The sport of baseball lost some notable MLBbros in 2025. They all made their mark on the diamond. Here is the list of players who left us too soon.
OF/1B George Altman
March 20,1933 – Nov. 24, 2025
Altman started his professional baseball career with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues starting in 1955, but he found his niche in Major League Baseball and the Japanese Pacific League.
Altman’s best season in the states came with the Cubs in 1961. That season, he hit .303 with 27 homers and 96 RBIs. He also became a two-time All-Star while playing with Chicago. After nine seasons in the big leagues, Altman spent eight more years in Japan. During that period, he had two 100 RBI seasons – one each with the Tokyo Orions and Lotte Orions [1968 and ‘71 respectively] in the JPL.
OF Marshall Edwards
Aug. 27 1952 – April 15, 2025
Edwards had his moment with the Brewers during Game 5 of the 1982 American League Championship Series against the Angels. A defensive replacement for center fielder Gorman Thomas, Edwards made a nice leaping catch off the bat of Don Baylor in the eighth inning to preserve a 4-3 victory. An inning later, the Brewers won the pennant and faced the Cardinals in the World Series.
OF Ted Ford
Feb. 7, 1947 – Sept.15, 2025
He spent four years in the big leagues, mostly with the Indians, but he made his mark in the Mexican League. His best season was in 1975 for Charros de Jalisco. That season, he had a slash line of .332/.429/.486 with 86 RBIs.
OF Chet Lemon
Feb. 12, 1955 – May 8, 2025
People forget that Lemon started his professional career with the Athletics in the early 1970s, but he became a star after he was traded to the White Sox in 1975. Lemon became a two-time All-Star with Chicago before landing with the Tigers and helping them win a World Series title in 1984. In 16 big-league seasons, Lemon had a slash line of .273/.355/.442 with 215 homers and 884 RBIs.
OF/2B Vic Harris
March 27, 1950 – April 26, 2025
Primarily a backup outfielder/infielder from 1972-1980, Harris was the everyday center fielder with the Rangers in 1973, hitting .249 with eight homers and 44 RBIs. He showed power in 1981 while playing for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes of the Japanese Pacific League, hitting a career-high 22 home runs.
2B Nate Oliver
Dec.13, 1940 – April 5, 2025
A backup infielder during his seven years in the big leagues, Oliver spent five of those years with the Dodgers and played in the 1966 World Series against the Orioles. He appeared in one game as a pinch runner.
OF Dave Parker
June 9, 1951 – June 28, 2025
Known as “The Cobra,” Parker was an intimidating force when he wielded that 37-ounce bat during the 1970s and ’80s for six Major League teams, including the Pirates and Reds. Who could forget that cannon of an arm — the same arm that threw out Jim Rice and Brian Downing in the ’79 All-Star Game, earning Most Valuable Player honors?
From 1977-79, Parker was considered the best player in baseball, winning an NL MVP Award in ’78. He could do it all on the baseball field. Parker was a big guy, but he was a five-tool player.
Besides winning two batting titles, an NL MVP Award, three Gold Glove Awards and three Silver Slugger Awards, Parker played 19 years in the big leagues, hitting .290 with 339 home runs and 1,493 RBIs. Don’t forget he was the designated hitter of the year in 1989 and ’90 as a member of the A’s and Brewers, respectively.
Parker was finally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame several weeks after his passing,
OF Tommie Reynolds
Aug.15, 1941 – March 19, 2025
Best known as one of Tony LaRussa’s coaches with the A’s and Cardinals, Reynolds had a brief playing career with the Athletics, Mets, Angels and Brewers.
LHP Bob Veale
Oct. 28, 1946 – Jan. 3, 2025
Another bro who made his mark with the Pirates. During the 1960s, “Big Bob” was one of the best left-handers in the National League. A two-time All-Star, Veal struck out 200 batters in a season four times [1964-66 and 1969] and pitched 200 innings or more seven times. After 13 years in the big leagues, which included a stint with the Red Sox, Veale won 120 games with a 3.07 ERA. His only World Series title came in 1971, when the Pirates defeated the Orioles in seven games.
