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RIP Baseball

@ripmlb.bsky.social

Writing about dead baseball players, visiting gravesites and getting tired of creating more social media profiles. SABR member, card collector, Central PA resident, professional meathead.

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RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · yesterday

RIP to Gil Blanco, a left-handed pitcher who made his big-league debut as a 19-year-old and appeared in 28 games in the majors. The lifelong Phoenix, AZ, resident died on July 9 at the age of 80. Blanco played for the New York Yankees in 1965 and the Kansas City Athletics in '66.

Obituary: Gil Blanco (1945-2026)

RIP to Gil Blanco, a left-handed pitcher who made his big-league debut as a 19-year-old and appeared in 28 games in the majors. He died on July 9, though his online obituary only went online within the last week. The lifelong resident of Phoenix, AZ, was 80 years old. Blanco played for the New York Yankees (1965) and Kansas City Athletics (1966). Gilbert Henry Blanco was born in Phoenix on December 15, 1945. He went to North High School, and he played baseball both at school and for the local American Legion league as well.

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RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · 2d ago

I wrote this piece a few years ago, and it shows that 19th Century baseball was a wild business. Frank Bell spent 10 games with Brooklyn in 1885 before finding steady work as a violent, abusive security guard in Cincinnati. He was shot to death in 1891 at age 28. ripbaseball.com/2020/08/03/g...

Grave Story: Frank Bell (1862-1891)

Here lies Frank Bell, whose major league career lasted 10 games in 1885. After baseball, he doled out violence as a security guard until the violence finally caught up with him. Bell played for the…

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RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · last wk.

It's a shame Scott Brown's career lasted 10 games, because he was well on his way to becoming baseball's next folk hero. Compared to Dizzy Dean, Brown was a hard-throwing country boy from Western Louisiana & pitched for the 1981 Reds before arm injuries ended his career. Brown, 69, died on July 21.

Obituary: Scott Brown (1956-2026)

RIP to Scott Brown, a right-handed pitcher who appeared for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1981 season. The native and resident of DeQuincy, LA, died on July 21, at the age of 69, Scott Edward Brown was born in DeQuincy on August 30, 1956. The high school that he attended, DeQuincy High, didn't have a baseball team, so Brown spent his springs as a track and field star. At a 1975 meet, he set a new state record for the high jump with a leap of 5 feet 11-1/4 inches.

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RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · last wk.

Oswaldo and Orlando Arcia may have been born 39 months apart, but they are baseball "twins" in one sense. These two well-traveled brothers had nearly identical seasons, eight years apart. Read more in our latest Weird Stats article.

The Super Arcia Bros.

By Al Doyle Of the 462 sets of brothers who have played in the majors, the DiMaggios are the exception when it comes to fame. Most baseball siblings draw little notice, and that is the story of Oswaldo and Orlando Arcia. Oswaldo (born May 9, 1991) made his major league debut on April 15, 2013, with the Minnesota Twins. The older brother could hit for power, as he clubbed 37 home runs in 733 at-bats for Minnesota in 2013 and 2014. Making consistent contact was the outfielder's problem. He struck out 244 times during those seasons with the Twins.

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RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · 2w ago

In his one year as a full-time closer, the late Duane Ward led the AL in saves and set a new Toronto single-season saves record that still stands. He was a standout reliever on the team's championship teams in 1992 and '93, and he is a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

Obituary: Duane Ward (1964-2026)

RIP to Duane Ward, one of the best relievers in Toronto Blue Jays history. The Las Vegas resident had flown to Toronto to join the rest of his ex-teammates in a celebration of the 1992-93 back-to-back Blue Jays championships. According to various news reports, Ward left a dinner early on July 17 and did not show up to the celebration on the 18th. A wellness check revealed that Ward, 62, had died overnight. During a 9-season career that was curtailed by arm injuries, Ward played for the Atlanta Braves (1986) and Toronto Blue Jays (1986-93, 1995).

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RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · 2w ago

Ron Hunt was one of the toughest ballplayers of his time. He perfected the art of getting hit by pitches, leading the NL for 7 straight seasons in that category and setting a modern-day record for career HBPs. Hunt, 85, died from complications of Parkinson's disease, a possible effect of those hits.

Obituary: Ron Hunt (1941-2026)

RIP to Ron Hunt, an All-Star infielder who set records for being hit by pitches. He led the NL in that particular category for seven straight seasons, including 50 times in 1971. Unfortunately, all those blows may have contributed to Parkinson's disease and memory loss that he endured later in life. Hunt died on July 16 while in hospice care in St. Louis for Parkinson's and cancer. He was 85 years old. Hunt played for the New York Mets (1963-66), Los Angeles Dodgers (1967), San Francisco Giants (1968-70), Montreal Expos (1971-74), and St.

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RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · 2w ago

I’m on the road today but stopped at a rest stop in Virginia to find that former Blue Jays closer Duane Ward has died. It sounds as if he was in Toronto for a celebration of the Blue Jays’ 1992-93 championship teams but fell ill there. He was just 62.

RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · 3w ago

A 7-hour drive game me the chance to catch up on my podcast backlog, and this was a really great episode. There was a bunch of stuff I learned from it, so great job, guys!

Doing Baseball History!@doingbaseball.bsky.social · 3w ago

New Episode on Slivers the Clown and his famous one man pantomime baseball game that brought baseball to the Big Top! A big cultural moment for baseball, clowns and mascots! Big thanks @ripmlb.bsky.social & @johnthorn.bsky.social for their articles and research! podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/s...

RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · 3w ago

Back-to-back road trips have kept me away from a keyboard for most of the last two weeks, but fortunately Al Doyle has provided a couple of Weird Stats pieces. Here are a few of the statistical oddities that have popped up over the first half of the 2026 season.

Odd Stats at the All-Star Break

By Al Doyle If you're looking for eye-catching statistics, 2026 has been an abundant source of such figures. Here are some of the highlights. What happened?: No one could reasonably expect Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh to repeat his record (for backstops) 60 home runs of 2025, but this season has been a nightmare. The switch-hitter stands at .169 (41 for 242) with 9 HR and 29 RBI. Manny Machado's 19 HR and 55 RBI seem normal by his standards, but it took a 3-for-4 game on Sunday to nudge the San Diego Padres third baseman over the Mendoza Line to .203.

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RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · 4w ago

The 1983 Philadelphia Phillies had stars all over the field -- Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Steve Carlton -- but the man whose late-season saves led the team to the NL pennant was closer Al Holland. The Virginia native who played for parts of 10 seasons in the majors died on July 4, age 73.

Obituary: Al Holland (1952-2026)

RIP to former All-Star pitcher Al Holland. The left-handed closer for the 1983 pennant-winning Phillies died on July 4 in Fort Mill, SC, at the age of 73. Holland pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1977, 1985), San Francisco Giants (1979-82), Philadelphia Phillies (1983-85), California Angels (1985) and New York Yankees (1986-87). Alfred Willis Holland was born in Roanoke, VA, on August 16, 1952. His father left when he was 12 years old, but Holland noted in a 1973 interview with The Roanoke Times that he had several father figures in his youth.

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RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · last mo.

RIP to Wes Gardner, who pitched for 8 years in the majors in the 1980s & '90s. The 1st draft pick to come from the University of Central Arkansas died on June 10 at age 65. Gardner played for the New York Mets (1984-85), Boston Red Sox (1986-90), San Diego Padres (1991) & Kansas City Royals (1991).

Obituary: Wes Gardner (1961-2026)

RIP to Wes Gardner, who pitched for 8 years in the majors in the 1980s and '90s. The resident of Benton, AR, died on June 10 at the age of 65. Gardner played for the New York Mets (1984-85), Boston Red Sox (1986-90), San Diego Padres (1991) and Kansas City Royals (1991). Wesley Brian Gardner was born in Benton on April 29, 1961. He was interviewed for his SABR biography but did not speak about his childhood much. He spoke about it a little in a 1985 interview with the…

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RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · last mo.

RIP to Wes Gardner, who pitched for 8 years in the majors in the 1980s & '90s. The 1st draft pick to come from the University of Central Arkansas died on June 10 at age 65. Gardner played for the New York Mets (1984-85), Boston Red Sox (1986-90), San Diego Padres (1991) & Kansas City Royals (1991).

Obituary: Wes Gardner (1961-2026)

RIP to Wes Gardner, who pitched for 8 years in the majors in the 1980s and '90s. The resident of Benton, AR, died on June 10 at the age of 65. Gardner played for the New York Mets (1984-85), Boston Red Sox (1986-90), San Diego Padres (1991) and Kansas City Royals (1991). Wesley Brian Gardner was born in Benton on April 29, 1961. He was interviewed for his SABR biography but did not speak about his childhood much. He spoke about it a little in a 1985 interview with the…

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RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · last mo.

My Cubs conspiracy is that the guy wearing Dansby Swanson’s uniform for the first couple months of the season was actually Charlie Culbertson, and the real Dansby didn’t show up until that Mets series.

RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · last mo.

The weather last weekend was a little rainy for the formal dedication of Frank “Slivers” Oakley, so attendance was limited to a couple hearty souls. But we can officially bring the 19th Century Grave Marker Project’s latest case to a close, which makes me happy.

A picture of the grave of Frank “Slivers” Oakley and Nellie Fogden, with a flower bouquet partially obscuring a potentially frightening etching of a clown wearing a catcher’s mask. If clowns isn’t your thing.
RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · last mo.

When a spring training injury left the Philadelphia Athletics short a catcher, manager Connie Mack stole the starting quarterback at Auburn University. His name was Charlie Gibson, and his career lasted for 12 major-league games and 6 seasons in the minors. Read this new Grave Story for details:

Grave Story: Charlie Gibson (1899-1990)

Here lies Charlie Gibson, who had an extensive career throughout the Southeast as a catcher in the 1920s. He also spent 12 games with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1924. Charles Griffin Gibson was born in LaGrange, GA, on November 21, 1899. He was one of nine children of Walter and Emma Gibson. He attended LaGrange High School and, after graduation, spent February 1918 through February 1919 in the Army for World War I. Though he didn’t serve overseas, he was assigned to the 819 Aero Squadron and reached the rank of sergeant just before his discharge.

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tradesofmlbpast.bsky.social@tradesofmlbpast.bsky.social · last mo.

Bob Horner was drafted first overall by the Atlanta #Braves in the 1978 June Amateur Draft from Arizona State University.

RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · last mo.

Bob Horner spent 10 seasons in the majors, and four of them ended early because of severe injuries. When he was healthy, Horner was one of the most dangerous sluggers of the late 1970s/early 1980s, and he slammed more than 200 home runs. The third Atlanta Braves icon to die in May was just 68.

RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · last mo.

Bob Horner spent 10 seasons in the majors, and four of them ended early because of severe injuries. When he was healthy, Horner was one of the most dangerous sluggers of the late 1970s/early 1980s, and he slammed more than 200 home runs. The third Atlanta Braves icon to die in May was just 68.

In Threes Part Three: Bob Horner (1957-2026)

Every now ang again, if two celebrities die closely together, you'll sometimes hear from people wondering who the third person will be to complete the "In Threes." As in, death comes in threes. It's a superstition based on a series of unfortunate coincidences, but every now and again, it so happens that three people with similar ties pass away in a relatively short time. In May, the Braves had Ted Turner and Bobby Cox die within days of each other. Then on May 26, Bob Horner died at the age of 68 in Irving, TX.

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RIP Baseball@ripmlb.bsky.social · last mo.

Ben Brown to the IL, Edward Cabrera to the IL. The Cubs’ only healthy starting pitcher is Javier Assad. At this point, they need to investigate their medical/training staff for Brewers fans.