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Rickey Henderson Passes Away

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Baseball Hall of Famer and stolen base king Rickey Henderson has passed away. He was 65. Henderson’s friend and teammate Dave Winfield was among those to announce the tragic news, which was later confirmed by the New York Post.

Henderson was born in Chicago on Christmas Day in 1958. However, he spent much of his childhood in Oakland. The Athletics arrived in the city not long after Henderson, and once he finished high school, his hometown team called his name in the fourth round of the 1976 MLB draft. Three years after that, he arrived at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum to make his major league debut.

Following an underwhelming rookie season, Henderson broke out with a superstar performance in 1980. The 21-year-old outfielder showed off terrific bat-to-ball skills and a sharp eye at the plate, ranking third among qualified batters in walk rate and OBP. Of course, he put that OBP to good use, leading the majors with 100 stolen bases. It was the first of six times he would lead the majors in steals, and the first of 12 times he’d lead the American League in the category. He also made his first of 10 All-Star teams that summer and finished 10th in MVP voting that fall. In retrospect, however, he deserved to finish much higher. According to both FanGraphs and Baseball Reference, the only AL player with a higher WAR that season was MVP George Brett.

Henderson was even better in his third season, the strike-shortened 1981 campaign. He led the majors in runs scored and led the AL in hits and stolen bases. At the end of the year, he won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger. However, he was still, arguably, overlooked in MVP voting. He finished a close second behind Brewers closer Rollie Fingers, but modern stats like fWAR and bWAR suggest he was the most productive player in the American League that season. Indeed, this was often the story of Henderson’s career. He was consistently excellent year in and year out, and although he received no shortage of praise and acclaim, he was still somehow overlooked. He made 10 All-Star teams and won three Silver Sluggers, one Gold Glove, and one MVP. Yet, all that might not have been enough to properly recognize his greatness.

Henderson became a star in his early twenties. He remained productive on the field into his forties. Over his 15 best seasons from 1980-94, he was almost undeniably the best player in baseball. Whether you look at runs scored, stolen bases, fWAR, or bWAR, no other player was anywhere close to as productive. With his combination of speed, defensive range, contact skills, plate discipline, and eventually above-average power, he could impact a ballgame in all sorts of ways. He is best remembered as the all-time and modern-era single-season stolen base leader, but he also holds the all-time MLB records for runs, unintentional walks, and leadoff home runs.

In addition to those career accolades, Henderson was a transformational player in the postseason. A two-time World Series champion who hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy for both Oakland in 1989 and Toronto in 1993, his 11 stolen bases during the 1989 postseason is tied with Kenny Lofton for the most steals by a player in a single postseason, and his 33 career steals in the playoffs were the most by a player in history until Lofton broke that record during the 2007 ALCS.

In addition to the havoc Henderson caused on the basepaths, he was a prolific hitter when the lights were brightest with a .284/.389/.441 slash line in 60 postseason games. Impressive as that work in the playoffs is, Henderson’s work during his 14 career World Series games boggles the mind: he hit .339/.448/.607 with more walks than strikeouts while going seven-for-nine on the basepaths. Those incredible numbers translate to a 194 wRC+ that leaves him sandwiched between Babe Ruth (195) and Lou Gehrig (194) on the career leaderboard for wRC+ in the World Series among players who made at least 60 trips to the plate during the Fall Classic.

While Henderson was the greatest player of the ’80s and early ’90s, the legend of the game kept his career going well past the age where most players hang up the spikes. After his age-35 season in Oakland, Henderson went on to play in an additional 1,001 games in the majors while bouncing between the A’s, Padres, Angels, Mets, Mariners, Padres, Red Sox, and Dodgers. Those final nine years of Henderson’s career were naturally not on the level of his seemingly superhuman peak in Oakland the Bronx, but he remained a productive player through the end of his major league career. From 1995 through 2003, Henderson hit .254/.390/.369 with a 111 wRC+ while swiping 289 bags, making him well above average both at the plate and on the basepaths. Even during his 30-game stint with the Dodgers at the age of 44, Henderson produced above replacement-level value according to both Fangraphs (0.1 fWAR) and Baseball Reference (0.2 bWAR).

Henderson continued playing in Independent Leagues even after he played his final major league game as posted an .897 OPS in the Atlantic League and an .856 OPS in the Golden League before calling it a career in 2005 at the age of 46. The love of the game that caused him to continue playing in indy ball following the end of his big league career also led him to leave the door open to returning to a major league field even after his playing days were behind him. He maintained an interest in suiting up for a major league team again after being hired by the Mets as a hitting instructor in 2006 and famously suggested following his first-ballot induction into the Hall of Fame back in 2009 that even at the age of 50 he could lead the league in stolen bases.

It’s that heart and love of the game that endeared Henderson to his teammates, coaches, and all those around the game who interacted with him while making him beloved by millions of fans around the world. Henderson’s otherworldly talent and passion for the game led him to collect 3,055 hits, steal 1,406 bases, score 2,295 runs, swat 873 extra-base hits, and manage a career .401 on-base percentage in his 3,081 games as a major league player. MLBTR extends our condolences to Henderson’s family, friends, and teammates as we join the rest of the baseball world in mourning his passing.

Rocky Colavito Passes Away

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Nine-time All-Star Rocky Colavito has passed away, the Guardians announced. The longtime MLB slugger was 91.

A native of the Bronx, Colavito signed with the Indians out of high school. He had consecutive 30-plus home run seasons in Triple-A and played his way to Cleveland by his age-21 season. Colavito carried that over against MLB pitching, hitting 21 homers over 101 games as a rookie in 1956. He finished runner-up to Luis Aparicio in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

Colavito hit 25 homers in 1957.  By the ’58 season, he was one of the sport’s most feared power bats. Colavito popped 41 homers while hitting .303 with an MLB-best .620 slugging percentage at age 24. He placed third in that year’s MVP balloting. Colavito drove in 113 runs that season and tallied 111 RBI the next. On June 10, 1959, he became the eighth player in MLB history to hit four homers in a game. He led the American League with 42 longballs en route to his first All-Star nod and a fourth-place MVP finish.

Early in the 1960 season, Cleveland traded Colavito to the Tigers in a one-for-one deal for star shortstop Harvey Kuenn. While Colavito hit 35 homers during his first season in Detroit, his average dropped to .249 in a disappointing overall season. He had a major rebound in ’61, as he set career marks in homers (45) and RBI (140). He hit .290 with a .402 on-base percentage, ranking top 10 among qualified hitters in OBP and OPS. He placed eighth in MVP voting in what was arguably the best year of his career.

Colavito played two more seasons in Detroit. He hit another 37 homers while leading the AL with 309 total bases in ’62. Detroit dealt him to the Athletics over the 1963-64 offseason. Colavito hit .274 with 34 longballs for the then Kansas City-based franchise. Things came full circle the next winter, as the A’s traded him back to Cleveland. Colavito combined for 56 homers over the next two seasons and paced the AL with 108 RBI in 1965. He saw limited playing time with the White Sox, Yankees and Dodgers to close his 14-year playing career.

A career .266/.359/.489 hitter, Colavito was one of the best run producers of his day. He drove in 1159 runs on more than 1700 hits, 379 of which cleared the fences. Colavito had seven 30-homer seasons, including a trio of years with at least 40 longballs. He topped 100 runs batted in on six occasions. Colavito is 81st on the all-time leaderboard in home runs and slots in the top 200 in RBI. While he never got much consideration from voters for Cooperstown, he was inducted into the Cleveland franchise’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

Colavito’s impact on baseball extended well beyond his playing days. He worked in the sport for decades as a coach and radio broadcaster. MLBTR sends our condolences to his family, friends, loved ones and many fans.

Merv Rettenmund Passes Away

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Former big leaguer and longtime batting coach Merv Rettenmund passed away on Saturday at age 81.  Rettenmund played 13 seasons with the Orioles, Reds, Padres, and Angels from 1968-1980, then was a hitting coach for five different teams over parts of 19 seasons from 1983 to 2007.

Rettenmund was a two-sport star in his college days at Ball State, and was even a 19th-round pick for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1965 NFL Draft.  Already signed to the Orioles, Rettenmund went on to make his big league debut in 1968 and soon established himself as a regular on an outstanding Baltimore team.  Rettenmund hit .284/.383/.436 in 2021 plate appearances during his six seasons with the O’s, bouncing between all three outfield positions.

This stretch of Rettenmund’s career was highlighted by a World Series title with the Orioles in 1970, and he moved on to win another ring with the 1975 Reds.  Though Rettenmund’s production dropped off during his two years in Cincinnati, a backup role on one of the greatest teams in baseball history was no small feat.  He served mostly as a platoon player and pinch-hitter for the remainder of his career, and finished with a .271/.381/.406 slash line and 66 home runs across 3074 PA and 1023 games in the majors.

After retirement, Rettenmund moved into a lengthy second chapter of his baseball life by becoming a well-respected hitting coach.  Rettenmund spent parts of 11 seasons as the Padres’ hitting coach over two different stints (1991-99, and 2006-07) in San Diego, and his coaching duties also included stops with the Rangers, Athletics, Braves, and Tigers.  Three of Rettenmund’s teams won pennants, including the 1989 A’s team that won the World Series.

We at MLB Trade Rumors send our condolences to Rettenmund’s family, friends, and peers.

Bill Melton Passes Away

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Former American League home run king Bill Melton has passed away at 79. The White Sox announced the news on Thursday afternoon.

Melton, a righty hitter, signed with the Sox as an 18-year-old. The 6’2″, 200-pound slugger hit his way to the big leagues by the end of the 1968 season. He opened the following year as Chicago’s third baseman. It was the first of seven consecutive Opening Day starts for Melton, who developed into a potent power bat.

After hitting 23 home runs during his first full season, Melton posted consecutive 33-homer showings in 1970 and ’71. That was enough to lead the AL in the latter season. Only seven hitters combined for more longballs over that two-year stretch: Henry Aaron, Willie Stargell, Lee May, Johnny Bench, Frank Howard, Billy Williams and Harmon Killebrew. Those players were all multi-time All-Stars; all but May and Howard made the Hall of Fame.

Melton turned in a .266/.346/.490 slash line and drove in 182 runs over those two seasons. The career-best showing in ’71 earned him an All-Star nod and a 13th-place finish in MVP voting. Injury limited him to 57 games the following year, but he managed two more 20-homer seasons thereafter. Melton remained a capable hitter through the end of the 1975 season. The Sox traded him to the Angels at that point. He spent one season in California and played one year for the Indians before retiring.

Melton played parts of 10 seasons in the majors. He recorded just over 1000 hits, including 160 homers. Melton hit .253/.337/.419 across more than 4500 trips to the plate. He scored 496 runs and drove in 591. “Beltin’ Bill” held the Sox’s record for career home runs at the time of his retirement. He still ranks ninth in franchise history in that regard. Melton returned to the organization as a television analyst between 1998 and 2020.

“Bill Melton enjoyed two tremendous careers with the White Sox,” the team’s owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “His first came as a celebrated home run king for White Sox teams in the early 1970s, where ’Beltin Bill’ brought power to a franchise that played its home games in a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Bill’s second career came as a well-liked and respected pre- and postgame television analyst, where on a nightly basis Sox fans saw his passion for the team, win or lose. Bill was a friend to many at the White Sox and around baseball, and his booming voice will be missed.” MLBTR joins others around the game in sending our condolences to his family, friends, loved ones and former teammates.

Al Fitzmorris Passes Away

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Former big league right-hander Al Fitzmorris has passed away at 78. The Royals announced the news on Wednesday evening.

Fitzmorris was born in Buffalo but attended high school in San Diego. He signed with the White Sox as a 20-year-old. The 6’2″ righty never had an opportunity to get to the big leagues with Chicago. The Royals plucked him away as they built their first team via the expansion draft. Fitzmorris made seven relief appearances for the franchise’s inaugural team in 1969.

While he spent most of the ’69 season in Triple-A, Fitzmorris established himself on the MLB staff the following year. He posted middling numbers in a swing role between 1970-72. He took a step forward with 89 innings of 2.83 ERA ball in 1973 and excelled as a starter for the three seasons thereafter. Fitzmorris turned in a 2.79 ERA across 190 innings in ’74. He won 16 games with a 3.57 mark over a career-best 242 frames the next season. Between 1974-76, he led Kansas City with 652 1/3 innings. He posted a 44-29 record behind a cumulative 3.17 earned run average.

Fitzmorris was arguably the best pitcher on the ’76 team that won 90 games and earned the first playoff berth in franchise history. He ranked second on the club with 220 1/3 innings while turning in a 3.06 ERA that was the best mark among the team’s full-time starters. Nevertheless, skipper Whitey Herzog elected not to use Fitzmorris against the Yankees in that year’s AL Championship Series. New York advanced to the World Series on Chris Chambliss’ walk-off homer in the decisive fifth game.

That marked the end of Fitzmorris’ tenure in Kansas City. The Royals left him unprotected for the following winter’s expansion draft. He was selected by the Blue Jays, who immediately traded him to the Indians. Fitzmorris struggled to a 5.41 ERA over 29 appearances for Cleveland in ’77. He split the following year between the Indians and Angels. After one more season in Triple-A with San Diego, he retired.

Fitzmorris concluded his playing career with a 3.65 ERA over 1277 innings. He logged parts of 10 seasons in the majors and recorded a 77-59 record. Fitzmorris struck out 458 hitters and tossed 36 complete games, 11 of which were shutouts. The Royals announced that he returned to Kansas City after his playing days and remained involved with the franchise’s community and charity efforts. MLBTR sends our condolences to his family, loved ones, former teammates and friends.

Rico Carty Passes Away

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Former All-Star Rico Carty passed away yesterday, according to a report from Dominican newspaper Listin Diario. The 15-year MLB veteran was 85 years old.

Born in San Pedro de Macoris, Carty signed with the then-Milwaukee Braves prior to the 1960 season as a catcher. During his time in the minor leagues, he converted to the outfield and, after a brief cup of coffee in 1963, emerged as the Braves’ regular left fielder during the 1964 season. In 133 games, Carty slashed an excellent .330/.388/.554 with 22 homers and 28 doubles. That excellent season earned him a second place finish behind Phillies infielder Dick Allen in Rookie of the Year voting. Back issues limited Carty to just 83 games the following year, though he continued to hit well when healthy enough to take the field.

Following the Braves’ relocation to Atlanta in 1966, Carty remained a fixture of the club’s lineup. He hit well during the club’s first year in Atlanta but slumped somewhat the following year as he slashed a relatively tepid .255/.329/.401 that, while decent, fell well short of his typical standards as a hitter. Carty then proceeded to miss the 1968 season due to a tuberculosis diagnosis. The ailment wiped out his entire season, but the slugger managed to recovery in time to return to the Braves early in May of 1969. Upon his return, he enjoyed the best offensive season of his career to that point with an excellent .342/.401/.549 slash line in 104 games.

After impressing in his return from illness the previous year, the 1970 season saw Carty reach his peak in his first full season back after recovering from tuberculosis. Then in his age-30 season, the slugger slashed an incredible .366/.454/.584 as he slugged 25 homers and 23 doubles while leading the league in both batting average and on-base percentage across 136 games. The superlative season saw Carty named an All-Star for the first and only time in his career and led him to a tenth-place finish in NL MVP voting behind titans of the game such as Johnny Bench, Billy Williams, Bob Gibson, and Willie McCovey.

Before Carty could follow up on that excellent season, however, he suffered a disastrous knee injury while playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. He underwent surgery and tried to return to action in time for Spring Training 1971, but ultimately missed the entire season due to the injury. He returned to the lineup in 1972 but struggled to stay healthy once again and found himself limited to 86 games as he hit .277/.378/.408 with just six homers. That was Carty’s final season in a Braves uniform, as he was traded to the Rangers in October 1972.

The 1973 season was a tumultuous one for Carty. After suffering a fractured jaw while playing winter ball in the offseason, he began the season as the first regular DH in Rangers history but hit just .232/.311/.301 in 86 games with the club and bounced from the Cubs to the A’s throughout the remainder of the season after being placed on waivers. Those struggles seemed as though they may be the end of Carty’s career, but he caught fire after signing with the Mexican League’s Cafeteros de Cordoba. That excellent play in Mexico earned him another chance in the big leagues, as Cleveland brass decided to sign him to return to the big leagues.

It’s a gamble that wound up paying off, as Carty would spend four seasons in Ohio. From his signing in 1974 to his departure following the 1978 season, Carty slashed an excellent .303/.372/.455 with 47 homers and 81 doubles as the club’s regular DH. His best season in Cleveland came in 1976, when he slashed .310/.379/.442 and earned some down ballot consideration for the AL MVP award. Carty was traded to the Blue Jays (who had briefly selected him in the 1976 expansion draft before quickly trading him back to Cleveland that same offseason) prior to the 1978 season, and he continued to provide value as he slashed .282/.348/.502 with a career-best 31 homers at the age of 38 in a season split between Toronto and Oakland.

Carty’s big league career came to a close in 1979, when he hit .256/.322/.390 in 132 games for the Blue Jays. He later worked for Toronto as a scout in Latin America and was inducted to the Braves Hall of Fame in 2023. Overall, the 15-year veteran was a career .299/.369/.464 hitter in the big leagues and collected 1677 hits, including 204 home runs, during his time as a major leaguer. MLBTR joins the rest of the baseball world in extending our condolences to Carty’s family, friends, loved ones, and fans.

Don Ferrarese Passes Away

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Former big league lefty Don Ferrarese passed away earlier this month. He was 95.

Ferrarese was an Oakland native who attended Saint Mary’s in the Bay Area. He began his minor league career in 1948. It took seven seasons for the southpaw to reach the majors with the Orioles. He briefly appeared in the big leagues at age 25 in 1955. Ferrarese worked in a swing capacity for the next couple years. Baltimore traded him to the Indians early in the ’58 season in a deal that netted future All-Star southpaw Bud Daley (whom the O’s would trade to the A’s weeks later).

After one season in Cleveland, Ferrarese was on the move again. The Indians dealt him to the White Sox in a six-player swap. Ferrarese logged limited action with the Phillies and Cardinals before the end of his playing career in 1962. He pitched for five teams over an eight-year MLB run. Ferrarese turned in an even 4.00 earned run average across 506 2/3 innings. He started 50 of 183 appearances, won 19 games and recorded 350 strikeouts. MLBTR sends our condolences to Ferrarese’s family and friends.

Al Ferrara Passes Away

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The Dodgers announced the passing of former big league outfielder Al Ferrara at age 84. Nicknamed “The Bull,” Ferrara played five of his eight MLB seasons in Los Angeles.

“We are saddened to hear the news of Al Ferrara’s passing today,” Dodgers team president/CEO Stan Kasten said in a press release. “Not only was Al a memorable player for the Dodgers in the 1960s, but he tirelessly supported the Dodgers community efforts and was one of our most committed alumni supporters. We extend our sympathies to his family.”

Ferrara grew up in Brooklyn and signed with the Dodgers in 1958. He played five minor league seasons and earned a brief call-up in ’63. He did not appear in that year’s World Series but collected a ring as the Dodgers swept the Yankees. The righty-hitting outfielder spent the next season in Triple-A and logged limited MLB action between 1965-66, winning another championship in ’65. The Dodgers returned to the Fall Classic in ’66. Ferrara came off the bench for one plate appearance and hit a single in his only career playoff at-bat.

The Dodgers gave Ferrara more run in 1967, using him as a starting corner outfielder in just over half their games. He made the most of that opportunity, hitting .277 with 16 homers in 384 trips to the plate. Ferrara missed most of the ’68 season, his last year with the Dodgers. The newfound Padres selected him in the expansion draft. He hit well over two-plus seasons with San Diego, running a .265/.360/.436 slash with 27 homers through 873 plate appearances. He briefly appeared with the Reds before ending his playing career in 1971. Ferrara returned to the Dodger organization as an Alumni ambassador in 2009, a role he held through this year.

MLBTR sends our condolences to Ferrara’s family, friends, loved ones and the Dodger fans with whom he interacted as part of his Alumni work.

Bud Daley Passes Away

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In news that eluded MLBTR at the time, former All-Star pitcher Bud Daley passed away last month at 92. The news was revealed via obituary from a Riverton, Wyoming funeral home.

Daley was a Long Beach native who signed with the Indians out of high school. He pitched in the minors over four-plus seasons and debuted as a September call-up in 1955. Daley pitched in a swing role for three years before Cleveland dealt him to the Orioles as part of a three-player package to reacquire Larry Doby and add lefty Don Ferrarese. Daley never pitched for Baltimore, who flipped him to the Kansas City Athletics for righty Arnie Portocarrero.

It was a nice pickup for the A’s. Daley spent the ’58 season in the bullpen but moved into the rotation the following year. He topped 200 innings and won 16 games in each of the next two seasons. Daley made four All-Star appearances — there were two All-Star Games per season at the time — and picked up some down-ballot MVP support.

The A’s traded Daley to the Yankees midway through the 1961 season, landing pitcher Art Ditmar and corner infielder Deron Johnson in return. That positioned Daley to win a pair of rings, as he remained in the Bronx on the World Series teams in 1961 and ’62. He was on both World Series rosters, combining for eight innings without allowing an earned run over three relief appearances.

Daley finished his career in 1964. He appeared in parts of 10 seasons and concluded his playing days with a 4.03 ERA through 967 1/3 innings. He recorded 549 strikeouts and posted a 60-64 record. MLBTR sends our condolences to Daley’s family, loved ones and friends.

Joey Jay Passes Away

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Former All-Star pitcher Joey Jay passed away last month at age 89, according to an obituary from a Florida funeral home. A 6’4″ right-hander, he pitched 13 seasons in the big leagues.

A native of Middletown, Connecticut, Jay signed with the Milwaukee Braves for a $20K bonus in 1953. Under the so-called “bonus baby” rules of the time, a player who signed for more than $4K could not be assigned to the minor leagues. Jay therefore jumped right to the majors as a 17-year-old for the 1953 season. He remarkably tossed 10 scoreless innings in an abbreviated stint. He only made 15 appearances the following year, struggling to a 6.50 ERA across 18 innings in his age-18 season.

After two seasons in the majors, Milwaukee was able to assign Jay to the minors. He wouldn’t make a permanent return to the big leagues until 1958, his age-22 campaign. Jay pitched well in a swing role over the next three years. His career really took off when he was dealt to the Reds as part of a package for Gold Glove shortstop Roy McMillan during the 1960-61 offseason.

Cincinnati plugged Jay into the rotation. He seized on his first permanent rotation spot, working to a 3.53 ERA over 247 1/3 innings covering 34 starts. He led the National League with 21 wins and four shutouts among his 14 complete games. Jay was selected to both All-Star teams in 1961 — MLB had multiple All-Star games for a few years during that time — and finished fifth in NL MVP balloting. Three of the four players above him (Frank Robinson, Orlando Cepeda, Vada Pinson and Roberto Clemente) went onto Hall of Fame careers.

The Reds finished 93-61 that season to secure the NL pennant before the introduction of the Championship Series. Cincinnati met the Yankees in the World Series. Jay got the ball in Game 2 and tossed a two-run complete game to get the victory. That’d be the Reds’ only win of the set. Jay was hit hard in the Game 5 clincher, as the Yanks tagged him for four runs without allowing him to escape the first inning.

That season was the highlight of Jay’s career, but he had another productive season in 1962. He again won 21 games with a 3.76 ERA through a personal-high 273 innings. While his production tailed off from there, he remained a fixture of the Cincinnati rotation through ’65. The Reds dealt him back to the Braves, who were playing in Atlanta by that point, midway through 1966. He finished his career with nine appearances there before being released.

Jay ended his playing days with 3.77 ERA in more than 1500 innings. He fell one win shy of the century mark and was one strikeout away from reaching 1000. Jay’s obituary notes that he went on to run companies in West Virginia and Florida during his post-playing days. MLBTR sends our condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.

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