Former Phillies All-Star dies
Johnny Callison, the rocket-armed right fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies who hit a bottom-of-the-ninth home run that won the 1964 All-Star Game, has died. He was 67.
Callison died Thursday at a Philadelphia area hospital following an illness, Phillies spokesman Larry Shenk said.
Callison was born in Oklahoma and went on to become a three-time All-Star during his 16-year career. A left-handed hitter with a smooth swing, he started with the Chicago White Sox in 1958 and established himself as one of the top players in the National League after being traded to Philadelphia two years later.
“What a wonderful player he was,” commissioner Bud Selig said. “Strong arm. Hit that home run that won the ‘64 All-Star Game. I liked watching him play.”
“He can run, throw, field and hit with power,” the late Gene Mauch, who managed Callison, once said. “There’s nothing he can’t do well on the ball field.”
Callison was the MVP of the 1964 All-Star Game in New York, hitting a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth off hard-throwing Red Sox reliever Dick Radatz to give the National League a 7-4 victory at Shea Stadium.
Callison was a fan favorite during his 10 seasons with the Phillies and finished second in MVP voting behind St. Louis third baseman Ken Boyer in 1964. Callison also played two seasons with the Chicago Cubs and two more with the New York Yankees before retiring following the 1973 season.
He is survived by wife Dianne, three daughters, eight grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Thousands honor O’Neil
Thousands of people lined up Friday, starting before dawn, to get a final glimpse of former Negro Leagues star John “Buck” O’Neil.
O’Neil died Oct. 6 at age 94 from complications of congestive heart failure, and his body was in repose at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
Don Motley, the museum’s executive director, estimated a steady stream of more than 10,000 people passed by O’Neil’s open casket during the first five hours of the visitation scheduled from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Following a private funeral and burial this morning, O’Neil was to be honored with a public memorial service at 5 p.m. at Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium.
Rolen replaced on roster
Scott Rolen’s postseason slump landed him on the bench for Game 2 of the N.L. Championship Series. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said his star third baseman may have himself to blame.
Rolen, 1 for 14 while dealing with a sore left shoulder, missed his second start of the postseason, sitting against New York Mets right-hander John Maine.
La Russa said Rolen’s stroke doesn’t look right, and speculated that if he’d agreed to take some time off in September he might be enjoying a more productive October.
Scott Spiezio replaced Rolen, who was 0 for 3 with a walk in Game 1, at third base and in the fifth spot in the order. Spiezio also filled in for Rolen in Game 4 of the division round after the All-Star third baseman informed La Russa he was having problems with fatigue and soreness in his surgically repaired shoulder.
La Russa said Rolen might play in Game 3 today in St. Louis against the Mets’ Steve Trachsel.
Rodriguez avoids crash
A private jet, carrying Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and six others, overran a runway at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, Calif., and was brought to a halt by an arresting system.
None of the seven people aboard was injured, federal officials said.
Clearing the bases
As much as Lou Piniella would have loved to manage the San Francisco Giants, he took himself out of the running for the job strictly because of geography.
Piniella lives in Tampa, Fla., and was reminded this week on a long cross-country flight of one of the main reasons why he left the Seattle Mariners in the first place.
“Infielder-outfielder Greg Norton and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays agreed to terms on a one-year contract with a club option for a second season.
“The Chicago White Sox let go of bench coach Tim Raines, opting not to renew his contract.