Fare thee well, Orlando Cepeda

Topps 1968

The 1967 NL MVP departs at age 86. Orlando Cepeda did grace the rosters of six Major League franchises, most famously the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals. In the twilight of his career, he did become the first designated hitter in Boston Red Sox history during the 1973 season, when that role was first introduced. The 1958 National League Rookie of the Year, and eleven times an All-Star. His 46 home runs in 1961 led the National League, although this feat was overshadowed by Roger Maris’ 61 home runs for the New York Yankees in the American League. One of the first and undeniably greatest stars of Puerto Rico in Major League Baseball, may Orlando Cepeda rest in eternal peace.

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.

A sad night for anyone who loves the history of baseball: The legendary Willie Mays has died at the age of 93

Willie Mays in a San Francisco Giants uniform. He is clutching a baseball bat, poised to hit, in a stadium with the crowd in the background. Photo: Louis Requena/MLB Photos/Getty Images.

A 24-time All-Star and a record-holding 12-time Gold Glove winner, Willie Mays was the first National League player to achieve the feat of 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season. With 660 career home runs and a World Series win in 1954, he has long widely been considered to be one of the top five players of all-time.

His on-field brilliance was matched by his resilience, having overcome significant barriers to acceptance faced by Black players in the 1950s.  Renowned for his generosity and spirit, ‘The Say Hey Kid’ was a baseball legend without equal. Thank you for your life, Willie Mays.

AP: Willie Mays, Giants’ electrifying ‘Say Hey Kid,’ has died at 93 - https://apnews.com/article/willie-mays-33b31cc2d6382676ed54517d20ea36a3

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.