Notable sports deaths in 2024

Marty Pavelich, left winger for the Detroit Red Wings from 1947-57. He was the last surviving member of the 1950 Stanley Cup-championship team. June 28. He was 96.

Sika Anoa'i, Hall of Fame wrestler for WWE and one half of the Wild Samoans tag team. He also was the father of current wrestling star Roman Reigns. June 25. He was 79.

Jim Briegel, legendary Michigan golfer who was the only man ever to win the Ann Arbor junior, men's and senior championship. He routinely shot better than his age for the last two decades of his life. June 19. He was 98.

Willie Mays, the man legendary Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell always called the best baseball player he ever saw. The "Say Hey Kid" played 23 seasons in MLB, mostly with the Giants organization (New York and San Francisco), hitting 660 home runs and playing elite defense in center field. He was a first-ballot Hall of Famer. June 18. He was 93.

Mike Brumley, MLB shortstop from 1987-95, getting his most playing time with the Detroit Tigers in 1989. He later became a coach for several teams. June 15. He was 61.

Jerry West, star NBA player who played 15 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, and later became a highly decorated executive with the Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers. He's set to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for a third time, and his silhouette long has been used for the NBA logo. June 12. He was 86.

Chet Walker, Hall of Fame basketball player for 13 seasons in the NBA, mostly with the Philadelphia 76ers. He won an NBA championship in 1967. June 8. He was 84.

Larry Allenm, guard in the NFL for 14 seasons, mostlywith the Dallas Cowboys. He's in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. June 2. He was 52.

Dan Fife, legendary boys varsity basketball coach at Clarkston High School. He also was a standout athlete, and played for the Minnesota Twins. He was also an assistant coach for Michigan. May 30. He was 74.

Bill Walton, basketball star for UCLA and later in the NBA who is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He later went onto an acclaimed career in broadcasting. May 27. He was 71.

Grayson Murray, professional golfer who won twice on the PGA Tour, including the 2024 Sony Open. May 25. He was 30.

Jim Otto, center in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders from 1960-74. He is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. May 19. He was 86.

Mark Wells, hockey forward and St. Clair Shores native who was a member of the legendary "Miracle On Ice" Team USA that won gold at the 1980 Olympics. May 14. He was 66.

Jon Urbanchek, legendary Michigan swimming and diving coach, from 1982-2004, who also coached several of the Team USA teams. May 9. He was 87.

Sean Burroughs, third baseman in MLB for several teams in the early 2000s. He also starred in the 1992 Little League World Series, and is the son of former MLB outfielder Jeff Burroughs. May 9. He was 43.

Jimmy Johnson, cornerback in the NFL from 1961-76, with the San Francisco 49ers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. May 8. He was 86.

Obi Ezeh, linebacker from Grand Rapids who played at Michigan until 2011. He ended his career as Michigan's active leader in career tackles. May 3. He was 36.

Peter Oosterhuis, English golfer and professional broadcaster who was on the CBS golf team from the late 1990s until his retirement in 2015. May 2. He was 75.

Darius Morris, point guard who starred for Michigan from 2009-11, before going on to a career in the NBA and overseas. May 2. He was 33.

Roman Gabriel, quarterback who is in the College Football Hall of Fame (N.C. State), and had a 16-year career in the NFL, winning the MVP award in 1969. He late had a broadcasting and acting career. April 20. He was 83.

Dave McCarty, major-league first baseman and outfielder from 1993-2005, with seven teams. April 19. He was 54.

Carl Erskine, pitcher for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1948-59, winning a World Series and throwing two no-hitters. April 16. He was 97.

Whitey Herzog, Hall-of-Fame manager in MLB, winning the World Series with the 1982 St. Louis Cardinals. April 15. He was 92.

Ken Hotlzman, pitcher in the major leagues from 1965-79, winning three World Series titles with the Oakland A's. April 14. He was 78.

Crandell Addington, Hall-of-Fame poker player who helped found the World Series of Poker. April 14. He was 85.

O.J. Simpson, legendary running back who won the Heisman Trophy at USC and is in the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame, and went on to a career in broadcasting and movie acting. But he was most-known later in life for being acquitted of double-murder of his ex-wife and her friend in 1994. April 10. He was 76.

Jerry Grote, major-league catcher who played for five teams from 1963-81, mostly the New York Mets. April 7. He was 81.

Larry Lucchino, baseball executive who is most-known for bringing a World Series championship back to the Boston Red Wos. He won three World Series in Boston, and also worked for the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres. April 2. He was 78.

Vontae Davis, cornerback in the NFL from 2009-18, mostly with the Indianapolis Colts. He was a two-time Pro Bowl honoree. April 1. He was 35.

Bob Bercich, football player who played halfback and fullback at Michigan State in the 1950s, before playing briefly with the Dallas Cowboys. April 1. He was 87.

Chuck Seelback, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers from 1971-74, appearing in 79 games with a 3.38 ERA. March 22. He was 76.

Chris Simon, left winger in the NHL from 1992 through 2008, who was suspended eight times for 65 total games in his career. March 18. He was 52.

Dave Gunther, star basketball player at Iowa, who played for the Pistons in 1960. March 16. He was 86.

Steve Tensi, quarterback in the NFL for six seasons, with the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos. He played collegiately at Florida State. March 15. He was 81.

Ernie Clark, linebacker who starred at Michigan State, and played five seasons in the NFL for the Lions. March 10. He was 86.

Chris "Mort" Mortensen, pioneering NFL reporter who took his talents from newspapers to ESPN, working the beat year-round and breaking news on a regular basis. March 3. He was 72.

Tim Ecclestone, left wing who played 11 seasons in the NHL, including multiple seasons with the Red Wings. He scored 126 goals in 692 games. March 2. He was 76.

Andy Russell, linebacker who played 12 seasons in the NFL, all with the Steelers, winning two Super Bowls. He was a Detroit native. Feb. 29. He was 82.

Michael Jones, better known as his wrestling persona, Virgil, serving as the bodyguard for Ted DiBiase, the "Million Dollar Man," for much of his run with the WWF. Feb. 28.

Craig Roh, Michigan football linebacker for four years, starting in 2009. He went on to play in the NFL and CFL. Feb. 26. He was 33.

Alan Rogowski, better known as Ole Anderson in wrestling circles. He was a high-profile wrestler from the 1960s into the 1990s. Feb. 26. He was 81.

Don Poile, NHL player who played 67 games for the Red Wings between 1954 and 1958. He was the brother of Hockey Hallof Famer Bud Poile. Feb. 23. He was 91.

Jean-Guy Talbot, NHL defenseman for 17 seasons, who played briefly for the Red Wings in 1967-68. He also was head coach of the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers. Feb. 22. He was 91.

Ron Cameron, Detroit sports personality for more than 50 years, in TV, print and radio. Feb.20. He was 79.

Robert Reid, NBA player for 13 seasons who finished his career with more than 10,000 points and 4,000 rebounds, and had 2,500 assists. Feb. 19. He was 68.

Lefty Driesell, college basketball coach, including at Davison, Maryland, James Madison and Georgia State. He had 21 seasons of 20 or more wins, and is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Feb. 17. He was 92.

Don Gullett, major-league pitcher from 1970-78, winning two World Series with the Cincinnati Reds and two with the New York Yankees. Feb. 14. He was 73.

Jim Hanna, major-league pitcher for 10 seasons, including with the Tigers in 1971. He co-founded the MLB Players Association and was its first president. Feb. 9. He was 84.

Ken Fritz, All-American guard for Ohio State who is best known for restraining coach Woody Hayes after he went after a Clemson player in 1978. Feb. 6. He was 66.

Earl Cureton, Detroit basketball legend who played collegiately at the University of Detroit before embarking on a 12-year NBA career that included a three-year stint with his hometown Pistons. He later became a tireless ambassador for Detroit Mercy and the Pistons. Feb. 4. He was 66.

Jim Rowinski, standout basketball player at Purdue who went on to play in the NBA, including with the Detroit Pistons in 1989. Feb. 2. He was 63.

Carl Weathers, actor who was famous for playing Apollo Creed in the legendary "Rocky" franchise, and also appeared in "Happy Gilmore." Before his turn to acting, he played linebacker briefly in the NFL. Feb. 1. He was 76.

Terry Beasley, College Football Hall of Fame receiver for Auburn who went on to play in the NFL for the San Francisco 49wers. Jan. 31. He was 73.

Jimy Williams, major-league manager with the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros. Jan. 26. He was 80.

Harold Hogue, better known as "Ice Train" during his professional wrestling career, including multiple stints with World Championship Wrestling. Jan. 23. He was 56.

Jack Burke Jr., golfer who starred in the 1950s, winning the Masters and PGA Championship in 1956. He won 16 PGA Tour titles for his career, and is in the World Golf Hall of Fame. Jan. 19. He was 100.

Dejan Milojević, former professional basketball player who was an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors. Jan. 17. He was 46.

Norm Snead, quarterback in the NFL for five different teams, making the Pro Bowl four times. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1961 NFL Draft. Jan. 14. He was 84.

Carl Rose Jr., owner of Carl's Golfland and a high-profile figure in the national golf industry. Jan. 11. He was 65.

Bud Harrelson, longtime shortstop in Major League Baseball, mostly with the New York Mets, whom he later managed in 1990 and 1991. He was on the coaching staff that won the 1986 World Series. Jan. 11. He was 79.

Kirt Dozier, longtime photographer at the Detroit Free Press, specializing in sports. He also previously worked at The Detroit News. Jan. 5. He was 65.

Paul Theriault, longtime hockey coach who served as head coach of the Flint Spirit of the International Hockey League in the 1980s. Jan. 3. He was 73.

Billy Gardner, second baseman in MLB for 10 seasons, before going on to manage the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals. Jan. 3. He was 96.