DEATHS ; Notable Passings; The Thread to Pay Last Respects

[LizzieMaine]

A legendary baseball figure who never played a game in the major leagues has died from complications of COVID-19. Steve Dalkowski may have thrown harder than any man who ever played the game -- but he never managed to control his pitches, terrifying batters thruout the low minor leagues during the late 1950s and early 1960s. There were no radar guns in those days, but the legend has it that he could regularly throw in the 110-115mph range, and the impact of his misdirected throws once shattered an umpire's mask and sliced off a piece of a batter's ear. He was the only pitcher Ted Williams declared he was afraid to face.

Dalkowski made his way thru the Baltimore Orioles' farm system and, under the tutelage of then-minor-league manager Earl Weaver, seemed to learn to control his arm. He earned an invitation to spring training with the major league club in 1963, but suffered an arm injury that kept him from a place on the opening day roster. He never recovered his speed, and was out of the game for good by 1966. He spiraled into a tragic life of alcoholism and dementia, and spend the final decades of that life in a residential-treatment center in Connecticut.

In 956 career innings of minor-league ball, he struck out 1324 batters -- and walked 1236.

 

[belfastboy]

A legendary baseball figure who never played a game in the major leagues has died from complications of COVID-19. Steve Dalkowski may have thrown harder than any man who ever played the game -- but he never managed to control his pitches, terrifying batters thruout the low minor leagues during the late 1950s and early 1960s. There were no radar guns in those days, but the legend has it that he could regularly throw in the 110-115mph range, and the impact of his misdirected throws once shattered an umpire's mask and sliced off a piece of a batter's ear. He was the only pitcher Ted Williams declared he was afraid to face.

Dalkowski made his way thru the Baltimore Orioles' farm system and, under the tutelage of then-minor-league manager Earl Weaver, seemed to learn to control his arm. He earned an invitation to spring training with the major league club in 1963, but suffered an arm injury that kept him from a place on the opening day roster. He never recovered his speed, and was out of the game for good by 1966. He spiraled into a tragic life of alcoholism and dementia, and spend the final decades of that life in a residential-treatment center in Connecticut.

In 956 career innings of minor-league ball, he struck out 1324 batters -- and walked 1236.

I had my own Steve Dalkowski experience. I played Little League (minors) as a 9 year old. I was a big kid and we had another on my team that was even bigger than me...Billy White. He threw very hard but had no idea where it was going. This was back in the day before full head helmets and we wore these shitty little ear flap things. I was so glad Billy was my team mate so I did not have to face him. The league, part way into the season, passed a rule saying he was not fit to pitch in the league as he was doing both physical harm and mental harm to the players. Kids would break into tears while on deck out of fear.

 

[Tiki Tom]

Frà Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John (aka, The Knights of Malta) has died at the age of 75. RIP. He was the 80th Grand Master of an organization that was founded in the year 1113 when the Pope formally recognised the independence of the Knights with a Papal bull, the original of which is still held in Malta's National Archives. Although once pivotal in the crusades, today the order has full diplomatic privileges and spans the globe doing charitable aid work. By statute, the Order of the Knights of Malta now has three months to appoint a new Grand Master.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52472801

 

[Frunobulax]

Frà Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John (aka, The Knights of Malta) has died at the age of 75. RIP. He was the 80th Grand Master of an organization that was founded in the year 1113 when the Pope formally recognised the independence of the Knights with a Papal bull, the original of which is still held in Malta's National Archives. Although once pivotal in the crusades, today the order has full diplomatic privileges and spans the globe doing charitable aid work. By statute, the Order of the Knights of Malta now has three months to appoint a new Grand Master.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52472801

(polishes resume)

 

[Tiki Tom]

(polishes resume)

Right? Having the title Grand Master has got to come with perks.

 

[Worf]

Back off you peasants! That title is MINE!!!!

Da "Grandest of the Poobahs" Worfster!

 

[Bushman]

Haven't seen him mentioned, but Irrfan Khan, famed Bollywood actor who starred in such movies as Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire, and Jurassic World, died back on Wednesday from cancer. I was a fan of his work, and am sad to see him gone.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/29/asia/irrfan-khan-death-intl-hnk/index.html

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Legendary Algerian (kabyle) singer, songwriter & composer, Idir, (Hamid Cheriet) died yesterday(2nd) in Paris, from a long illness,aged 70.

This lullaby became a worldwide hit in the late 70's.

 

[MisterCairo]

Another part of my youth and my love of music of a certain genre has disappeared. Dave Greenfield, one of the ORIGINAL Men in Black (The Stranglers), has died, only 71, from complications from COVID-19 and heart problems.

Still kicking myself for missing their Toronto gig in 2011.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/david-greenfield-dead-covid-1.5554832

 

[MisterCairo]

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Jamaican singer & songwriter, Millie Small, has died from a stroke, aged 73.

 

[Worf]

What a smile... great early SKA classic.

Worf

 

[Frunobulax]

I missed this when it happened, but just heard about it on the radio. Big Al Carson, blues musician, staple of Bourbon Street, and generally a great guy, passed away April 26 at the age of 66 after a heart attack.

Every time I went to NOLA, I would make sure to catch a set by Big Al, who played the Funky Pirate for more than two decades. My wife loved him, and he always chaperoned a great time during his shows. His interactions with the predictibaly drunken Bourbon Street crowd were legendary.

https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/music/article_90a15e0e-8810-11ea-bc88-8fcc67eabd6b.html

RIP Big Guy.

 

[MisterCairo]

Roy Horn, the Roy of Sigfreid and Roy, has died from COVID complications, aged 75. He was the one hurt by a tiger onstage in 2003, ending the pair's Vegas run.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/roy-horn-siegfried-roy-coronavirus-covid-19-death-1.5562908

 

[MisterCairo]

I just heard on CBC radio that Little Richard Penniman has died, aged 88.

A true ICON. You think these greats will last forever.

 

[MisterCairo]

 

[belfastboy]

I just heard on CBC radio that Little Richard Penniman has died, aged 88.

A true ICON. You think these greats will last forever.

Damn!

 

[Worf]

Yeah... this one hurts a bit. Yeah he was strange, wild, crazed but if you look at his earliest footage... the man was a monster. His band moved like a drill team, he pounded the piano like a jackhammer and his music was pure FIRE. While Chuck would throw in the odd nugget like "Havana Moon" and novelty songs like "My Ding a Ling" Little Richard was havin' none of that.... He was 100 miles an hour headin' west all the time. Screaming that howl of his every second of the way, his processed pompadour dripping with sweat. I'll miss him.

Worf

 

[Trenchfriend]

I always thought, this guy would live forever!

R.I.P.!

 

[MisterCairo]

We own this, and one more guest is now gone...