NOTABLE SPORTS DEATHS
December 29, 2004
Ted Abernathy, 71, twice led the National League in saves during the 1960s; Dec. 16.
Dan Allen, 48, coached the Holy Cross football team from a wheelchair during the 2003 season; May 16.
Bobby Avila, 78, a three-time All-Star who won the American League batting title with Cleveland in 1954, the first Latino to win the crown; Oct. 26.
Tommy Baldwin, 57, was killed in a crash at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway during a NASCAR Featherlite modified race; Aug. 19.
Gary Ballman, 63, Michigan State star who became Pro Bowl halfback and receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1960s; May 20.
George Bamberger, 80, a former major league pitcher who managed Milwaukee's "Bambi's Bombers" teams in the late 1970s, also managed the New York Mets and was pitching coach at Baltimore; April 4.
Gene Bearden, 83, a knuckleballer who completed a remarkable rookie season by closing out the Cleveland Indians' last World Series championship, in 1948; March 18.
Fanny Blankers-Koen, 85, Dutch athlete who won a record four gold medals in track and field at the 1948 Olympics and in 1999 was voted best female track athlete of the 20th Century; Jan. 25.
Ray Boone, 81, a two-time All-Star with the Tigers (1954 and '56) and patriarch of a three-generation baseball family, which included son Bob and grandsons Bret and Aaron; Oct. 17.
Hank Borowy, 88, a former Tiger and the last pitcher to get four decisions in a World Series, when he went 2-2 with the Cubs against the Tigers in 1945; Aug. 23.
Harry (The Cat) Brecheen, 89, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher who won three games in the 1946 World Series, was a two-time All-Star and later a Baltimore Orioles pitching coach; Jan. 17.
Roosevelt Brown, 71, a Hall of Fame offensive tackle who starred for the New York Giants in the 1950s and '60s; June 9.
Ken Caminiti, 41, the 1996 National League most valuable player who later admitted using steroids during his major league baseball career; Oct. 10.
John Cerutti, 44, a former pitcher for the Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays and a television announcer for Toronto; Oct. 3.
Jim Colclough, 68, original member of the Boston Patriots and one of the top receivers in franchise history; May 16.
Doc Counsilman, 83, coached Indiana to six NCAA swimming championships and 20 straight Big Ten titles; Jan. 4.
Yinka Dare, 32, the New Jersey Nets' first-round draft pick in 1994 who played four seasons for the Nets; Jan. 9.
Leonidas da Silva, 90, Brazilian soccer great credited with inventing the bicycle kick; Jan. 24.
Joseph Dorsey Jr., 69, a black boxer who won a 1957 legal fight against a Louisiana law that banned interracial bouts; Oct. 20.
Charles Dumas, 66, an Olympic gold medalist who was the first high jumper to clear 7 feet; Jan. 5.
Gertrude Dunn, 72, the 1952 rookie of the year in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and a member of the U.S. Field Hockey Hall of Fame; Sept. 29.
Bruce Edwards, 49, a caddie whose struggle with Lou Gehrig's disease inspired longtime boss Tom Watson at the 2003 U.S. Open; April 8.
Joe Falls, 76, a longtime sports writer for the Free Press and Detroit News and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame; Aug. 11.
Cotton Fitzsimmons, 72, winner of 832 games in 21 seasons as an NBA coach; July 24.
Charlie Fox, 82, the 1971 National League manager of the year with the San Francisco Giants and also manager of the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs; Feb. 16.
Rosie Gacioch, 89, female baseball pioneer who played in the All-American Girls Baseball League; Sept. 9.
Joe Gold, 81, founder of Gold's Gym, which became known worldwide in the sport of body-building; July 11.
Ruben Gomez, 77, baseball pitcher in 1953-62 and '67 and winner of the first regular-season game on the West Coast while with the San Francisco Giants; July 26.
Matthew Gribble, 41, an Olympic swimmer who once held the world record in the 100-meter butterfly; March 21.
Fred Haas, 88, winner of the 1945 Memphis Open, ending Byron Nelson's record winning streak at 11 tournaments; Jan. 26.
Chandler Harper, 90, 1950 PGA Championship winner who won 10 other PGA Tour events and was a member of the 1955 Ryder Cup team; Nov. 8.
Gunder Hagg, 85, set the mile world record in 1945 and held it until Roger Bannister broke the four-minute barrier in 1954; Nov. 27.
Tom Haller, 67, former San Francisco and Tigers catcher who went on to become the Giants' general manager; Nov. 26.
Norb Hecker, 76, the first coach of the Atlanta Falcons and winner of eight NFL championship rings as an assistant coach or player; March 14.
Bill Hill, 52, Detroit Renaissance football coach who took the team to its first Public School League championship this season; Dec. 6.
Chuck Hiller, 70, major league infielder who hit the National League's first grand slam in a World Series, which came in Game 4 in 1962 for the Giants against the Yankees; Oct. 20.
Elroy (Crazy Legs) Hirsch, 80, a Pro Football Hall of Fame halfback and receiver for the Los Angeles Rams and later the athletic director at Wisconsin; Jan. 28.
Ivan Hlinka, 54, a former Pittsburgh Penguins coach who led the Czech Republic to a gold medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics; Aug. 16.
Paul Hopkins, 99, the pitcher who gave up a record-tying home run to Babe Ruth -- Ruth's 59th -- in 1927; Jan. 2.
Darrell Johnson, 75, who managed the Boston Red Sox to the World Series in 1975 and also managed the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers; May 3.
Phil Johnson, 78, Hall of Fame horse racing trainer who won the 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic with longshot Volponi; Aug. 6.
Johnny Kelley, 97, an Olympian and two-time Boston Marathon champion who became a beloved figure by running it a record 61 times; Oct. 6.
Hub Kittle, 86, the pitching coach for the 1982 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals; Feb. 10.
Karol Kennedy Kucher, 72, a member of the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame who won the silver medal with her brother in skating pairs at the 1952 Winter Olympics; June 25.
Rudy LaRusso, 66, a five-time NBA All-Star who helped the Lakers reach the NBA Finals three times in the early 1960s; July 9.
Carl Liscombe, 89, who scored 137 goals for the Red Wings in 1937-46 and played for the '43 Stanley Cup champs; Feb. 23. Ben Martin, 83, football coach at the Air Force Academy in 1958-77 who took teams to three bowls; July 24.
Bobby Mattick, 89, manager of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980 and '81 who played a key administrative role in scouting and development for the Blue Jays' two-time World Series championship teams; Dec. 16.
Tug McGraw, 59, the zany relief pitcher who coined the phrase "You Gotta Believe" with the New York Mets and later closed out the Philadelphia Phillies' only World Series championship; Jan. 5.
Lawrence McGrew, 46, a former linebacker who won a Super Bowl with the 1990 New York Giants and played 11 NFL seasons; April 2.
Jimmy McLarnin, 96, two-time welterweight champion. The Irish-born McLarnin had a 62-11-3 record with 20 knockouts; Nov. 5.
Gerry McNeil, 78, won two Stanley Cups as a goaltender with the Montreal Canadiens; June 17.
Lennox Miller, 58, Olympic sprinter who won a silver medal in 1968 and a bronze in 1972 in the 100-meter dash for Jamaica; Nov. 8.
Ralph Moody, 86, a racing pioneer and Hall of Famer who won 93 races as a car owner on NASCAR's top circuit; June 9.
(CONT...)
December 29, 2004
Ted Abernathy, 71, twice led the National League in saves during the 1960s; Dec. 16.
Dan Allen, 48, coached the Holy Cross football team from a wheelchair during the 2003 season; May 16.
Bobby Avila, 78, a three-time All-Star who won the American League batting title with Cleveland in 1954, the first Latino to win the crown; Oct. 26.
Tommy Baldwin, 57, was killed in a crash at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway during a NASCAR Featherlite modified race; Aug. 19.
Gary Ballman, 63, Michigan State star who became Pro Bowl halfback and receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1960s; May 20.
George Bamberger, 80, a former major league pitcher who managed Milwaukee's "Bambi's Bombers" teams in the late 1970s, also managed the New York Mets and was pitching coach at Baltimore; April 4.
Gene Bearden, 83, a knuckleballer who completed a remarkable rookie season by closing out the Cleveland Indians' last World Series championship, in 1948; March 18.
Fanny Blankers-Koen, 85, Dutch athlete who won a record four gold medals in track and field at the 1948 Olympics and in 1999 was voted best female track athlete of the 20th Century; Jan. 25.
Ray Boone, 81, a two-time All-Star with the Tigers (1954 and '56) and patriarch of a three-generation baseball family, which included son Bob and grandsons Bret and Aaron; Oct. 17.
Hank Borowy, 88, a former Tiger and the last pitcher to get four decisions in a World Series, when he went 2-2 with the Cubs against the Tigers in 1945; Aug. 23.
Harry (The Cat) Brecheen, 89, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher who won three games in the 1946 World Series, was a two-time All-Star and later a Baltimore Orioles pitching coach; Jan. 17.
Roosevelt Brown, 71, a Hall of Fame offensive tackle who starred for the New York Giants in the 1950s and '60s; June 9.
Ken Caminiti, 41, the 1996 National League most valuable player who later admitted using steroids during his major league baseball career; Oct. 10.
John Cerutti, 44, a former pitcher for the Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays and a television announcer for Toronto; Oct. 3.
Jim Colclough, 68, original member of the Boston Patriots and one of the top receivers in franchise history; May 16.
Doc Counsilman, 83, coached Indiana to six NCAA swimming championships and 20 straight Big Ten titles; Jan. 4.
Yinka Dare, 32, the New Jersey Nets' first-round draft pick in 1994 who played four seasons for the Nets; Jan. 9.
Leonidas da Silva, 90, Brazilian soccer great credited with inventing the bicycle kick; Jan. 24.
Joseph Dorsey Jr., 69, a black boxer who won a 1957 legal fight against a Louisiana law that banned interracial bouts; Oct. 20.
Charles Dumas, 66, an Olympic gold medalist who was the first high jumper to clear 7 feet; Jan. 5.
Gertrude Dunn, 72, the 1952 rookie of the year in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and a member of the U.S. Field Hockey Hall of Fame; Sept. 29.
Bruce Edwards, 49, a caddie whose struggle with Lou Gehrig's disease inspired longtime boss Tom Watson at the 2003 U.S. Open; April 8.
Joe Falls, 76, a longtime sports writer for the Free Press and Detroit News and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame; Aug. 11.
Cotton Fitzsimmons, 72, winner of 832 games in 21 seasons as an NBA coach; July 24.
Charlie Fox, 82, the 1971 National League manager of the year with the San Francisco Giants and also manager of the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs; Feb. 16.
Rosie Gacioch, 89, female baseball pioneer who played in the All-American Girls Baseball League; Sept. 9.
Joe Gold, 81, founder of Gold's Gym, which became known worldwide in the sport of body-building; July 11.
Ruben Gomez, 77, baseball pitcher in 1953-62 and '67 and winner of the first regular-season game on the West Coast while with the San Francisco Giants; July 26.
Matthew Gribble, 41, an Olympic swimmer who once held the world record in the 100-meter butterfly; March 21.
Fred Haas, 88, winner of the 1945 Memphis Open, ending Byron Nelson's record winning streak at 11 tournaments; Jan. 26.
Chandler Harper, 90, 1950 PGA Championship winner who won 10 other PGA Tour events and was a member of the 1955 Ryder Cup team; Nov. 8.
Gunder Hagg, 85, set the mile world record in 1945 and held it until Roger Bannister broke the four-minute barrier in 1954; Nov. 27.
Tom Haller, 67, former San Francisco and Tigers catcher who went on to become the Giants' general manager; Nov. 26.
Norb Hecker, 76, the first coach of the Atlanta Falcons and winner of eight NFL championship rings as an assistant coach or player; March 14.
Bill Hill, 52, Detroit Renaissance football coach who took the team to its first Public School League championship this season; Dec. 6.
Chuck Hiller, 70, major league infielder who hit the National League's first grand slam in a World Series, which came in Game 4 in 1962 for the Giants against the Yankees; Oct. 20.
Elroy (Crazy Legs) Hirsch, 80, a Pro Football Hall of Fame halfback and receiver for the Los Angeles Rams and later the athletic director at Wisconsin; Jan. 28.
Ivan Hlinka, 54, a former Pittsburgh Penguins coach who led the Czech Republic to a gold medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics; Aug. 16.
Paul Hopkins, 99, the pitcher who gave up a record-tying home run to Babe Ruth -- Ruth's 59th -- in 1927; Jan. 2.
Darrell Johnson, 75, who managed the Boston Red Sox to the World Series in 1975 and also managed the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers; May 3.
Phil Johnson, 78, Hall of Fame horse racing trainer who won the 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic with longshot Volponi; Aug. 6.
Johnny Kelley, 97, an Olympian and two-time Boston Marathon champion who became a beloved figure by running it a record 61 times; Oct. 6.
Hub Kittle, 86, the pitching coach for the 1982 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals; Feb. 10.
Karol Kennedy Kucher, 72, a member of the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame who won the silver medal with her brother in skating pairs at the 1952 Winter Olympics; June 25.
Rudy LaRusso, 66, a five-time NBA All-Star who helped the Lakers reach the NBA Finals three times in the early 1960s; July 9.
Carl Liscombe, 89, who scored 137 goals for the Red Wings in 1937-46 and played for the '43 Stanley Cup champs; Feb. 23. Ben Martin, 83, football coach at the Air Force Academy in 1958-77 who took teams to three bowls; July 24.
Bobby Mattick, 89, manager of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980 and '81 who played a key administrative role in scouting and development for the Blue Jays' two-time World Series championship teams; Dec. 16.
Tug McGraw, 59, the zany relief pitcher who coined the phrase "You Gotta Believe" with the New York Mets and later closed out the Philadelphia Phillies' only World Series championship; Jan. 5.
Lawrence McGrew, 46, a former linebacker who won a Super Bowl with the 1990 New York Giants and played 11 NFL seasons; April 2.
Jimmy McLarnin, 96, two-time welterweight champion. The Irish-born McLarnin had a 62-11-3 record with 20 knockouts; Nov. 5.
Gerry McNeil, 78, won two Stanley Cups as a goaltender with the Montreal Canadiens; June 17.
Lennox Miller, 58, Olympic sprinter who won a silver medal in 1968 and a bronze in 1972 in the 100-meter dash for Jamaica; Nov. 8.
Ralph Moody, 86, a racing pioneer and Hall of Famer who won 93 races as a car owner on NASCAR's top circuit; June 9.
(CONT...)
