What is the story about?
At year’s end, it’s a good time to reflect and remember those who passed away throughout the year.
In the baseball world in general: Hall of Famer Dave Parker and notables Rich Dauer, Mike Greenwell and Chet Lemon, and, of course, Hall of Fame Frick Award winner Bob Uecker.
There were also 17 members of the Cubs family who passed away in 2025, so even though there are couple of days remaining this year, let’s remember them today.
Ryne Sandberg
So much love from the entire Cubs family was sent to Sandberg’s family,
friends and fans when he died of prostate cancer July 28, far too young at age 65.
Here’s the obituary I wrote about Ryno at this site July 29, and here’s a personal remembrance from Sara Sanchez.
If you’d like to watch the game that bears his name, one of the most famous games in MLB history, here it is:
A few notes on the 16 others, in alphabetical order:
- George Altman, a Cubs outfielder from 1959-62 and again from 1965-67, died Nov. 24, aged 92. Here’s the obituary I wrote about him here Nov. 26. In addition to Altman’s MLB career, he played eight years in Japan, becoming one of the first Americans to be a star players there.
- Tommy Brown made news in 1944 when he debuted for the Dodgers as a 16-year-old during World War II. After 1945, he spent quite a bit of time bouncing around in the minors and majors before coming to the Cubs in 1952 from the Phillies for cash considerations. He batted .269/.325/.373 with five home runs in 126 games for the Cubs in 1952 and 1953. Brown passed away Jan. 15, aged 97.
- Mike Campbell was the first-round pick (seventh overall) of the Mariners in 1985, and pitched in three seasons for them from 1987-89. He also pitched for the Rangers and Padres before the Cubs signed him prior to the 1996 season. He pitched in 13 games for the ‘96 Cubs (five starts) with a 4.46 ERA. After his baseball career he returned to Seattle and began a business called Shishkaberry. Campbell died Dec. 19 in his Seattle-area home, aged 61.
- Joe Coleman had a number of good seasons for the Tigers in the early 1970s, winning 20 games twice and making the AL All-Star team in 1972. By the time he got to the Cubs in 1976 he was on the downside of his career, appearing in just 39 games (four starts) with a 4.10 ERA. His son Casey pitched for the Cubs from 2010-12. Joe Coleman died July 9 in Tennessee, aged 78.
- Jack Curtis pitched in 35 games (30 starts) for the Cubs in 1961 and 1962 and posted a 4.76 ERA. He brought some value back to the team in trade when they sent him to the Braves in April 1962 for Bob Buhl. He passed away May 12 in North Carolina, aged 88.
- Brian Dayett played in parts of three seasons for the Cubs from 1985-87, batting .270/.332/.456 with 10 home runs in 270 at-bats. His first Cubs home run was a pinch grand slam May 22, 1985 that won that game for the Cubs over the Reds. After his playing career he coached for many years in the Astros and Rangers organizations. Dayett died Sept. 7 in North Carolina of complications from Parkinson’s disease, aged 68.
- Lee Elia managed the Cubs in 1982 and 1983, and also played 15 games for the team in 1968. Here’s the obituary I wrote about him when he died earlier this year. While he might be noted for the famous profane tirade he made after a Cubs loss in 1983, I think he should be remembered as a good baseball man who devoted his life to the game, spending many years coaching and managing in the Phillies, Mariners and Rays organizations after he left the Cubs. Elia died July 9 in Florida, seven days before what would have been his 88th birthday.
- Vic Harris came to the Cubs as part of the trade with the Rangers that brought Bill Madlock to the Cubs. Harris began 1974 as the Cubs’ starting second baseman, but wound up being replaced because he didn’t hit. He was traded to the Cardinals after the 1975 season for Mick Kelleher. After his MLB career he played two years in Japan, then returned to his hometown in the Los Angeles area where he worked in the aerospace industry. Harris died April 26 in Los Angeles, aged 75.
- Davey Johnson was a top second baseman for the Orioles and Braves in the early 1970s. He won three Gold Gloves and played in four World Series, setting a record for home runs by a second baseman (43 in 1973, a mark broken by Marcus Semien in 2021 with 45). The Cubs acquired him in August 1978 for the stretch run. He played in 24 games for the Cubs, batting .306/.393/.490 with two home runs. He began his long managing career in the Mets minor league organization in 1981, eventually taking over the Mets in 1984. He managed 17 years in the major leagues, posting 1,372 wins. Johnson died Sept. 5, aged 82.
- Carlos Lezcano was a backup outfielder for the Cubs in 1980 and 1981. He hit home runs in his third and fourth MLB games in 1980 and hopes were high that Carlos, whose cousin Sixto had a 12-year MLB career for the Brewers and four other teams, could become at least a decent starting outfielder. Unfortunately, he went just 1-for-14 for the Cubs in 1981 and that was it for his MLB career. After that, though, he managed in the minors for 19 seasons in the Mariners, Giants, Brewers and Padres systems and two years in indy ball. He died of cancer Sept. 6 in Puerto Rico, aged 69.
- Jim Marshall managed the Cubs from 1974-76 and also played five MLB seasons for the Giants, Cubs, Orioles, Pirates and Mets. He was best known as a player for being part of the very first interleague trade that didn’t require a complicated set of waivers to complete. That deal happened in 1959 when the Cubs sent him to the Red Sox. Marshall also played three years in Japan and after his managing career became a long-time scout in Asia and was later the director of Pacific Rim operations for the Diamondbacks. More details in this obituary I wrote about Marshall when he passed away Sept. 7 in Arizona, aged 94.
- Brian Matusz played eight seasons for the Orioles before the Cubs acquired him as a free agent in June 2016. He pitched in just one Cubs game, as the starting pitcher in the famous game July 30, 2016 that was won on Jon Lester’s extra-inning squeeze bunt. He allowed six runs in three innings in that game. Matusz died of an apparent drug overdose on Jan. 6. He was just 37 years old. Here, Matusz registers one of his two Cubs strikeouts (though the pitch appears to have been outside) [VIDEO].
- Yoervis Medina was acquired by the Cubs from the Mariners in May 2015 in trade for Welington Castillo. He pitched in just five games for the Cubs, spent the rest of 2015 at Triple-A Iowa, and then was claimed on waivers by the Pirates. He never played in the majors again, but continued to play winter ball in his native Venezuela until 2022. He died in a car accident in Venezuela Oct. 30, aged just 37. Here is the first inning Medina threw as a Cub, three ground outs June 17, 2015 in Cleveland:
- Nate Oliver was acquired by the Cubs from the Yankees for Lee Elia in April 1969. Primarily an infielder, he played in 44 games for the 1969 Cubs, mostly as a pinch-hitter/pinch-runner. One of his few starts at second base was in a 19-0 win over the Padres May 13, 1969, where he went 3-for-5 and hit his only Cubs home run. After his MLB time he had a long minor-league coaching and managing career in the Angels, White Sox and Cubs organizations, including managing the High-A Daytona Cubs in 1999. He died April 5, aged 85.
- Jim Todd pitched in 43 games (six starts) for the Cubs in 1974, posting a 3.89 ERA in 88 innings. He was traded to the A’s in April 1975 for Champ Summers, played two years there (including three relief appearances in the 1975 ALCS), then the Cubs reacquired him in March 1977 for Joe Coleman. He posted a 9.10 ERA in 20 relief outings in ‘77, then was traded to the Mariners for Pete Broberg. After his baseball career he got into the real estate business in Colorado. He passed away Feb. 3, aged 77.
- Carl Warwick played for the Dodgers, Cardinals, Astros and Orioles before the Cubs acquired him in a trade for Vic Roznovsky just before the 1966 season began. He played in just 16 games for the Cubs, going 5-for-22. After his playing career Warwick operated a real estate investment company in Houston and for a time he was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. He died April 5, aged 88.
Let’s take a moment today to remember these men, all part of the fabric of Chicago Cubs history.
