MLB Players With Ties To Connecticut, Regional Teams Who Died In 2024

CONNECTICUT — The calendar has turned to 2025, pitchers and catchers will be reporting to Major League Baseball training camps in a few weeks, and the Baseball Writers Association of America will be announcing the results of its Hall of Fame balloting on Jan. 21.

Early tracking, with just under 25 percent of the ballots known publicly, indicates the possibility of four former New York stars making it to Cooperstown this summer. Outfielder Ichiro Suzuki had been named on each of the 87 ballots already counted, while pitcher C.C. Sabathia had been checked off on over 90 percent of the returns. Those two ex-Yankees are currently joined by former Mets Billy Wagner and Carlos Beltran, who had each been selected by more than the required 75 percent of voters.

Whoever ultimately passes muster with the writers will join Dave Parker and the late Dick Allen, who were elected last month by a veterans' committee. A big disappointment for area fans, however, was the bypassing of former standout pitcher Luis Tiant once again.

Tiant, 83, died Oct. 18 without realizing his dream of making the Hall of Fame in his lifetime. At a public appearance in August, this author had the chance to speak with the popular former hurler, ending the conversation by saying, "I'll see you again in Cooperstown." Little did any of us know he would no longer be with us six weeks later.

Tiant was among 101 former big league players who passed away during the last calendar year. The three regional major league teams - the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox - each reached double figures in losing alumni during 2024. Connecticut was also hit hard, losing three players with strong, longstanding ties to the state.

• Billy Gardner, 96, a New London native and Chapman Technical High School graduate, died Jan. 3. He played for both the Red Sox and Yankees in the 1960s, and later was a manager for several teams in the 1980s.
• Joey Jay of Middletown, a Woodrow Wilson High School graduate who twice won 20 games in a season for the Cincinnati Reds, died Sept. 27 at 89. Upon his big league debut in 1953, Jay became the first Little League Baseball alumnus to make the major leagues.
• Bob Kelly, an Ohio native who pitched in 123 games over four seasons with the Cubs, Reds and Indians in the 1950s. After retiring, he moved to East Lyme in 1969, then shifted one town west to Old Lyme in 2013. He passed away at age 97 on Nov. 27.

The Mets lost 13 alumni during the year, 11 former Red Sox players died and 10 ex-Yankees passed away. One recently-deceased player suited up for all three clubs: Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, MLB's all-time stolen base king.

Here are the former players who died from the three regional big league franchises. They are arranged in chronological order by date of death, and include the player's age in parentheses.

New York Mets (13)

• Bud Harrelson, Jan. 10 (79)
• Jim McAndrew, Mar. 14 (80)
• Pat Zachry, Apr. 4 (71)
• Jerry Grote, Apr. 7 (81)
• Bill Murphy, May 13 (80)
• Willie Mays, June 18 (93)
• Mike Cubbage, Aug. 10 (74)
• Wayne Graham, Sept. 3 (88)
• Ed Kranepool, Sept. 8 (79)
• Jack DiLauro, Dec. 7 (81)
• Ron Locke, Dec. 13 (82)
• Rickey Henderson, Dec. 20 (65)
• Lenny Randle, Dec. 27 (75)

Boston Red Sox (11)

• Billy Gardner, Jan. 3 (96)
• LaSchelle Tarver, Mar. 20 (65)
• David McCarty, Apr. 19 (54)
• Mike Brumley, June 15 (62)
• Nelson Chittum, July 15 (91)
• Orlando Cepeda, Aug. 28 (86)
• Pete Daley, Aug. 22 (94)
• Doug Bird, Sept. 24 (74)
• Luis Tiant, Oct. 8 (83)
• Rickey Henderson, Dec. 20 (65)
• Charlie Maxwell, Dec. 27 (97)

New York Yankees (10)

• Billy Gardner, Jan. 3 (96)
• Don Gullett, Feb. 14 (73)
• Ken Holtzman, Apr. 14 (78)
• Mike Ferraro, July 20 (79)
• Doug Bird, Sept. 24 (74)
• Luis Tiant, Oct. 8 (83)
• Bud Daley, Oct. 15 (92)
• Rudy May, Oct. 19 (80)
• Rocky Colavito, Dec. 10 (91)
• Rickey Henderson, Dec. 20 (65)