York Giants won the World Series. He was traded to the Orioles in 1956, where he had his best years. He led the American League in double plays and doubles in 1957, with the Orioles. He received the Orioles MVP in 1957.

He enjoyed 10 years in Major League Baseball, including the 1961 Yankees World Series team. His nickname was "Slick" because he "could turn a double play in a phone booth." After his playing years, he spent more than 30 years scouting, coaching and managing in the Minors and Majors, including managing the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals."

Gardner was a scrappy, light-hitting second baseman for the New York Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. His only significant time on any team was with Baltimore, where he spent four consecutive full seasons from 1956 to 1959.

He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg). After retiring as a player, he spent over 20 years as a coach and manager, and managed the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals during the 1980s.

Born in Waterford, Connecticut, Gardner was signed by the Giants in 1945 and came up with them on April 22, 1954, but he could not break into the contending team's lineup. In early 1956, he was purchased by the Orioles. Gardner picked up a career-high of 10 steals, but in his best season of 1957, he led the league in doubles with 36, and at bats with 644.

He played in every one of the 154 games that season, batting .262 with 6 home runs and 55 RBIs. In his career, Gardner also came in the top 10 in hit by pitches twice (1956 and 1957), with a career-high of 8 in 1957 (fifth in the league).

He wound up as a utility infielder with the 1961 Yankees, winning the 1961 World Series with them against the Cincinnati Reds. In his one and only at bat of the post-season, he lined out to shortstop in the ninth inning of Game 2. The Yankees lost the game 6–2. Gardner ended his career with two years on the Red Sox, picking up 70 hits with them in 283 at bats. Nicknamed "Shotgun" for his rifle arm, Gardner led American League second basemen in fielding percentage in 1957 (.987), including 55 consecutive errorless games, and finished with a .976 fielding mark. In all or parts of ten seasons, Gardner batted .237 with 41 home runs and 271 RBIs in 1,034 games played. He picked up 841 hits, with 159 doubles and 18 triples in 3,544 career at bats. He finished with 19 career steals.

After finishing his career with the Red Sox, Gardner stayed in the Boston organization for eight more seasons as a minor league coach and manager (1964; 1967–71) and major league third-base coach (1965–66).[2] He then managed in the Kansas City Royals farm system from 1972 to 1976, coached at first base for the Montreal Expos in 1977–78, and was a skipper in the Montreal farm system in 1979–80.

Gardner rejoined the Twins as a third-base coach for the 1981 season. He was promoted to manager on May 23, 1981, replacing Johnny Goryl, and served until June 21, 1985, never leading Minnesota to the playoffs and avoiding a losing record only once (1984, at 81–81). Gardner incorporated young players such as Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett, Frank Viola and Tim Laudner into the Twins lineup, beginning the foundation of the club's two World Series clubs to come.

After a 268–353 record with Minnesota, Gardner received a second chance to manage with the 1987 Royals. Gardner initially signed as the Royals' 1987 third-base coach, but terminally ill Royals manager Dick Howser, diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor during the summer of 1986, was forced to retire during spring training, and Gardner was promoted to fill the vacancy. He was fired on August 28 of that year after going 62–64, and John Wathan took over. His career record as a manager was 330–417, a .442 winning percentage.

[jimsteel]

Bob Gaiters, a former halfback in the National Football League, passed away at the age of 85.

Gaiters attended Santa Ana Junior College and transferred to New Mexico State University in 1959 and was a star player on their Aggies football team. A fast tailback weighing over two hundred pounds, Gaiters helped lead the Aggies during their undefeated season in 1960, and claimed the collegiate national championship in rushing and scoring.

Gaiters was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 1961 American Football League Draft and by the New York Giants in the 1961 NFL Draft. He played two seasons in the NFL, spending time with the Giants and San Francisco 49ers. Gaiters spent the 1963 season with the Broncos in the AFL. He then played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League in 1964.

Gaiters finished his career in the Continental Football League where he played for the Newark Bears in 1965, the Hartford Charter Oaks in 1966 and the Orange County Ramblers in 1967.

[jimsteel]

Burke Dales, a CFL punter, passed away at the age of only 46.

No cause of death was released. Dales was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2002 and played CIS Football with the Concordia Stingers.

Over his 9-year career Dales played for the Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos, and Montreal Alouettes. Dales was born in Collingwood, Ontario, and raised in Brockville, Ontario.

After playing at Concordia University, Dales attended the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2002 training camp. He also tried to make the team as a kick-off specialist. When he placekicks, he uses a straight-on style which had not been seen in the NFL since the 1980s. But he never played during the regular season.

Dales was then signed as a free agent on March 8, 2005, by the Calgary Stampeders. Prior to the Stampeders' 96th Grey Cup victory in 2008, Dales was offered a new contract to re-sign with Calgary for the 2009 CFL season but withheld signing until seeing if he could get interest from a National Football League team.

Dales re-signed with the Stampeders on March 24, 2009, after failing to gain interest from NFL teams and a reportedly higher offer from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers would have meant losing his off-season employment.

After becoming a free agent in 2012, Dales signed with the Edmonton Eskimos on February 19, 2012. On July 22, 2013, he was released by the Eskimos. On October 30, 2013, Dales was signed by the Montreal Alouettes.

Dales' sister, Stacey, is a former Women's National Basketball Association player and a field announcer on the NFL Network. His cousin Jason Arnott played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League.

Dales punted for the following CFL teams during his pro career:

2005–2011 Calgary Stampeders
2012–2013 Edmonton Eskimos
2013 Montreal Alouettes

[jimsteel]

Bayern Munich and Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer dies aged 78

An icon of the German game, the former centre-back won the World Cup both as a player and as a manager, lifting the trophy in 1974 when captain of West Germany, and in 1990 as manager of his country.

He remains widely regarded as one of the best players to lace up a pair of boots, and is one of only three men to win the World Cup both as a player and a manager. Brazil's Mario Zagallo and France's Didier Deschamps also achieved the feat.

Beckenbauer came through as a midfielder but made his name as a central defender, and was perhaps one of the first ball-playing defenders who could both defend and move the ball accurately.

[jimsteel]

JPR Williams dies: Wales rugby legend passes away aged 74

[jimsteel]

Wendell Harris, a former NFL Defensive back and kicker, passed away at the age of 83.

He played college football at Louisiana State University, where he guided the Tigers to the 1961 Southeastern Conference championship and an Orange Bowl victory over Colorado.

Harris was then drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the 1962 NFL Draft. Harris, a first-round draft pick out of LSU, became an NFL kick and punt returner who played in other offensive positions as well, beginning his career in 1962 with the Baltimore Colts, coached by Weeb Ewbank. Assigned to both special teams and right cornerback, he returned 10 kicks or punts; his yards per return were 28.7, highest among his special-teammates.

Sharing the field in 1963 with players such as Johnny Unitas and then coached by Don Shula, Harris returned 8 kicks for 198 yards, including a 41-yard run. His yards per return, 24.8, were eclipsed only by John Mackey's. For the year, Harris wracked up 1,000 yards for his team achieving 3rd place in the NFL West.

As Shula built the team, pushing it to 1st in the NFL West in 1964, Harris, #26, picked up 17 kicks and carried them for 214 yards, including a run of 39 yards. He also intercepted the ball for a 20-yard run.

In 1966 Harris moved to the New York Giants, a season of misery coached by Allie Sherman that left the Giants 8th in their division. Harris spent that longest season as a long-snapper for punters, with a total annual yardage of 9 for the year.

The following is an excerpt from Harris' online obituary: "He was a graduate of Baton Rouge High School, where he played all sports but excelled in football. He graduated in 1958 and entered Louisiana State University as a proud Tiger. He played football there at a high level and was the #1 draft choice of the Baltimore Colts. He played for years with the Colts and then the New York Giants. When he was off the field, he spent time gardening and landscaping or as he called it "working in the yard." Harris record 7 interceptions during his 6 year NFL career and played in 83 NFL games and was a starter in 56 of those games. He also had duties as a kick returner during his NFL career.

[jimsteel]

Bud Harrelson, 1969 Mets World Series champion and former manager, dies at 79 after battle with Alzheimer's

[neilybob21]

Rest in peace.

[jimsteel]

Richard Kaser, a former CFL end and halfback passed away at the age of 91 on January 11th.

The following is an excerpt from Kaser's online obituary: "Rick was an accomplished athlete. He attended the University of Toledo on a football scholarship, where he played baseball for a year and football for all four years. In 1951 he became the first University of Toledo football player to be named to the 1st team of the Mid-American Conference and was also inducted into the Cuyahoga Falls football Hall of Fame.

In 1954 Rick was drafted by the Detroit Lions, and after his military career he played professional football in the Canadian Football League for the Vancouver Lions for three seasons and for one season with the Ottawa Roughriders."

Kaser played for the following teams during his CFL career, according to the website StatsCrew:

1957 CFL BC Lions
1958 CFL BC Lions
1960 CFL Ottawa Rough Riders

He played in 23 games total during his CFL career.

[TTX]

RIP