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Newsweek
4 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Former Mets Pitcher Traded for Hall of Fame Manager 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. When the New York Mets traded pitcher Bill Denehy to the Washington Senators in November 1967, the man who went to Queens was not a player but a manager. Gil Hodges still had one year remaining on his contract to manage the Washington Senators. For the cost of Denehy and $100,000, the Mets acquired the skipper who would guide the team to a stunning World Series victory in 1969. More news: Former Phillies Pitcher, Longtime Coach Dies Unexpectedly at 63 As for Denehy, the hard-throwing right-hander saw his career undone by a shoulder injury, and drug and alcohol abuse that arose from ultimately futile efforts to treat his pain. Denehy, who died recenty at age 79, became a radio announcer, a minor league pitching coach, and a coach at the University of Hartford after his brief career as a major league pitcher ended. Peter Golenbock, his co-author on the book Rage: The Legend of "Baseball Bill" Denehy, confirmed Denehy's passing to Newsweek Sports. A New York Mets hat and glove sit on the steps of the dugout during the game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 4, 2015 in Miami, Florida. A New York Mets hat and glove sit on the steps of the dugout during the game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 4, 2015 in Miami, turning point of his career came in his fourth career major league start, a game on May 3, 1967 against the San Francisco Giants. Denehy sustained an injury to his right shoulder while throwing a slider to Willie Mays. More news: Yankees World Series Champion, St. Louis' Last AL All-Star, Dies at 97 "As I threw the ball I felt as though someone had stuck a knife into my shoulder," Denehy wrote in Rage. "The pain was awful." Although he continued in the game, so great was the pain in his rotator cuff that he needed multiple cortisone shots to avoid a long-term stint on the injured list. In Rage, Denehy credited the drug dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for helping him regain his career. The drug was later severely restricted by the FDA for human uses. More news: Former Braves, Red Sox Pitcher Dies Unexpectedly at 54 After the trade to Washington, Denehy would bounce between the majors and minors over the next decade. He spent time with the Senators, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Giants and Philadelphia Phillies organizations. In 49 major league games with the Mets, Senators, and Detroit Tigers from 1967-71, Denehy went 1-10 with a 4.56 ERA. More news: Legendary 2-Sport Star Whose Grandson Followed Him to MLB's Cardinals Dies In a biography about Denehy for the Society of American Baseball Research, Alan Cohen wrote that his "life after baseball was a roller-coaster of opportunities wasted, addictions encountered, and mischievous behavior." As a minor league pitching coach with the Red Sox, Denehy crossed paths with a young Roger Clemens. As the head coach for the University of Hartford, Denehy recruited future Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell to the baseball team, and helped him hone his unique batting stance. More news: Two-Time World Series Champion, Beloved Member of 1969 Mets, Passes Away Denehy was inducted into the Middletown (Conn.) Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. A multi-sport star in high school, Denehy also dabbled in golf instruction and authored a book on the topic in 2006. Toward the end of his life, Denehy lost his sight. He attributed his blindness to the many cortisone injections he received in response to his shoulder injury — a lasting but bittersweet reminder of his brief career as a pitcher. For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Former Phillies Pitcher, Longtime Coach Dies Unexpectedly at 63
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. Jeff Bittiger made a small mark on Major League Baseball in parts of four seasons pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies, Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox from 1986-89. Bittiger's impact on the independent American Association was so large, he was inducted to its Hall of Fame in a ceremony that is scheduled to take place Tuesday. More news: Former Cubs, Phillies Manager Passes Away Sadly, Bittiger passed away on Saturday after a private battle with cancer. He was 63. A detailed view of a Philadelphia Phillies baseball hat and glove sitting in the dugout during the spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium on February 24, 2013. A detailed view of a Philadelphia Phillies baseball hat and glove sitting in the dugout during the spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium on February 24, 2013. Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images After his final game with the White Sox in May 1989, Bittiger spent 10 seasons in the Northern League, an independent league that preceded the American Association in the midwest. He was named Baseball America's Independent Player of the Decade for the 1990s. Following his career as a pitcher, Bittiger served as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks' pitching coach through the 2003 season. After he was hired as a scout by the Oakland A's in 2004, he remained active in the RedHawks' player personnel department, eventually becoming their director of player personnel in 2017. More news: Tigers All-Star, First Draft Pick to Appear in an MLB Game, Passes Away Bittiger was still a player personnel consultant for the RedHawks at the time of his death. "We are heartbroken to share that we've lost a member of the A's family today," the team wrote on its Twitter/X account Saturday. "Jeff Bittiger, a scout of ours for the past 22 years, passed away this morning at the age of 63." From the Athletics: We are heartbroken to share that we've lost a member of the A's family today. Jeff Bittiger, a scout of ours for the past 22 years, passed away this morning at the age of 63. Jeff played parts of four seasons in the big leagues with the Phillies, Twins, and… — Athletics (@Athletics) July 19, 2025 "As an area scout, he signed Rookie of the Year Andrew Bailey, and he was a critical voice in many trade acquisitions over the last 10 years as a member of our Professional Scouting staff," the statement continued. "Thank you, Jeff, for your dedication not only to the A's organization, but to the game of baseball." Bittiger's death surely came as a surprise to many who were unaware of his cancer battle and saw him continue working into the 2025 season. More news:Yankees World Series Champion, St. Louis' Last AL All-Star, Dies at 97 "He's been battling cancer privately for years," Brett Bittiger, Jeff's son, told the The Forum. "He didn't stop working until this spring, which is very much on brand for him. ... He cared about being great." Originally drafted as a third baseman out of Secaucus (N.J.) High School, Bittiger was converted to a full-time pitcher in 1981 and was in the Mets' farm system until New York traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1986. More news: Former Cubs, Cardinals Outfielder Who Made St. Louis History Passes Away Bittiger made only three starts for the Phillies in 1986 before he was released. The Atlanta Braves cut him just before the 1987 season began, and he signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins in April of that year. Bittiger joined the Twins' major league club in September 1987 when rosters expanded, but he was not included on their postseason roster as they marched to the World Series championship. More news: Former Red Sox, Indians, Angels Pitcher Passes Away Bittiger's 25 games (seven starts) with the White Sox in 1988 were his most in any big league season. He went 2-4 with a 4.23 ERA (95 ERA+). In 1989, he made only two appearances with Chicago — the last of his major league career. That proved to be the beginning of Bittinger's long career in professional baseball. He still holds the RedHawks' team record for lowest career ERA (3.46), and his work as a scout continues to have an impact. More news: Legendary 2-Sport Star Whose Grandson Followed Him to MLB's Cardinals Dies Bailey, for example, went into coaching after his playing career ended. He is currently the Boston Red Sox's pitching coach. "Jeff spent his whole life around the game: playing, coaching, and scouting. He was as good a person as he was a scout, and he was a hell of a scout," Billy Beane, a senior adviser to Athletics owner John Fisher who previously served as the club's general manager, said in a statement. "He knew pitchers inside and out and you could tell how much he loved baseball just by being around him." For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
Fox Sports
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Arizona Diamondbacks All-Stars: Building the Best Diamondbacks All-Time Lineup
Would this list look any different if Luis Gonzalez hadn't hit that blooper to help stop a Yankees World Series four-peat? In all likelihood, Gonzo still makes the list. As do other clutch legends like the Big Unit and Matt the Bat. It just goes to show that plenty of stars have stayed cool in the Arizona sun - that pool in the outfield at Chase Field helps too. Manager: Bob Brenly Brenly took over Arizona's dugout for the 2001 season, which, of course, turned out to be the franchise's first and still only World Series title, that being an eventful, seven-game series win over the New York Yankees. Brenly was Arizona's manager for three-plus seasons (2001-04), with the D-backs winning 98 games in 2002, but the skipper got fired during the 2004 season. Under Brenley, the D-backs went 303-262, with his 53.6% winning percentage first in franchise history. Starting pitcher: Randy Johnson The man was called "The Big Unit" for a reason: He was 6-foot-10 and threw gas. Arizona got Johnson for the 1999 season, and he certainly lived up to his superstar billing. In each of his first four seasons with the D-backs, Johnson won the NL Cy Young Award, while leading MLB in strikeouts in all four seasons and the NL in both ERA and complete games in three of those four seasons. In Arizona's 2001 World Series run, Johnson posted a 1.52 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 47 strikeouts across 41.1 postseason innings pitched (six appearances/five starts). His first stint with the franchise ended after the 2004 season, but Johnson pitched two more seasons for the D-backs from 2007-08. Johnson is first in Diamondbacks history in, well, everything: ERA (2.83), strikeouts (2,077), wins (118), innings pitched (1,630.1), complete games (38), shutouts (14) and WAR among pitchers (52.6). Reliever/closer: Byung-Hyun Kim Kim was terrific for the Diamondbacks, with whom he pitched the first four-plus seasons of his career (1999-2003). Part of Arizona's 2001 title team, Kim, who posted strikeouts at a high rate, was an All-Star in 2002, recording a career-high 36 saves and 4.0 WAR. From 2000-02, Kim averaged 105 strikeouts in 84.0 innings pitched per season, while posting a career 3.43 ERA with the Diamondbacks; he made two appearances for Arizona in 2007, his final MLB season. Kim is fourth in Diamondbacks history with 70 saves and ninth with 245 appearances. Catcher: Miguel Montero Montero was one of the best catchers of the 2010s, and he spent the majority of his career with the Diamondbacks (2006-14). A steady presence behind the plate, Montero was a consistent force from the left side of the plate, averaging 14 home runs and 72 RBIs per season from 2011-14 and posting a .262/.349/.408 slash line. Montero earned his two career All-Star nods with the D-backs, doing so in 2011 and 2014. 1B: Paul Goldschmidt Goldschmidt has a strong case for being the best first baseman who emerged as a superstar in the 2010s. A six-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger and three-time Gold Glover with the D-backs, with whom he played from 2011-18, Goldschmidt was the face of the franchise and one of the best overall players in the sport. He had a quick, compact swing that helped him get on base at a high level and was a linchpin at first base. Goldschmidt is first in Diamondbacks history with a .398 on-base percentage, a .532 slugging percentage and a 39.9 WAR and second with 1,182 hits, 209 home runs, 710 RBIs, a .297 batting average, 709 runs scored, 124 stolen bases and 2,114 total bases. 2B: Ketel Marte Arizona acquired Marte for the 2017 season, and he became one of the best players in the sport. A two-time All-Star in the desert, Marte has been an impact hitter from both sides of the plate, hitting for power but also striking out at a low rate. Marte helped lead the D-backs to the 2023 World Series, with him hitting a walk-off single in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series and posting a .329/.380/.534 slash line in the 2023 postseason. A primary second baseman, Marte has also found success in center field for Arizona. Marte is second in Diamondbacks history with a 32.0 WAR, third with 1,030 hits, 159 home runs, 505 RBIs, 572 runs scored and 1,801 total bases, fourth with a .497 slugging percentage, tied for fourth with a .358 on-base percentage and is fifth with a .284 batting average. 3B: Matt Williams After shining with the San Francisco Giants and one year in Cleveland, Williams landed in Arizona in 1998, which is where he would spend the final six seasons of his career, most notably starting at third base for the 2001 World Series championship team. Williams' best season with the D-backs came in 1999, when he earned an All-Star nod, totaled 35 home runs and a career-high 142 RBIs and finished third in NL MVP voting. The impact right-handed-hitting Williams is eighth in D-backs history with a .471 slugging percentage, ninth with 381 RBIs, 10th with 99 home runs and tied for 10th with a .278 batting average. SS: Stephen Drew Drew flashed the leather at shortstop in Arizona from 2006-12 and also provided some power from the left side. Across his four complete seasons with the D-backs (2007-10), Drew averaged 15 home runs per season while boasting a .442 slugging percentage. In the 2007 postseason, Drew launched two home runs and posted a .387/.406/.677 slash line. Barring injury, Drew was Arizona's primary starter at the middle-infield position. OF: Chris Young Young spent the first seven seasons of his career with the D-backs (2006-12), serving as a vibrant, right-handed hitter. An All-Star in 2010, Young hit for power, while making noise on the basepaths and playing center field at a Gold Glove-caliber level. While the D-backs lost the series, Young hit three home runs in their 2011 NL Division Series matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers. Young is third in Diamondbacks history with 112 stolen bases, fourth with 360 walks, sixth with both 132 home runs and 1,386 total bases and eighth with 758 hits, 408 RBIs and a 14.3 WAR. OF: Steve Finley Finley signed with the D-backs for the 1999 season, marking his fourth MLB team. Blasting a combined 69 home runs over his first two years in Arizona, Finley added power from the left side and would become a featured part of the 2001 championship team. In said postseason, Finley drove in eight runs and posted a .365/.441/.462 slash line. He spent five-plus seasons in Arizona (1999-2004). A three-time Gold Glover and one-time All-Star with the franchise, Finley is third in Diamondbacks history with a .500 slugging percentage, fourth with 153 home runs, 479 RBIs and 491 runs scored, fifth with 847 hits, 1,524 total bases and an 18.0 WAR, eighth with a .351 on-base percentage and tied for 10th with a .278 batting average. OF: Luis Gonzalez Another 1999 arrival in Arizona, Gonzalez helped the D-backs go from a 65-win team in its 1998 debut season to a 100-win team in 1999. And, of course, he was part of their 2001 championship team. In fact, Gonzalez had the biggest hit in franchise history, delivering the walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series off Yankees Hall of Fame reliever Mariano Rivera. Gonzalez spent eight seasons with the D-backs (1999-2006), with whom he earned each of his five career All-Star nods and one Silver Slugger Award. The left-handed hitting outfielder has a case for being the best Diamondback of all time and was one of the elite players of his generation, consistently in the mix for the batting title while hitting for considerable slug and holding down left field. Gonzalez is first in Diamondbacks history with 1,337 hits, 224 home runs, a .298 batting average, 774 RBIs, 780 runs scored and 2,373 total bases, second with both a .391 on-base percentage and a .529 slugging percentage and third with a 30.0 WAR. DH: Christian Walker Walker became Arizona's primary first baseman in 2019 and proved to be one of the best players at the position for the next six seasons. A power plug from the right side, Walker was an integral part of Arizona's offensive attack from 2019-24 and part of its run to the 2023 World Series. Meanwhile, he earned three Gold Gloves at first base. Playing eight total years with the franchise (2017-24), Walker is fifth in Diamondbacks history with 146 home runs, seventh with 442 RBIs, 1,325 total bases, 314 walks and a 15.3 WAR and eighth with 426 runs scored. Honorable Mentions: Brandon Webb (starting pitcher) Dan Haren (starting pitcher) Curt Schilling (starting pitcher) Brad Ziegler (reliever/closer) Mark Grace (1B) Euribel Durazo (1B) Nick Ahmed (SS) Justin Upton (OF) David Peralta (OF) Corbin Carroll (OF) Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball Arizona Diamondbacks recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Newsweek
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Tigers All-Star, First Draft Pick to Appear in an MLB Game, 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. The MLB Draft will celebrate its 60th anniversary next week, a tradition that traces to 1965. Joe Coleman wasn't the first player selected in the inaugural draft, but the pitcher taken third overall by the Washington Senators was the first-ever draft pick to reach the major leagues, less than four months after he was drafted out of Natick (Mass.) High School. Coleman, whose father and son also played in the major leagues, died Wednesday at age 78. More news: Yankees World Series Champion, St. Louis' Last AL All-Star, Dies at 97 A right-handed pitcher, Coleman played 15 seasons at the MLB level for the Senators (1965-70), Detroit Tigers (1971-76), Chicago Cubs (1976), Oakland Athletics (1977-78), Toronto Blue Jays (1978), San Francisco Giants (1979) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1979). American baseball pitcher Joe Coleman, of the Washington Senators, pictured at RFK Stadium in Washington, May 2, 1969. American baseball pitcher Joe Coleman, of the Washington Senators, pictured at RFK Stadium in Washington, May 2, 1969. UPI/Coleman retired with a career record of 142-135 and a 3.70 ERA. He twice won 20 games for the Tigers, in 1971 and 1973, and made his only career All-Star team in 1972. The Senators used Coleman sparingly in his first two seasons following his rapid promotion. From 1967-70, he was a stalwart in the Washington rotation, going 40-50 with a 3.57 ERA. More news: Former Cubs, Cardinals Outfielder Who Made St. Louis History Passes Away Coleman was traded to the Tigers in a memorable multi-player trade that sent former Cy Young Award winner Denny McLain to Washington in October 1970. He went on to enjoy the best years of his career in Detroit. Although the Tigers lost to the A's in the 1972 American League Championship Series, Coleman tossed a complete game shutout in his only career postseason appearance — a potential elimination game — in Game 3 of the series. More news: Former Red Sox, Indians, Angels Pitcher Passes Away Overall, Coleman went 88-73 with a 3.82 ERA in 203 regular-season games (201 starts) for the Tigers. After retiring as a player, Coleman enjoyed a long career as a coach and scout. He was the St. Louis Cardinals' pitching coach under Joe Torre from 1991-94, and held the same role for the California Angels in 1996. He later worked as the Angels' bullpen coach, and a minor league pitching coach for the Rays, Tigers and Marlins. More news: Former Braves, Red Sox Pitcher Dies Unexpectedly at 54 The Marlins awarded Coleman as their "Player Development Person of the Year" in 2013, and kept him on as a senior advisor after he retired from full-time coaching. "He was a good man with a really good heart," his son, Casey Coleman, told The Intelligencer. "Everywhere I went in professional baseball, I met pitchers he coached. Many gave him credit for making it to the big leagues." The Colemans — Casey, Joe, and the elder Joe Coleman, who pitched for three teams from 1942-55 — are the first three-generation family of pitchers in MLB history. For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
MLB News: Former Cubs, Orioles Pitcher Announces Sudden Retirement
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. Dan Straily, a veteran of eight major league seasons, and 17 seasons overall in four different countries, has announced his retirement. Straily, 36, last pitched in the majors for the Baltimore Orioles in 2019, and had appeared in eight Mexican League games in the 2025 season. More news: Yankees World Series Champion, St. Louis' Last AL All-Star, Dies at 97 "After 17 unforgettable years in professional baseball, I've decided it's time to officially retire from the game I've loved since I was a kid," Straily wrote in an Instagram post Saturday. Straily retires with a 44-40 record at the major league level for the Oakland A's (2012-14), Chicago Cubs (2014), Houston Astros (2015), Cincinnati Reds (2016), Miami Marlins (2017-18), and Orioles (2019). He also spent time in the San Diego Padres (2016), Philadelphia Phillies (2019), and Arizona Diamondbacks (2022) organizations. Pitcher Straily Dan #58 of Lotte Giants throws in the bottom of the first inning during the KBO League game between SSG Landers and Lotte Giants at SSG Landers Field on April 4, 2021 in... Pitcher Straily Dan #58 of Lotte Giants throws in the bottom of the first inning during the KBO League game between SSG Landers and Lotte Giants at SSG Landers Field on April 4, 2021 in Incheon, South Korea. More Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images Straily's last stint in affiliated baseball came with the Cubs in 2024. He made 17 appearances with Triple-A Iowa, going 1-7 with a 5.49 ERA before he was released in August. With the Diablos Rojos of the independent Mexican League, Straily was 1-2 with a 9.00 ERA in 32 innings this season. More news: Former Cubs, Cardinals Outfielder Who Made St. Louis History Passes Away A 24th-round draft pick by the A's out of Marshall in 2009, Straily debuted three years later with Oakland. In his first full season, 2013, Straily went 10-8 with a 3.96 ERA in 27 starts. Straily was traded to the Cubs along with Addison Russell in the deal that sent Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija to Oakland in July 2014. Russell would go on to become part of the Cubs' 2016 World Series title team, along with Dexter Fowler — whom the Cubs acquired for Straily in a January 2015 trade with the Houston Astros. More news: MLB News: 3-Time All-Star Announces Sudden Retirement After spending most of the 2015 season with the Astros' Triple-A affiliate, Straily was traded again — this time to the San Diego Padres, in March 2016, for catcher Erik Kratz. Straily was waived by the Padres and claimed by the Reds three days later. Just when his career appeared to be wavering, Straily turned in the best season of his career: a surprising 14-8 campaign with a 3.76 ERA (113 ERA+) for Cincinnati. More news: 12-Year MLB Bench Boss Slams Door on Return to Managing In addition to the best ERA and won-loss record of his career, Straily's 2016 season also saw him notch career-highs in innings (191.1), games (34), starts (31) and a career-low 1.186 WHIP. In January 2017, Straily found himself traded for yet another future All-Star; the Marlins sent right-hander Luis Castillo, along with pitcher Austin Brice and a low-level minor leaguer, to Cincinnati in a particularly regrettable trade. More news: Braves Might Make One Player Available at Trade Deadline: Report Straily went 15-15 with a 4.20 ERA (93 ERA+) in two seasons with the Marlins. He went 2-4 with a 9.82 ERA in 2019 with the Orioles, in what ultimately proved to be his final big league season. "When I was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2009, I never could have imagined the journey baseball would take me on," Straily wrote on Instagram. "From making my Major League debut with the A's in 2012, to pitching for the Cubs, Astros, Reds, Marlins, and Orioles - every uniform I put on represented another step in a dream come true. I'm proud to have thrown over 800 innings in the big leagues, faced some of the best hitters in the world, and competed at the highest level for parts of 8 seasons." For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
