Requiem For a Heavyweight

    As most of you are probably aware, Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry passed away yesterday at the age of 84. As they always do when Hall of Famers die, baseball-reference.com put out a special notice for Perry. For the past couple years I have saved some of these short reminders of the game's former greats. Here are a few that I have: 

In Memoriam

Tommy Lasorda (1927-2021)

Hall of Fame manager of the Dodgers from 1976 to 1996. Led the Dodgers to four National League pennants and two World Series wins. Two-time Manager of the Year. Managed U.S.A. Olympic Baseball to a gold medal in 2000. Spent more than seventy years active in the Dodgers organization as a player, scout, manager, and in the front office.

Phil Niekro (1939-2020)

Hall of Fame pitcher known for his mastery of the knuckleball. Pitched 24 seasons, 21 with the Braves. One of ten pitchers with 300+ wins and 3,000+ strikeouts. Started 44 games in 1979, the last pitcher to start more than 40 games in a year.

Hank Aaron (1934-2021)

Hall of Fame Braves outfielder. All-time home run leader from 1974 to 2007 (755 career HR). 1957 NL MVP and World Series Champ. 2x batting champ and 3x Gold Glove winner. All-time MLB leader with 2,297 RBI and 6,856 total bases. Only player to appear in 25 All-Star Games. The Hammer.

 

Vin Scully (1927-2022)

Legendary voice of the Dodgers from 1950 (in Brooklyn) to 2016. Called 25 World Series and 12 MLB All-Star Games. 1982 Ford C. Frick Award winner. 2014 winner of Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award. 2016 recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Gaylord Perry (1938-2022)

Hall of Fame pitcher from 1962-83. 2x Cy Young winner (1972, 1978) and first pitcher to win the award in both leagues. 5x All-Star. Career totals of 314 wins, 3,534 K, 5,350 IP, 303 CG and 53 SHO. One of just two pitchers with 3,000 K and 300 CG. Spitballer.

I wish I had a couple more of these, as Whitey Ford, Bob Gibson, Al Kaline, Tom Seaver, Joe Morgan, Lou Brock, Don Sutton, and Bruce Sutter have eluded me (I thought I had several of them on file, but apparently I do not). That said, if anyone else has happened to save them, I would be very happy if you sent them to me. I can be found at damienfantasy@yahoo.com.