Advertisement

In memoriam: 2017 Notable Sports Deaths

  • <p>Roy Halladay (1977-2017): Two-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star pitcher. </p>
    1/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Roy Halladay (1977-2017): Two-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star pitcher.

  • <p><span>Jake Lamotta (1921-2017): Boxing world champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, who was portrayed by Robert de Niro in </span><i><span>Raging Bull.</span></i> </p>
    2/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Jake Lamotta (1921-2017): Boxing world champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, who was portrayed by Robert de Niro in Raging Bull.

  • <p>Red Miller (1927-2017): NFL coach who led the Denver Broncos to their first Super Bowl appearance in 1978. </p>
    3/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Red Miller (1927-2017): NFL coach who led the Denver Broncos to their first Super Bowl appearance in 1978.

  • <p>Rollie Massimino (1934-2017): Hall of Fame basketball coach at Villanova, who led the Wildcats to arguably the biggest upset in college basketball history when they beat Georgetown in the 1985 national championship game. </p>
    4/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Rollie Massimino (1934-2017): Hall of Fame basketball coach at Villanova, who led the Wildcats to arguably the biggest upset in college basketball history when they beat Georgetown in the 1985 national championship game.

  • <p>Y.A. Tittle (1926-2017): Hall of Fame quarterback with the Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants. </p>
    5/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Y.A. Tittle (1926-2017): Hall of Fame quarterback with the Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants.

  • <p>Yordano Ventura (1991-2017): Pitcher for Kansas City Royals, who was killed in a car crash. </p>
    6/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Yordano Ventura (1991-2017): Pitcher for Kansas City Royals, who was killed in a car crash.

  • <p>Aaron Hernandez (1989-2017): Tight end for the New England Patriots who was notoriously accused of murdering three people, convicted of one and killed himself in prison while serving a life sentence. </p>
    7/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Aaron Hernandez (1989-2017): Tight end for the New England Patriots who was notoriously accused of murdering three people, convicted of one and killed himself in prison while serving a life sentence.

  • <p><span>George “The Animal” Steele (1937-2017): Professional wrestler whose career spanned three decades.</span> </p>
    8/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    George “The Animal” Steele (1937-2017): Professional wrestler whose career spanned three decades.

  • <p>Terry Glenn (1974-2017): NFL wide receiver with the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. </p>
    9/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Terry Glenn (1974-2017): NFL wide receiver with the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.

  • <p>Charles Shackleford (1966-2017): Played six seasons in the NBA. </p>
    10/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Charles Shackleford (1966-2017): Played six seasons in the NBA.

  • <p><span>Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka (1943-2017): Legendary pro wrestler whose career spanned five decades and was arrested for a decades-old murder in 2015 only to be found mentally unfit for trial because of dementia.</span> </p>
    11/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka (1943-2017): Legendary pro wrestler whose career spanned five decades and was arrested for a decades-old murder in 2015 only to be found mentally unfit for trial because of dementia.

  • <p>Charismatic (1996-2017): Won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1999. </p>
    12/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Charismatic (1996-2017): Won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1999.

  • <p>Robert Yates (1943-2017): Legendary NASCAR engine builder and team owner. </p>
    13/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Robert Yates (1943-2017): Legendary NASCAR engine builder and team owner.

  • <p>Steve Palermo (1949-2017): Longtime American League umpire. </p>
    14/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Steve Palermo (1949-2017): Longtime American League umpire.

  • <p>Dan Rooney (1932-2017): Legendary owner of Pittsburgh Steelers and named U.S. ambassador to Ireland under the Obama administration. </p>
    15/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Dan Rooney (1932-2017): Legendary owner of Pittsburgh Steelers and named U.S. ambassador to Ireland under the Obama administration.

  • <p><span>Jim Bunning (1931-2017): Hall of Fame pitcher and former U.S. senator.</span> </p>
    16/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Jim Bunning (1931-2017): Hall of Fame pitcher and former U.S. senator.

  • <p>Pancho Segura (1921-2017): Former No. 1 player in the world and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. </p>
    17/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Pancho Segura (1921-2017): Former No. 1 player in the world and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

  • <p>Bobby “The Brain” Heenan (1944-2017): Legendary professional wrestling manager. </p>
    18/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Bobby “The Brain” Heenan (1944-2017): Legendary professional wrestling manager.

  • <p>Ferdie Pacheco (1927-2017): Known as “The Fight Doctor,” was cornerman for Muhammad Ali and later served as a boxing analyst. </p>
    19/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Ferdie Pacheco (1927-2017): Known as “The Fight Doctor,” was cornerman for Muhammad Ali and later served as a boxing analyst.

  • <p>Milt Schmidt (1918-2017): Hall of Fame hockey player who won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins. </p>
    20/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Milt Schmidt (1918-2017): Hall of Fame hockey player who won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins.

  • <p>Mike Ilitch (1929-2017): Longtime owner of Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers. </p>
    21/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Mike Ilitch (1929-2017): Longtime owner of Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers.

  • <p>Lou Duva: Hall of Fame boxing trainer who handled 19 world champions. </p>
    22/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Lou Duva: Hall of Fame boxing trainer who handled 19 world champions.

  • <p>Spike Dykes (1938-2017): Legendary college football coach at Texas Tech. </p>
    23/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Spike Dykes (1938-2017): Legendary college football coach at Texas Tech.

  • <p>Dallas Green (1934-2017): Legendary Major League player, executive and manager, who led the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1980 World Series title. </p>
    24/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Dallas Green (1934-2017): Legendary Major League player, executive and manager, who led the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1980 World Series title.

  • <p>Dick MacPherson (1930-2017): Hall of Fame football coach at Syracuse. </p>
    25/52

    2017 sports deaths

    Dick MacPherson (1930-2017): Hall of Fame football coach at Syracuse.

  • <p>Steve Holcomb (1980-2017): Gold-medal winning bobsledder. </p>
    26/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Steve Holcomb (1980-2017): Gold-medal winning bobsledder.

  • <p>Luis Olmo (1919-2017): In 1949, became first Puerto Rican to play in the World Series. </p>
    27/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Luis Olmo (1919-2017): In 1949, became first Puerto Rican to play in the World Series.

  • <p>Jud Heathcote (1927-2017): Hall of Fame basketball coach who led Michigan State to the 1979 national championship. </p>
    28/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Jud Heathcote (1927-2017): Hall of Fame basketball coach who led Michigan State to the 1979 national championship.

  • <p>Nicky Hayden (1981-2017): World champion MotoGP motorcycle racer. </p>
    29/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Nicky Hayden (1981-2017): World champion MotoGP motorcycle racer.

  • <p>Robert De Vincenzo (1923-2017): Hall of Fame golfer who won the 1967 British Open. </p>
    30/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Robert De Vincenzo (1923-2017): Hall of Fame golfer who won the 1967 British Open.

  • <p>Jack McCloskey (1925-2017): General manager for the Detroit Pistons and architect of two championship teams. </p>
    31/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Jack McCloskey (1925-2017): General manager for the Detroit Pistons and architect of two championship teams.

  • <p>Gene Michael (1938-2017): Former Yankees player, manager and general manager. </p>
    32/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Gene Michael (1938-2017): Former Yankees player, manager and general manager.

  • <p>Frank Kush (1929-2017): Hall of Fame college football coach at Arizona State. </p>
    33/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Frank Kush (1929-2017): Hall of Fame college football coach at Arizona State.

  • <p>Chuck Blazer (1945-2017): American soccer administrator who was a key figure in the FIFA bribing scandal. </p>
    34/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Chuck Blazer (1945-2017): American soccer administrator who was a key figure in the FIFA bribing scandal.

  • <p>John Kundla (1916-2017): Hall of Fame coach who led the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships. </p>
    35/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    John Kundla (1916-2017): Hall of Fame coach who led the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships.

  • <p>Lee May (1943-2017): 3-time Major League All-Star and World Series champion with the Kansas City Royals. </p>
    36/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Lee May (1943-2017): 3-time Major League All-Star and World Series champion with the Kansas City Royals.

  • <p>Ara Parseghian (1923-2017): Hall of Fame football coach who won two national championships at Notre Dame. </p>
    37/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Ara Parseghian (1923-2017): Hall of Fame football coach who won two national championships at Notre Dame.

  • <p>Betty Cuthbert (1938-2017): Four-time Olympic gold-medalist sprinter. </p>
    38/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Betty Cuthbert (1938-2017): Four-time Olympic gold-medalist sprinter.

  • <p>Darren Daulton (1962-2017): Three-time All-Star and member of the Philadelphia Phillies 1997 world championship team. </p>
    39/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Darren Daulton (1962-2017): Three-time All-Star and member of the Philadelphia Phillies 1997 world championship team.

  • <p>Don Baylor (1949-2017): 1979 AL MVP and 1995 NL manager of the year. </p>
    40/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Don Baylor (1949-2017): 1979 AL MVP and 1995 NL manager of the year.

  • <p>Frank Broyles (1924-2017): Hall of Fame football coach at Arkansas, where he won the 1964 national championship. </p>
    41/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Frank Broyles (1924-2017): Hall of Fame football coach at Arkansas, where he won the 1964 national championship.

  • <p>Jerry Krause (1939-2017): Architect of six Chicago Bulls championships. </p>
    42/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Jerry Krause (1939-2017): Architect of six Chicago Bulls championships.

  • <p>Joe Tiller (1942-2017): Former head football coach of Purdue Boilermakers. </p>
    43/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Joe Tiller (1942-2017): Former head football coach of Purdue Boilermakers.

  • <p>Bobby Doerr (1918-2017): Hall of Fame second baseman for the Boston Red Sox. </p>
    44/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Bobby Doerr (1918-2017): Hall of Fame second baseman for the Boston Red Sox.

  • <p>Cortez Kennedy (1968-2017): Eight-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Fame defensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks. </p>
    45/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Cortez Kennedy (1968-2017): Eight-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Fame defensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks.

  • <p>Connie Hawkins (1942-2017): ABA MVP, four-time NBA All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. </p>
    46/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Connie Hawkins (1942-2017): ABA MVP, four-time NBA All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

  • <p>Wayne Hardin (1926-2017): Hall of Fame football coach at Navy and Temple. </p>
    47/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Wayne Hardin (1926-2017): Hall of Fame football coach at Navy and Temple.

  • <p>Jana Novotna (1968-2017): Wimbledon champion who was once ranked No. 2 in the world. </p>
    48/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Jana Novotna (1968-2017): Wimbledon champion who was once ranked No. 2 in the world.

  • <p>Bud Moore (1975-2017): NASCAR Hall of Famer who also fought at the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. </p>
    49/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Bud Moore (1975-2017): NASCAR Hall of Famer who also fought at the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge.

  • <p>Jimmy Piersall (1929-2017): 17-year Major Leaguer, mostly with the Boston Red Sox. </p>
    50/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Jimmy Piersall (1929-2017): 17-year Major Leaguer, mostly with the Boston Red Sox.

  • <p>Don Ohlmeyer (1945-2017): Legendary sport television producer and first producer of Monday Night Football. </p>
    51/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Don Ohlmeyer (1945-2017): Legendary sport television producer and first producer of Monday Night Football.

  • <p>Frank DeFord (1938-2017): Legendary sports writer. </p>
    52/52

    2017 Notable Sports Deaths

    Frank DeFord (1938-2017): Legendary sports writer.

<p>Roy Halladay (1977-2017): Two-time Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star pitcher. </p>
<p><span>Jake Lamotta (1921-2017): Boxing world champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, who was portrayed by Robert de Niro in </span><i><span>Raging Bull.</span></i> </p>
<p>Red Miller (1927-2017): NFL coach who led the Denver Broncos to their first Super Bowl appearance in 1978. </p>
<p>Rollie Massimino (1934-2017): Hall of Fame basketball coach at Villanova, who led the Wildcats to arguably the biggest upset in college basketball history when they beat Georgetown in the 1985 national championship game. </p>
<p>Y.A. Tittle (1926-2017): Hall of Fame quarterback with the Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants. </p>
<p>Yordano Ventura (1991-2017): Pitcher for Kansas City Royals, who was killed in a car crash. </p>
<p>Aaron Hernandez (1989-2017): Tight end for the New England Patriots who was notoriously accused of murdering three people, convicted of one and killed himself in prison while serving a life sentence. </p>
<p><span>George “The Animal” Steele (1937-2017): Professional wrestler whose career spanned three decades.</span> </p>
<p>Terry Glenn (1974-2017): NFL wide receiver with the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. </p>
<p>Charles Shackleford (1966-2017): Played six seasons in the NBA. </p>
<p><span>Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka (1943-2017): Legendary pro wrestler whose career spanned five decades and was arrested for a decades-old murder in 2015 only to be found mentally unfit for trial because of dementia.</span> </p>
<p>Charismatic (1996-2017): Won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1999. </p>
<p>Robert Yates (1943-2017): Legendary NASCAR engine builder and team owner. </p>
<p>Steve Palermo (1949-2017): Longtime American League umpire. </p>
<p>Dan Rooney (1932-2017): Legendary owner of Pittsburgh Steelers and named U.S. ambassador to Ireland under the Obama administration. </p>
<p><span>Jim Bunning (1931-2017): Hall of Fame pitcher and former U.S. senator.</span> </p>
<p>Pancho Segura (1921-2017): Former No. 1 player in the world and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. </p>
<p>Bobby “The Brain” Heenan (1944-2017): Legendary professional wrestling manager. </p>
<p>Ferdie Pacheco (1927-2017): Known as “The Fight Doctor,” was cornerman for Muhammad Ali and later served as a boxing analyst. </p>
<p>Milt Schmidt (1918-2017): Hall of Fame hockey player who won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins. </p>
<p>Mike Ilitch (1929-2017): Longtime owner of Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers. </p>
<p>Lou Duva: Hall of Fame boxing trainer who handled 19 world champions. </p>
<p>Spike Dykes (1938-2017): Legendary college football coach at Texas Tech. </p>
<p>Dallas Green (1934-2017): Legendary Major League player, executive and manager, who led the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1980 World Series title. </p>
<p>Dick MacPherson (1930-2017): Hall of Fame football coach at Syracuse. </p>
<p>Steve Holcomb (1980-2017): Gold-medal winning bobsledder. </p>
<p>Luis Olmo (1919-2017): In 1949, became first Puerto Rican to play in the World Series. </p>
<p>Jud Heathcote (1927-2017): Hall of Fame basketball coach who led Michigan State to the 1979 national championship. </p>
<p>Nicky Hayden (1981-2017): World champion MotoGP motorcycle racer. </p>
<p>Robert De Vincenzo (1923-2017): Hall of Fame golfer who won the 1967 British Open. </p>
<p>Jack McCloskey (1925-2017): General manager for the Detroit Pistons and architect of two championship teams. </p>
<p>Gene Michael (1938-2017): Former Yankees player, manager and general manager. </p>
<p>Frank Kush (1929-2017): Hall of Fame college football coach at Arizona State. </p>
<p>Chuck Blazer (1945-2017): American soccer administrator who was a key figure in the FIFA bribing scandal. </p>
<p>John Kundla (1916-2017): Hall of Fame coach who led the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships. </p>
<p>Lee May (1943-2017): 3-time Major League All-Star and World Series champion with the Kansas City Royals. </p>
<p>Ara Parseghian (1923-2017): Hall of Fame football coach who won two national championships at Notre Dame. </p>
<p>Betty Cuthbert (1938-2017): Four-time Olympic gold-medalist sprinter. </p>
<p>Darren Daulton (1962-2017): Three-time All-Star and member of the Philadelphia Phillies 1997 world championship team. </p>
<p>Don Baylor (1949-2017): 1979 AL MVP and 1995 NL manager of the year. </p>
<p>Frank Broyles (1924-2017): Hall of Fame football coach at Arkansas, where he won the 1964 national championship. </p>
<p>Jerry Krause (1939-2017): Architect of six Chicago Bulls championships. </p>
<p>Joe Tiller (1942-2017): Former head football coach of Purdue Boilermakers. </p>
<p>Bobby Doerr (1918-2017): Hall of Fame second baseman for the Boston Red Sox. </p>
<p>Cortez Kennedy (1968-2017): Eight-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Fame defensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks. </p>
<p>Connie Hawkins (1942-2017): ABA MVP, four-time NBA All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. </p>
<p>Wayne Hardin (1926-2017): Hall of Fame football coach at Navy and Temple. </p>
<p>Jana Novotna (1968-2017): Wimbledon champion who was once ranked No. 2 in the world. </p>
<p>Bud Moore (1975-2017): NASCAR Hall of Famer who also fought at the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. </p>
<p>Jimmy Piersall (1929-2017): 17-year Major Leaguer, mostly with the Boston Red Sox. </p>
<p>Don Ohlmeyer (1945-2017): Legendary sport television producer and first producer of Monday Night Football. </p>
<p>Frank DeFord (1938-2017): Legendary sports writer. </p>
Yahoo Sports Staff

As 2017 comes to a close, we take a look at the sports figures that we said goodbye to.