Sparky Anderson Born: 2/22/1934 - Died: 11/4/2010 - Age: 76 - Cause of death: complications from dementia - Noted For: major leager; member of the Philadelphia Phillies (1959). Manager of the Cincinnati Reds (1970-78) and Detroit Tigers (1979-95). Under his guidance, the Cincinnati Reds (the "Big Red Machine") won four NL championships and were the top baseball dynasty of the 1970's. Won three World Series titles; two with Cincinnati (1974, 75) and one with Detroit (1984). His 2,274 career wins is third on the all-time list. Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (2000).
George Blanda - Born: 9/17/1927 - Died: 9/27/2010 - Age: 83 - Cause of death: Natural causes - Noted For: quarterback & kicker, member of the Chicago Bears (1949, 50-58), Baltimore Colts (1950), Houston Oilers (1960-66), and Oakland Raiders (1967-75). AFL Player of the Year (1961); AFC Player of the Year (1970); holds NFL records for most seasons played (26) and most games played (340); enshrined in the football Hall of Fame (1981).
Manute Bol - Born: 10/16/1962 - Died: 6/19/2010 - Age: 47 - Cause of death: Stevens-Johnson syndrome - Noted For: NBA basketball player (Washington Bullets, 1985-88, 1993-94), Philadelphia 76ers (1990-94) and two other teams. At 7'7", he was the tallest NBA player in history during his playing career.
Pat Burns - Born: 4/4/1952 - Died: 11/19/2010 - Age: 58 - Cause of death: lung cancer - Noted For: NHL hockey coach; Montreal Canadiens (1988-92), Toronto Maple Leafs (1992-96), Boston Bruins (1997-2001), and New Jersey Devils (2002-2004). Won the Stanley Cup with the Devils (2003). Elected NHL coach of the year in 1989, 1993, and 1998.
Bob Feller - Born: 11/3/1918 - Died: 12/15/2010 - Age: 92 - Cause of death Leukemia - Noted For: pitcher; member of the Cleveland Indians (1936-41, 1945-56). Struck out 18 batters in one game (1938), pitched 3 no-hitters. Elected to the baseball Hall of Fame (1962).
Ernie Harwell - Born: 1/25/1918 - Died: 5/4/2010 - Age: 92 - Cause of death: cancer - Noted For: Baseball announcer; Detroit Tigers (1960-91, 1993-2002) and four other teams (1949-59, 1992). Received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame (1981).
Don Meredith - Born: 4/10/1938 - Died: 12/5/2010 - Age: 72 - Cause of death: brain hemorrhage - Noted For: NFL football player, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys (1960-68). Sportscaster; "Monday Night Football" (1970-73, 1977-84).
Merlin Olsen - Born: 9/15/1940 - Died: 3/11/2010 - Age: 69 - Cause of death: mesothelioma - Noted For: NFL football player; Los Angeles Rams (1962-76). Was selected to the Pro Bowl for 14 seasons (all but his last one). Inducted into the pro football hall of fame (1982). Pro football TV commentator (1979-89). Actor; "Little House on the Prairie" (Jonathan Garvey, 1977-81), "Father Murphy" (John Murphy, 1981-83). Spokesman for FTD florists.
Robin Roberts - Born: 9/30/1926 - Died: 5/6/2010 - Age: 83 - Cause of death: natural causes - Noted For: pitcher; Philadelphia Phillies (1948-61) and three other teams (1962-66). Seven-time All-Star (1950-56). Won 20 games six seaons in a row (1950-55). Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame (1976).
Ron Santo - Born: 2/25/1940 - Died: 12/2/2010 - Age: 70 - Cause of death: bladder cancer - Noted For: third baseman for the Chicago Cubs (1960-1973) and Chicago White Sox (1974). Made the All-Star team 9 times. Won the Gold Glove award 5 times. A longtime diabetic, his lower legs were amputated in 2001 and 2002 as the result of the disease.
George Steinbrenner - Born: 7/4/1930 - Died: 7/13/2010 - Age: 80 - Cause of death: heart attack - Noted For: baseball executive; owned the New York Yankees (1973-2010). Banned from baseball for paying someone to dig up dirt on Yankee player Dave Winfield, who had sued him for breach of contract (1990-93).
John Wooden - Born: 10/14/1910 - Died: 6/4/2010 - Age: 99 - Cause of death: natural causes - Noted For: basketball player and coach. Played for NCAA Purdue (1930-32) and two NBA teams (1937-39). Coach for NCAA UCLA (1948-75). Coached teams to seven consecutive national championships (1966-73). Enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame (as a player, 1961; as a coach, 1973).
This post was edited on 12/18 12:35 PM by BroncoSaurus
George Blanda - Born: 9/17/1927 - Died: 9/27/2010 - Age: 83 - Cause of death: Natural causes - Noted For: quarterback & kicker, member of the Chicago Bears (1949, 50-58), Baltimore Colts (1950), Houston Oilers (1960-66), and Oakland Raiders (1967-75). AFL Player of the Year (1961); AFC Player of the Year (1970); holds NFL records for most seasons played (26) and most games played (340); enshrined in the football Hall of Fame (1981).
Manute Bol - Born: 10/16/1962 - Died: 6/19/2010 - Age: 47 - Cause of death: Stevens-Johnson syndrome - Noted For: NBA basketball player (Washington Bullets, 1985-88, 1993-94), Philadelphia 76ers (1990-94) and two other teams. At 7'7", he was the tallest NBA player in history during his playing career.
Pat Burns - Born: 4/4/1952 - Died: 11/19/2010 - Age: 58 - Cause of death: lung cancer - Noted For: NHL hockey coach; Montreal Canadiens (1988-92), Toronto Maple Leafs (1992-96), Boston Bruins (1997-2001), and New Jersey Devils (2002-2004). Won the Stanley Cup with the Devils (2003). Elected NHL coach of the year in 1989, 1993, and 1998.
Bob Feller - Born: 11/3/1918 - Died: 12/15/2010 - Age: 92 - Cause of death Leukemia - Noted For: pitcher; member of the Cleveland Indians (1936-41, 1945-56). Struck out 18 batters in one game (1938), pitched 3 no-hitters. Elected to the baseball Hall of Fame (1962).
Ernie Harwell - Born: 1/25/1918 - Died: 5/4/2010 - Age: 92 - Cause of death: cancer - Noted For: Baseball announcer; Detroit Tigers (1960-91, 1993-2002) and four other teams (1949-59, 1992). Received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame (1981).
Don Meredith - Born: 4/10/1938 - Died: 12/5/2010 - Age: 72 - Cause of death: brain hemorrhage - Noted For: NFL football player, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys (1960-68). Sportscaster; "Monday Night Football" (1970-73, 1977-84).
Merlin Olsen - Born: 9/15/1940 - Died: 3/11/2010 - Age: 69 - Cause of death: mesothelioma - Noted For: NFL football player; Los Angeles Rams (1962-76). Was selected to the Pro Bowl for 14 seasons (all but his last one). Inducted into the pro football hall of fame (1982). Pro football TV commentator (1979-89). Actor; "Little House on the Prairie" (Jonathan Garvey, 1977-81), "Father Murphy" (John Murphy, 1981-83). Spokesman for FTD florists.
Robin Roberts - Born: 9/30/1926 - Died: 5/6/2010 - Age: 83 - Cause of death: natural causes - Noted For: pitcher; Philadelphia Phillies (1948-61) and three other teams (1962-66). Seven-time All-Star (1950-56). Won 20 games six seaons in a row (1950-55). Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame (1976).
Ron Santo - Born: 2/25/1940 - Died: 12/2/2010 - Age: 70 - Cause of death: bladder cancer - Noted For: third baseman for the Chicago Cubs (1960-1973) and Chicago White Sox (1974). Made the All-Star team 9 times. Won the Gold Glove award 5 times. A longtime diabetic, his lower legs were amputated in 2001 and 2002 as the result of the disease.
George Steinbrenner - Born: 7/4/1930 - Died: 7/13/2010 - Age: 80 - Cause of death: heart attack - Noted For: baseball executive; owned the New York Yankees (1973-2010). Banned from baseball for paying someone to dig up dirt on Yankee player Dave Winfield, who had sued him for breach of contract (1990-93).
John Wooden - Born: 10/14/1910 - Died: 6/4/2010 - Age: 99 - Cause of death: natural causes - Noted For: basketball player and coach. Played for NCAA Purdue (1930-32) and two NBA teams (1937-39). Coach for NCAA UCLA (1948-75). Coached teams to seven consecutive national championships (1966-73). Enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame (as a player, 1961; as a coach, 1973).
This post was edited on 12/18 12:35 PM by BroncoSaurus
