Deaths Of Notable Sports Figures (R.I.P.)

[ScriptOhio]

Globetrotters legend Fred 'Curly' Neal dies at 77

Fred "Curly" Neal, the slick-dribbling face of the Harlem Globetrotters for 22 years, has died at the age of 77, Johnson C. Smith University announced Thursday on Twitter.

Neal, with his recognizable shaved head and playful banter, in 2008 became just the fifth Globetrotters player to have his jersey retired, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Marques Haynes, Meadowlark Lemon and Goose Tatum.

His jersey was raised to the rafters of Madison Square Garden during a special ceremony.

Neal played in more than 6,000 games in 97 countries for the barnstorming Globetrotters from 1963 to 1985.

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28958864/globetrotters-legend-fred-curly-neal-dies-77





R.I.P.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Damn, loved the Globetrotters growing up. He was before my time, but I knew of the dribbling legend. RIP Curly.

 

[Hstead]

Damn, loved the Globetrotters growing up. He was before my time, but I knew of the dribbling legend. RIP Curly.

Saw him in person a couple of times as a kid and he and Meadowlark Lemon were my favorites. Curly could handle the piss out of it that is for sure.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Legendary Astros outfielder Jimmy Wynn dies at age 78

Wynn was a part of the Astros front office and played for the club for 11 years

Sad news for the baseball world Thursday night, as the Houston Astros have announced that former player and member of their front office Jimmy Wynn has passed away at age 78.

"Today, we lost a very big part of the Astros family with the passing of Jimmy Wynn," the club said in a statement. "His contributions to our organization both on and off the field are too numerous to mention. As an All-Star player in the 1960's and 70s, Jimmy's success on the field helped build our franchise from its beginnings. After his retirement, his tireless work in the community impacted thousands of young people in Houston. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy will live on at Minute Maid Park, at the Astros Youth Academy and beyond. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Marie, daughter, Kimberly, son, James, Jr., to the other members of his family and to his many fans and admirers."

Wynn was nicknamed "The Toy Cannon" for having big power despite only being 5-foot-9. Despite playing home games in the Astrodome -- a notoriously pitcher-friendly ballpark -- Wynn topped 20 homers seven times and 30 homers twice during his time there. He was an All-Star in 1967 when he clubbed 37 homers while also stealing 16 bases. He was also twice an All-Star with the Dodgers after he left Houston late in his career.

Entire article: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/legendary-astros-outfielder-jimmy-wynn-dies-at-age-78/



R.I.P.

 

[brodybuck21]

Legendary Astros outfielder Jimmy Wynn dies at age 78

Wynn was a part of the Astros front office and played for the club for 11 years

Sad news for the baseball world Thursday night, as the Houston Astros have announced that former player and member of their front office Jimmy Wynn has passed away at age 78.

"Today, we lost a very big part of the Astros family with the passing of Jimmy Wynn," the club said in a statement. "His contributions to our organization both on and off the field are too numerous to mention. As an All-Star player in the 1960's and 70s, Jimmy's success on the field helped build our franchise from its beginnings. After his retirement, his tireless work in the community impacted thousands of young people in Houston. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy will live on at Minute Maid Park, at the Astros Youth Academy and beyond. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Marie, daughter, Kimberly, son, James, Jr., to the other members of his family and to his many fans and admirers."

Wynn was nicknamed "The Toy Cannon" for having big power despite only being 5-foot-9. Despite playing home games in the Astrodome -- a notoriously pitcher-friendly ballpark -- Wynn topped 20 homers seven times and 30 homers twice during his time there. He was an All-Star in 1967 when he clubbed 37 homers while also stealing 16 bases. He was also twice an All-Star with the Dodgers after he left Houston late in his career.

Entire article: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/legendary-astros-outfielder-jimmy-wynn-dies-at-age-78/



R.I.P.

R.I.P.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Washington announces death of former player, coach Jim Lambright

Jim Lambright spent nearly his entire adult life in Husky purple and gold, and the Lambright family announced Sunday that that life has ended.

“I’m deeply saddened by the news of Coach Lambright’s passing,” Washington AD Jennifer Cohen said in a statement. “Coach Lambright is synonymous with Husky football and he gave so much to this program both as a player and coach. My love for the University of Washington was sparked during Coach’s tenure on our football staff and I’m grateful for the impact he had on so many. I’d like to extend heartfelt condolences to his family, former players, teammates and coaches.”

An Everett, Wash., native, Lambright was an all-conference defensive end for the Huskies from 1962-64. He then moved into coaching as an assistant at Fife High School in Tacoma and then at Shoreline Community College north of Seattle.

His former coach Jim Owens called Lambright home in 1969, and he remained on Washington’s staff for the next 30 years.

Future Hall of Fame coach Don James retained Lambright in 1975 and promoted him to defensive coordinator in 1978, where he helped the Washington win six Pac-8/Pac-10 championships, three Rose Bowls and a share of the 1991 national championship.

Lambright was promoted to head coach upon James’ retirement in 1993, where he went 44-25-1 with a share of the Pac-10 title in 1995 and AP top-20 finishes in 1996 and ’97. He was relieved of duties after the 1998 season in favor of Rick Neuheisel.

“Coach Lambright was a legend at the UW, particularly when it came to playing the kind of physical, aggressive defense that his teams were known for,” said Washington head coach Jimmy Lake. “He was always supportive of the program that he loved so much. His impact on Husky football will not be forgotten.”

Entire article: https://collegefootballtalk.nbcspor...s-death-of-former-player-coach-jim-lambright/

 

[ScriptOhio]

Patriarch of Hebert family dies of coronavirus complications

Bobby Hebert, Sr., died Saturday due to complications of COVID-19, the family has announced. He was 81 years old.

Bobby, Sr., was the patriarch of the Hebert clan, a prominent football family in Louisiana.

Bobby Hebert, Jr., played quarterback at Northwestern State in the early 1980s — he was a teammate of Ed Orgeron‘s — before becoming the most decorated player in USFL history and a 12-year quarterback for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons.

Bobby’s grandson, T-Bob Hebert, played center at LSU from 2007-11. He was a redshirt on the Tigers’ 2007 title team and started on the 2011 LSU team that won that season’s SEC title and reached the BCS National Championship.

Bobby, Jr., is now an afternoon host for WWL-AM sports radio in New Orleans, and T-Bob hosts mornings for the ESPN Radio affiliate in Baton Rouge.

Entire article: https://collegefootballtalk.nbcspor...ert-family-dies-of-coronavirus-complications/

Former LSU WR Orlando McDaniel dies from coronavirus complications

Former LSU wide receiver Orlando McDaniel has died from complications related to COVID-19, according to LSU track and field coach Dennis Shaver.

Shaver told WBRZ McDaniel fell ill after traveling to Washington, D.C., to visit a family member.

A Shreveport native, McDaniel played wide receiver for LSU from 1978-81. He caught 64 passes for 1,184 yards and three touchdowns over his career in addition to winning an SEC championship and a runner-up finish at the NCAA championships as a 110-meter hurdler.

He was a second-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 1982 and played in three career games.

Entire article: https://collegefootballtalk.nbcspor...mcdaniel-dies-from-coronavirus-complications/

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[ScriptOhio]

Former Ohio State basketball captain Ron Sepic dies

Ron Sepic, a former Ohio State men’s basketball team captain and 1,000-point scorer, died Saturday at age 75 in his native Pennsylvania after a battle with cancer.

A three-year starter from 1965-67 and the product of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Sepic came to the Buckeyes when freshmen weren’t permitted to play. In three seasons, he scored 1,107 points, averaging 15.4 per game. He led Ohio State in free-throw shooting percentage as a junior and senior, is a member of the 20-rebound club and finished with 19 career double-doubles.

Upon graduation, Sepic was drafted to play football for the Washington Redskins and basketball for the NBA’s Cincinnati Royals. He had starred in football at Uniontown, where he was a first-team all-state player, and had been recruited to play both sports before picking Ohio State from a final three that also included West Virginia and Duke.

Instead of pursuing a pro career, Sepic chose to enroll in dental school and graduated from Ohio State’s College of Dental Medicine in 1971 before earning a post-graduate degree in orthodontics from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Sepic opened his practice in his hometown of Uniontown and Pittsburgh in 1974 until his retirement in 2018.

As a senior at Uniontown, Sepic was named a high school all-American and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show alongside a sophomore named Lew Alcindor, who would later change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame last October.

Entire article: https://www.buckeyextra.com/sports/20200402/former-ohio-state-basketball-captain-ron-sepic-dies

R.I.P.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Tom Dempsey, NFL kicker who set a record for the longest field goal, dies of coronavirus

Tom Dempsey, a journeyman NFL kicker who despite missing the toes on his right foot set a field goal record that stood for more than four decades, has died of coronavirus, according to reports.

"Tom's life spoke directly to the power of the human spirit and exemplified his resolute determination to not allow setbacks to impede following his dreams and aspirations," said Gayle Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, where Dempsey began his career.
"He exemplified the same fight and fortitude in recent years as he battled valiantly against illnesses but never wavered and kept his trademark sense of humor," she said in a statement.



The 73-year-old, who suffered from dementia, died from complications with Covid-19 on Saturday at Lambeth House Retirement Community in New Orleans, his family told The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate.

Entire article: https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/05/us/tom-dempsey-nfl-kicker-dies-coronavirus-trnd/index.html



R.I.P.

 

[LitlBuck]

Bobby Mitchell, Hall of Famer and former Browns halfback, dies at 84

Former Browns and Redskins halfback and wide receiver Bobby Mitchell died on Sunday at the age of 84.AP

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Former Browns halfback and Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell passed away on Sunday at the age of 84, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced.

"The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Bobby Mitchell. The Game lost a true legend today. Bobby was an incredible player, a talented executive and a real gentleman to everyone with whom he worked or competed against. His wife Gwen and their entire family remain in our thoughts and prayers. The Hall of Fame will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration to future generations,” Pro Football Hall of Fame President and CEO David Baker said in a statement.

Mitchell was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983. He spent his 11-year NFL career with the Browns and Redskins from 1958 to 1968. Mitchell made four Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 1962, his first year with Washington.

A seventh-round pick of the Browns in 1958, Mitchell had 428 carries for 2,297 yards and 16 touchdown, and caught 128 passes for 1,462 yards and 16 TDs in four seasons with the Browns.

The Browns traded Mitchell to Washington in 1962. He moved to receiver and had back-to-back seasons of at least 1,300 yards to start his time with the Redskins. He ended his career with 7,954 yards receiving and 65 TDs.

In the deal that sent Mitchell to the Redskins, the Browns acquired running back Ernie Davis, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft. Davis never played in the NFL and died in 1963 due to leukemia.

After his retirement from pro football, Mitchell spent the next 35 years in the Redskins’ organization, including eventually becoming an assistant general manager.

Continued…

 

[ScriptOhio]

Hall of Fame outfielder and Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline dies at 85

Al Kaline, a Hall of Famer who played all 22 years of his career in Detroit, earning the nickname "Mr. Tiger,"  died on Monday, a team official confirmed to ESPN.  He was 85.

Kaline, an 18-time All-Star and a 10-time Gold Glove winner in right field, retired shortly after recording his 3,000 hit in 1974 and joined the Tigers broadcasting team. He continued to work for the Tigers after his retirement from the booth in 2002.

He became the first Tiger to have his number retired, with the "Six" by which he was known in the clubhouse going up on the walls in 1980. He was also elected to the Hall of Fame that year, his first on the ballot.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Kaline joined the Tigers right out of high school, making his major-league debut in 1953. By 1955, he had become the youngest player ever to win the American League batting title and finished second to Yogi Berra in voting for the AL MVP.

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id...elder-detroit-tigers-legend-al-kaline-dies-85

I specifically remember having this baseball card back in 1959 because of the "Youngest Bat Champ".

R.I.P.

 

[BB73]

Hall of Fame outfielder and Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline dies at 85

Al Kaline, a Hall of Famer who played all 22 years of his career in Detroit, earning the nickname "Mr. Tiger,"  died on Monday, a team official confirmed to ESPN.  He was 85.

Kaline, an 18-time All-Star and a 10-time Gold Glove winner in right field, retired shortly after recording his 3,000 hit in 1974 and joined the Tigers broadcasting team. He continued to work for the Tigers after his retirement from the booth in 2002.

He became the first Tiger to have his number retired, with the "Six" by which he was known in the clubhouse going up on the walls in 1980. He was also elected to the Hall of Fame that year, his first on the ballot.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Kaline joined the Tigers right out of high school, making his major-league debut in 1953. By 1955, he had become the youngest player ever to win the American League batting title and finished second to Yogi Berra in voting for the AL MVP.

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id...elder-detroit-tigers-legend-al-kaline-dies-85

I specifically remember having this baseball card back in 1959 because of the "Youngest Bat Champ".

R.I.P.

He was an early sports icon for me. I wondered why batteries were able to have his name on them without paying him.

 

[Oh8ch]

Former Ohio State basketball captain Ron Sepic dies

Ron Sepic, a former Ohio State men’s basketball team captain and 1,000-point scorer, died Saturday at age 75 in his native Pennsylvania after a battle with cancer.

A three-year starter from 1965-67 and the product of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Sepic came to the Buckeyes when freshmen weren’t permitted to play. In three seasons, he scored 1,107 points, averaging 15.4 per game. He led Ohio State in free-throw shooting percentage as a junior and senior, is a member of the 20-rebound club and finished with 19 career double-doubles.

Upon graduation, Sepic was drafted to play football for the Washington Redskins and basketball for the NBA’s Cincinnati Royals. He had starred in football at Uniontown, where he was a first-team all-state player, and had been recruited to play both sports before picking Ohio State from a final three that also included West Virginia and Duke.

Instead of pursuing a pro career, Sepic chose to enroll in dental school and graduated from Ohio State’s College of Dental Medicine in 1971 before earning a post-graduate degree in orthodontics from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Sepic opened his practice in his hometown of Uniontown and Pittsburgh in 1974 until his retirement in 2018.

As a senior at Uniontown, Sepic was named a high school all-American and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show alongside a sophomore named Lew Alcindor, who would later change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame last October.

Entire article: https://www.buckeyextra.com/sports/20200402/former-ohio-state-basketball-captain-ron-sepic-dies

R.I.P.

As if I didn't feel ancient enough watching all of these childhood heroes pass, I remember watching the Ed Sullivan show the night Alcindor was on.

 

[shetuck]

He was an early sports icon for me. I wondered why batteries were able to have his name on them without paying him.

Lol... same for me with the batteries. Same thing as my awe and wonder at the fact that my gym teacher's name was molded into the Spauling basketballs we were using.

Got hooked during my formative years watching the Tigers on "dubya dee aye vee deetroit" with George Kell and Al Kaline. "Loooow and oughtsaaad... that one almost got away from The Cat." When we moved from Xichigan to Pennsylvania, my only consolation was to listen to Tigers games called on the mighty WJR by the inimitable Ernie Harwell.