Necrology

Ed Acosta was born on March 9, 1944 in Boquete, Panama, and made his Major League debut on Sept. 7, 1970 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Panama native pitched in part of three seasons at the big league level with the Pirates and the San Diego Padres. Acosta passed away on Sept. 18, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif.

Sandy Alomar was born on Oct. 19, 1943 in Salinas, Puerto Rico, and made his Major League debut on Sept. 15, 1964 with the Milwaukee Braves. The All-Star infielder spent 15 seasons in the Majors, playing for the Braves, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, California Angels, New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers. He is the father of Sandy Alomar Jr. and Roberto Alomar. After his playing career, Alomar became a coach for the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies and the Mets. He also coached at the Minor League level for several years. Alomar passed away on Oct. 13, 2025 in his hometown in Puerto Rico.

George Altman was born on March 20, 1933 in Goldsboro, N.C. and made his Major League debut on April 11, 1959 with the Chicago Cubs. Altman spent nine seasons in the big leagues, playing for the Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets. Formerly in the Negro Leagues, Altman became a two-time National League All-Star in 1961 and 1962 while in the Majors. He later played in Japan. He passed away on Nov. 25, 2025 in O’Fallon, Mo.

Jim Bethke was born on Nov. 5, 1946 in Falls City, Neb., and made his Major League debut on April 12, 1965 with the New York Mets. He pitched in one season at the big league level with the Mets at the age of 18. Bethke passed away on June 19, 2026 in Kansas City, Mo.

Jeff Bittiger was born on April 13, 1962 in Jersey City, N.J. and made his Major League debut on Sept. 2, 1986 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Bittiger, a pitcher, played in four seasons at the big league level with the Phillies, Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox. After his playing career he became a scout for the Oakland Athletics. He passed away on July 19, 2025 in Saylorsburg, Pa.

Tony Blanco was born on Nov. 10, 1981 in San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic and made his major league debut on April 8, 2005 with the Washington Nationals. Blanco played in one season at the big-league level with the Nationals. He passed away on April 8, 2025 in Santo Domingo Dominican Republic due to the roof collapsing tragedy at the Jet Set Night Club – he was just 43 years old.

Gary Boyd was born on Aug. 22, 1946 in Pasadena, Calif. and made his Major League debut on Aug. 1, 1969 with the Cleveland Indians. Boyd pitched in 11 innings at the big league level with the Indians. He passed away on June 10, 2025 in Gardena, Calif.

Jim Breazeale was born on Oct. 3, 1949 in Houston, Texas and made his major league debut on Sept. 13, 1969 with the Atlanta Braves. Breazeale played in three seasons in the Majors with the Braves and one season with the Chicago White Sox as a pinch hitter and first baseman. He passed away on March 13, 2025 in Bay City, Texas at the age of 75.

Tom Brown was born on Dec. 12, 1940 in Laureldale, Pa. and made his Major League debut on April 8, 1963 with the Washington Senators. Brown played in 61 games in the Majors, all spent with the Senators as an outfielder and first baseman. After his baseball career, Brown played in the National Football League from 1964-69 playing in the first two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers. He passed away on April 24, 2025 in Palm Harbor, Fla. at the age of 84.

Tommy Brown was born on Dec. 6, 1927 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and made his Major League debut on Aug. 3, 1944 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Brown spent part of nine seasons in the Majors, playing as a shortstop and leftfielder for the Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs. When he entered the Major Leagues, he was only 16 years old and missed the 1946 season due to military service. After he retired from the game at age 25, Brown worked in the Ford glass plant for 35 years. He passed away on Jan. 15, 2025 in Altamonte Springs, Fla. at the age of 97.

Larry Burright was born on July 10, 1937 in Roseville, Ill. and made his Major League debut on April 12, 1962 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The infielder played in three seasons in the Majors with the Dodgers and the New York Mets. He passed away on Oct. 14, 2025 in Glendora, Calif. at the age of 88.

Mike Campbell was born on Feb. 17, 1964 in Seattle, Wash. and made his Major League debut on July 4, 1987 with the Seattle Mariners. The first round pick for the Mariners in 1985 went on to play six seasons at the big league level spent with the Mariners, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs. He passed away on Dec. 15, 2025 in Kirkland, Wash.

Jim Clancy was born on Dec. 18, 1955 in Chicago, Ill., and made his Major League debut on July 26, 1977 with the Toronto Blue Jays. Clancy played in 15 seasons at the big league level with the Blue Jays, Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves. Twelve of those seasons were with Toronto. Clancy passed away on July 12, 2025 in Dunedin, Fla. at the age of 69.

Joe Coleman was born on Feb. 3, 1947 in Boston, Mass. and made his Major League debut on Sept. 28, 1965 with the Washington Senators. The All-Star played in 15 seasons in the majors, spent with the Senators, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates. After retirement, Coleman coached and managed in the Minors for many years. He passed away on July 9, 2025 in Jamestown, Tenn.

Jason Conti was born on Jan. 27, 1975 in Pittsburgh, Pa. and made his Major League debut on June 29, 2000 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Conti played in five seasons in the Majors as an outfielder with the Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers. Conti passed away on May 16, 2025 at the age of 50.

Bobby Cuellar was born on Aug. 20, 1952 in Alice, Texas and made his Major League debut on Sept. 9, 1977 with the Texas Rangers. Cuellar played in one season at the Major League level with the Rangers as a right-handed pitcher. He passed away on Jan. 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas at the age of 72.

Jack Curtis was born on Jan. 11, 1937 in Rhodhiss, N.C. and made his Major League debut on April 22, 1961 with the Chicago Cubs. Curtis played in three seasons at the big league level with the Cubs, Milwaukee Braves and Cleveland Indians as a left-handed pitcher. Curtis passed away on May 12, 2025 in Granite Falls, N.C. He was 88 years old.

Bill Dailey was born on May 13, 1935 in Arlington, Va. and made his Major League debut on August 17, 1961 with the Cleveland Indians. He played in four seasons in the Majors spent with the Indians and Minnesota Twins as a right-handed pitcher. Dailey passed away on Jan. 11, 2025 in Bedford, Va. at the age of 89.

Rich Dauer was born on July 27, 1952 in San Bernardino, Calif. and made his Major League debut on Sept. 11, 1976 with the Baltimore Orioles. Dauer played 10 seasons in the Majors, all 10 spent as an infielder with the Orioles. After his successful big league career, Dauer went on to become a coach, managing the San Bernardino Spirit in 1987 and serving as the team’s radio announcer in 1988. He later worked for multiple minor league teams in different roles, as well joined the Major League staff as the third base coach for the Indians, the Kansas City Royals third base coach, Milwaukee Brewers bench coach, Colorado Rockies third base coach and infielder coordinator, and the Houston Astros first base and infield coordinator. Dauer passed away on Feb. 3, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio due to health issues he was battling since 2017. He was 72.

Brian Dayett was born on Jan. 22, 1957 in New London, Conn. and made his Major League debut on Sept. 11, 1983 with the New York Yankees. Dayett played in five seasons at the big league level with the Yankees and Chicago Cubs. After his playing career he opened a hunting goods store and became a manager and coach in the Minor League system. He passed away on Sept. 7, 2025 in Winchester, Tenn.

Bill Denehy was born on March 31, 1946 in Middletown, Conn. and made his Major League debut on April 16, 1967 with the New York Mets. He played in three seasons in the Majors split between the Mets, Detroit Tigers and Washington Senators. In his Major League debut, he set a franchise record for a debut with nine strikeouts. Denehy passed away on June 27, 2025 in Orlando, Fla.

Jim Dickson was born on April 20, 1938 in Astoria, Ore. and made his Major League debut on July 2, 1963 with the Houston Colt .45s. Dickson spent four seasons in the big leagues with the Colt .45s, Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Athletics. Beyond his playing days he coached for an Italian baseball team.

Octavio Dotel was born on Nov. 25, 1973 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and made his Major League debut on June 26, 1999 with the New York Mets. Dotel went on to spend 15 seasons in the Majors, playing for the Mets, Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers. The right-handed pitcher ended his career with a 3.78 ERA. He tragically passed away on April 8, 2025 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic after the roof collapse at the Jet Set Night Club, and event that killed more than 100 people.

Jim Duckworth was born on May 24, 1939 in National City, Calif. and made his Major League debut on April 13, 1963 with the Washington Senators. Duckworth played in four seasons in the Majors spent with the Senators and Kansas City Athletics. He passed away on Nov. 11, 2025 in Fort Mill, S.C.

Craig Eaton was born on Sept. 7, 1954 in Cincinnati, Ohio and made his Major League debut on Oct. 14, 2025 with the Kansas City Royals. Eaton appeared in 10 innings during five games at the big league level with the Royals, ending his career with a 2.70 ERA. He passed away on Oct. 14, 2025 in Jupiter, Fla.

Marshall Edwards was born on Aug. 27, 1952 in Fort Lewis, Wash., and made his Major League debut on April 11, 1981 with the Milwaukee Brewers. Edwards went on to play in the outfield in three seasons at the big league level with the Brewers. Edwards is the twin brother of former major leaguer Mike Edwards, as well as older brother of Dave Edwards who also played. Edwards passed away on April 15, 2025 in Union City, Ga. at the age of 72.

Mark Esser was born on April 1, 1956 in Erie, Pa. and made his Major League debut on April 22, 1979 with the Chicago White Sox. Esser pitched in two games at the big-league level with the White Sox. Esser passed away on May 12, 2025 at the age of 69.

Eddie Fisher was born on July 16, 1936 in Shreveport, La. and made his Major League debut on June 22, 1959 with the San Francisco Giants. Fisher spent 15 seasons in the Majors for six different teams, playing for the Giants, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, California Angels, Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. During his career he earned an All-Star nod in 1965 and won a World Series Championship with the 1966 Orioles team. Beyond his playing days, Fisher became the president of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association in Oklahoma. He then owned a sporting goods business called Eddie Fisher’s Sports World. Fisher passed away on Feb. 17, 2025 in Altus, Okla. He was 88.

Tommy Helms was born on May 5, 1941 in Charlotte, N.C. and made his Major League debut on Sept. 23, 1964 with the Cincinnati Reds. Helms spent 14 seasons at the big league level playing for the Reds, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. He ended his successful career as Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner. He also appeared in the 1970 World Series. After his retirement from the game, Helms was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1979. In 1981 and 1982, he became a coach for the Texas Rangers, later becoming a coach with the Reds from 1983-89. He passed away on April 13, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio at the age of 83.

Frank Johnson was born on July 22, 1942 in El Paso, Texas and made his Major League debut on Sept. 7, 1966 with the San Francisco Giants. Johnson played in six seasons in the Majors, all spent with the Giants as a leftfielder, third baseman and first baseman. Johnson passed away on May 7, 225 in Stockton, Calif. at the age of 82.

Scott Klingenbeck was born on Feb. 3, 1971 in Cincinnati, Ohio and made his Major League debut on June 2, 1994 with the Baltimore Orioles. Klingenbeck pitched in four seasons at the big-league level with the Orioles, Minnesota Twins and Cincinnati Reds. He passed away on May 20, 2025 at the age of 54.

Jim Lawrence was born on Feb. 12, 1939 in Hamilton, Canada and made his Major League debut on May 30, 1963 with the Cleveland Indians. Lawrence played in two games at the big-league level as a catcher with the Indians. He passed away on Jan. 8, 2025 in Caledonia, Canada at the age of 85.

Chet Lemon was born on Feb. 12, 1955 in Jackson, Miss. and made his Major League debut on Sept. 9, 1975 with the Chicago White Sox. Lemon went on to play as a outfielder for 16 seasons at the big-league level – nine of those seasons spent with the Detroit Tigers, and seven with the White Sox. He ended his successful career as a three-time All-Star and 1984 World Series champion with the Detroit Tigers. After his playing career, Lemon coached a high school baseball team as well as some amateur baseball coaching. He passed away on May 8, 2025 in Apopka, Fla. at the age of 70.