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Newsweek
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
World Series Champion Pitcher, Coach, Dies at 60
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Rod Nichols, who earned World Series rings as both a player and a coach, passed away on May 14. He was 60. Nichols spent the majority of his seven MLB seasons with the Cleveland Indians, who drafted him out of the University of New Mexico in the fifth round of the 1985 draft. More news: Former Cubs, Braves, Indians Pitcher Passes Away A native of Burlington, Iowa, Nichols played baseball at Albuquerque's Highland High School before starring at UNM. He was signed by scout Eddie Bane, who as the Angels' scouting director in 2009 would select high school outfielder Mike Trout. Objectively, Rod Nichols was one of the best prep base players to come out of ABQ in the last half century. 1982 Highland graduate. — James Yodice (@JamesDYodice) May 21, 2025 Nichols saw action in parts of four minor league seasons (1985-88) while climbing Cleveland's organizational ladder. He made his major league debut in Cleveland, starting on July 30, 1988 against the Minnesota Twins. A detail view of a hat and gloves during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 29, 2013 in Atlanta. A detail view of a hat and gloves during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 29, 2013 in Atlanta. Pouya Dianat/That was the first of Nichols' 91 games (48 starts) in an Indians uniform over the next five seasons (1988-92). In 1991, Nichols earned both a shutout win and a save in the same season, something no Cleveland pitcher would do again until 2014 (Carlos Carrasco). Nichols went 11-30 with a 4.39 ERA (93 ERA+) for Cleveland, and would make only nine major league appearances afterward. More news: Former MLB Outfielder, World Series Series Champion, Dies From Brain Injury A free agent for the first time, Nichols signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in January 1993. In his lone season in Los Angeles, Nichols appeared in four games out of the Dodgers' bullpen, going 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA. He also made 21 starts for the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. Nichols went 8-5 with a 4.30 ERA in his only season pitching for his hometown Albuquerque Dukes — the same team for whom he once served as a batboy. More news: Two-Time American League All-Star Infielder Passes Away Nichols signed with the Kansas City Royals for 1994 and went 5-10 with a 5.64 ERA for their Triple-A affiliate. He did not appear in the major leagues during the strike-shortened season. When the players' strike lifted in February 1995, Nichols signed with the Atlanta Braves. Although he spent most of the season in Triple-A, Nichols appeared in five games out of the Braves' bullpen in August of that year. After the Braves went on to defeat the Indians in the World Series, Nichols received his first championship ring. More news: Three-Time American League All-Star, World Series Champion, Passes Away That also marked the end of Nichols' major league playing career. He spent all of 1996 in Triple-A, and signed in Japan for the 1997 season. He made only three appearances for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks under legendary manager Sadaharu Oh. In 2000, Nichols took his first coaching job as a pitching coach with the Philadelphia Phillies' Class-A affiliate. Nichols spent another 12 seasons coaching at various minor league levels before he was named the Phillies' bullpen coach in 2013. He picked up another World Series ring when the Phillies won the championship in 2008. More news: Hall of Fame Coach, Influential Mentor to Two MLB General Managers, Dies After three seasons in Philadelphia, Nichols returned to Triple-A as the Iowa Cubs' pitching coach in 2016, a job he held through the 2019 season. The Cubs' 2016 championship afforded Nichols the third ring of his career. A member of the The New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame, Nichols is survived by his wife, Sharon, their three children, and one grandchild. For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Ex-MLB Pitcher's Murder Trial Pauses After 'Shocking' Crime Scene Testimony
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Testimony is underway in the murder trial of former major league pitcher Dan Serafini, with the prosecution providing graphic evidence from the scene of the crime. Serafini, 51, is accused of shooting Gary Spohr and his wife, Wendy Wood, in their Lake Tahoe-area home on June 5, 2021. He has been present in the Auburn, California courthouse for the first two days of the trial, which paused Wednesday. More news: Jury Selection Begins in Murder Trial of Former MLB Pitcher On Monday, Placer County Deputy District Attorney Richard Miller and Serafini's defense attorney, David Dratman, made their opening statements. Dan Serafini #29 of the Colorado Rockies delivers the pitch during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on September 5, 2007 in Denver. Dan Serafini #29 of the Colorado Rockies delivers the pitch during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on September 5, 2007 in to Sacramento television station KCRA, jurors heard audio of the 9-1-1 call placed by Wood, saw bloody crime scene photos, and heard testimony from Capt. Gary Nelson with the North Tahoe Fire Protection District on Tuesday. Nelson testified that the Homewood, California scene of the shootings was "shocking," per KCRA's Jonathan Ayestas. More news: Former Red Sox Pitcher's Cause of Death Revealed: Report From 1996-2007, Serafini pitched for the Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, and Cincinnati Reds. His MLB career effectively ended when he was suspended 50 games in November 2007 for failing a performance-enhancing drug test. As a major leaguer, Serafini went 15-16 with a 6.04 ERA (76 ERA+) in 104 career games (33 starts). He went 9-6 with a 5.88 ERA with the Twins from 1996-98, his longest tenure with any one organization. More news: Two-Time American League All-Star Infielder Passes Away Serafini retired after pitching four games as a 39-year-old in the Mexican League in 2013. He struggled financially in the years that followed his playing career. Serafini was featured in an episode of "Bar Rescue" that aired in 2015, which pulled back the curtain on one of his failed investments. More news: Three-Time American League All-Star, World Series Champion, Passes Away Days after the June 2021 shooting in Homewood, investigators uncovered a surveillance video from the Spohrs' home showing a man wearing a hoodie approaching the residence hours before the shooting. Detectives later identified the man as Serafini, who was arrested in 2023. More news: Former MLB Outfielder, World Series Series Champion, Dies From Brain Injury Dratman argued the hooded man in the surveillance video is not Serafini, according to The plausibility of this argument figures to be a key component in the outcome of the trial. Soon enough, Serafini's fate will rest in the hands of the Placer County jurors. According to KCRA, testimony is expected to resume Thursday. For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Former Cubs, Braves, Indians Pitcher Passes Away
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Jack Curtis' baseball career was not long or illustrious enough to land him in the Hall of Fame, but in parts of three major league seasons he took the field with some of the game's all-time greats. Curtis, who died last week at age 88, made his big league debut as the starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs on April 22, 1961. The left-hander got all the run support he needed that day thanks in part to a middle of the batting order featuring Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ernie Banks — all future Hall of Famers. More news: Former MLB Outfielder, World Series Series Champion, Dies From Brain Injury When he pitched his final game, a relief appearance for the Cleveland Indians on May 1, 1963, Curtis was followed out of the bullpen by two-time All-Star Mudcat Grant and three-time All-Star Jim Perry. A detailed view of a Chicago Cubs hat and a baseball glove during a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs at Miller Park on April 7, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A detailed view of a Chicago Cubs hat and a baseball glove during a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs at Miller Park on April 7, 2017 in Milwaukee, between his brief stints in Chicago and Cleveland, Curtis teamed up with Warren Spahn, Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Joe Torre, and Bob Uecker on the 1962 Milwaukee Braves. More news: Hall of Fame Coach, Influential Mentor to Two MLB General Managers, Dies Along the way, Curtis racked up 69 major league appearances, including 35 starts, going 14-19 with a 4.84 ERA. A native of North Carolina, Curtis signed his first professional contract with the Cubs after graduating from Granite Falls (N.C.) High School in 1956. He spent five full seasons rising the minor league ranks, culminating in an outstanding 1960 season at Double-A San Antonio. More news: Three-Time American League All-Star, World Series Champion, Passes Away That year, Curtis went 19-8 with a 3.57 ERA and 19 complete games. He was named a Texas League All-Star, pitcher of the year, and subsequently earned a spot in the Cubs' rotation to begin the 1961 season. Although he went 10-13 with a subpar 4.89 ERA (85 ERA+), Curtis finished third in 1961 National League Rookie of the Year voting. He also was named to the NL All-Star team as a batting practice pitcher. More news: Former Red Sox Pitcher's Cause of Death Revealed: Report Curtis made only four appearances for the Cubs in 1962, going 0-2, before he was traded to the Braves for veteran Bob Buhl less than a month into the season. In his only year in Milwaukee, Curtis went 4-4 with a 4.16 ERA in 30 games (five starts). Milwaukee traded Curtis again after the season in a five-player swap with Cleveland. Curtis' career in Cleveland lasted only four games, and he was cut with an 18.00 ERA (10 earned runs in five innings). More news: Two-Time American League All-Star Infielder Passes Away Although his major league career ended there, Curtis' time in professional baseball was far from over. He spent the remainder of the 1963 season, and all of 1964, with the Indians' Triple-A affiliate. From 1965-67, Curtis played in the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins' organizations without seeing action in any major league games. More news: Decorated Two-Time Super Bowl Champion, MLB Outfielder Dies at 84 After his playing career ended, Curtis worked for Regal Manufacturing in Hickory, N.C. as a production manager. He coached youth baseball and basketball in his home town, and was inducted into the Caldwell County Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. Curtis is survived by his sons, Rick and Chris, five grandchildren, and his sister Sandra. For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Former MLB Outfielder Jason Conti, 50, Dies Following Severe Brain Injury
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Jason Conti, an outfielder whose major league career spanned five seasons with four teams, died Friday after suffering a severe brain injury. He was 50. Kevin Kramer, Conti's teammate at the University of Pittsburgh, shared the news of Conti's injury Friday on his Instagram page. Conti played 11 seasons of professional baseball after being drafted out of Pitt by the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks in 1996. Only 25 players were drafted and signed by the Diamondbacks prior to Conti. More news: Two-Time American League All-Star Infielder Passes Away In five seasons (2000-04) with the D-Backs, Devil Rays, Brewers and Rangers, the Pittsburgh native batted .238 with six home runs. Former Arizona Diamondbacks players (L-R) Luis Gonzalez, Jason Conti and Alex Cintron take a selfie before the start of the Diamondbacks Alumni Game at Chase Field on August 30, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. Former Arizona Diamondbacks players (L-R) Luis Gonzalez, Jason Conti and Alex Cintron take a selfie before the start of the Diamondbacks Alumni Game at Chase Field on August 30, 2014 in Phoenix, took the long road to the majors, starting out in Rookie-league Lethbridge (Alberta) in 1996, and repeating the Triple-A level prior to his 2000 debut. By 2001, however, Conti had fallen far down an outfield depth chart led by veteran stars Steve Finley, Reggie Sanders and Luis Gonzalez. The trio combined for 104 home runs and 26 stolen bases in 2001, and led the Diamondbacks to their first and only World Series championship. More news: Hall of Fame Coach, Influential Mentor to Two MLB General Managers, Dies Although Conti only saw action in five games with the D-Backs' championship team during the season, and was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in July 2001, he still received a championship ring after the season. Conti would see his most extensive playing time in the majors with the Devil Rays in 2002. That season he slashed .257/.315/.383 (88 OPS+) and saw action at all three outfield positions. More news: Three-Time American League All-Star, World Series Champion, Passes Away Conti was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in March 2003 for Javier Valentin. He appeared in 30 games in his lone season in Milwaukee (2003), slashing .229/.255/.396. A free agent after the season, Conti signed with the Texas Rangers for 2004. He saw action in 22 games that year, slashing .182/.250/.236 in what proved to be the final act of Conti's major league career. More news: Former Red Sox Pitcher's Cause of Death Revealed: Report Conti would bounce around the minor leagues for another two seasons (2005-06) with the Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees organizations. He also played for the Independent Camden Riversharks in 2006. Rays had guys come and go constantly during my time around. One was OF Jason Conti, who had his best MLB season in 2002. He was just a nice guy, no big-league ego. Played at Pitt. See he passed away at 50. Sad news. Hadn't thought of him in long time, but remember him well. #RIP — Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) May 20, 2025 Conti collected 461 plate appearances across 182 major league games in his career, hitting six home runs, driving in 47 runs, and hitting .238. After retiring as a player, Conti continued to make his home in the Phoenix area, where he coached and mentored young athletes. Conti is survived by his wife, Cari Rockwell Conti. For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Ex-Mets GM Admits What He Got Wrong in Blockbuster Trade With Cubs
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong needed just 41 games this season to hit his 10th home run. It's been one of the least expected — and most welcome — storylines of the season in Chicago, where the 25-19 Cubs have raced out to first place in the National League Central division. Last year, Crow-Armstrong did not reach 10 home runs until his 110th game of the season. He did not hit homer again over the season's final two weeks, and finished his rookie year with a .384 slugging percentage. More news: MLB News: One All-Star Slams Another in Scary Collision Between Teammates That's mostly in line with the industry expectations for Crow-Armstrong, who was taken 19th overall in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft by the New York Mets. Now, however, it's looking like the industry underestimated Crow-Armstrong's potential as a five-tool center fielder. Pete Crow-Armstrong #5 of the National League celebrates a run with Jackson Chourio #8 in the seventh inning during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game against the American League at Dodger Stadium on July 16, 2022... Pete Crow-Armstrong #5 of the National League celebrates a run with Jackson Chourio #8 in the seventh inning during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game against the American League at Dodger Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. MoreThe Mets' general manager who drafted Crow-Armstrong was Brodie Van Wagenen, who was fired in November 2020 when Steve Cohen completed his purchase of the team. Jared Porter was hired to replace Van Wagenen. A year later, Crow-Armstrong was traded to the Chicago Cubs in the blockbuster exchange that sent All-Star Javy Baez to New York. Zack Scott, hired on an interim basis after Porter was fired in January 2021, executed the trade. Hopefully, this is the last time I speak on this topic. No one at either the Red Sox or Mets saw PCA's power coming. We were wrong. Onward... — Zack Scott (@ZackScottSports) May 15, 2025 "I think people forget we were in first place at the time," Scott said in an appearance this week on SNY. "We wanted to add some impact to the lineup." The Mets got 47 games out of Baez, who posted a 140 OPS+, stole five bases, and provided excellent defense up the middle. But the team failed to qualify for the postseason, and Baez signed with the Tigers in free agency. More news: Former Red Sox Pitcher's Cause of Death Revealed: Report Hindsight is 20-20, but including Crow-Armstrong in the trade now looks like a mistake on the Mets' part. "The big thing was (Crow-Armstrong's) bat," Scott told the SNY panel. "Loved the defense, the makeup, the speed, had no doubt that that would be there. But did not see this level of power." More news: Two-Time American League All-Star Infielder Passes Away Scott seems resigned to the fact that he — and other industry evaluators — underestimated Crow-Armstrong's power potential. Scott was an assistant general manager for the Boston Red Sox at the time of the 2020 MLB Draft and his team missed it then, too. Boston opted to draft Nick Yorke with the 17th pick in 2020, while Crow-Armstrong went to the Mets two picks later. Yorke currently has a poor .677 OPS with the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate. More news: Three-Time American League All-Star, World Series Champion, Passes Away Kudos to Scott for realizing he underestimated the potential of "PCA" as a prospect. Just don't expect him to dwell on this realization in public interviews again. "Hopefully," Scott wrote Thursday on Twitter/X, "this is the last time I speak on this topic." For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
