The Baseball Buffet for 2/8/2026

As reported by Anne Rogers at MLB, former major league player Terrance Gore has passed away at the age of 34. A social media post by his wife Britney indicated he died following complications during a routine surgery. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Gore played briefly in parts of 8 years in the majors with the Royals, Cubs, Mets, and Dodgers. I used the word “briefly” because across eight seasons he only had 85 plate appearances. That is because he more often was in games as a pinch-runner than at his OF defensive position.

He had tremendous speed, with highs of 68 SB at A-ball in 2013, and then 39 SB in 85 games at AA in 2015 and 44 SB in 88 games at AA in 2016. In the majors, he retired with 43 SB across 112 games. He had the majority of his actual at-bats in 2019 with the Royals, hitting .275 with a .362 OBP over 51 AB in 37 games.

2B Robert Alomar - Padres (1988-90), Blue Jays (1991-95), Orioles (1996-98), Indians (1999-2001), Mets (2002-03), White Sox (2003-04), Diamondbacks (2004)

SS Francisco Lindor - Indians (2015-20), Mets (2021-25)

OF/DH Kyle Schwarber - Cubs (2015-20), Nationals (2021), Phillies (2022-25)

SP Mark Langston - Mariners (1984-89), Expos (1989), Angels (1990-97)

OF Steve Finley - Astros (1991-94), Padres (1995-98), Diamondbacks (1999-2004), and four other clubs

2B/3B/SS Gil McDougald - Yankees (1951-60)

1B Bill White - Cardinals (1959-65)

OF Dusty Baker - Braves (1968-75), Dodgers (1976-83), Giants (1984), Athletics (1985-86)

2B/OF Alfonso Soriano - Yankees (2002-03, 13-14), Rangers (2004-05), Nationals (2006), Cubs (2007-13)

OF/3B/2B/SS César Tovar - Twins (1965-72), Phillies (1973), Rangers (1974-75)

OF Tommy Davis - Dodgers (1959-66) and five other clubs

2B/SS Eddie Stanky - Dodgers (1944-47), Braves (1948-49), Giants (1950-51), Cardinals (1952-53)

OF/1B Johnny Hopp - Cardinals (1940-45), Braves (1946-47), Pirates (1948-50)

3B Doug Rader - Astros (1967-75), Padres (1976-77)

C A.J. Pierzynski - White Sox (2005-12) and two other clubs

1916: 25-cent seats won’t be limited to 2,000 per stadium. “The National League turns down a request from Brooklyn Robins owner Charles Ebbets, who had wanted to impose a limit of 2,000 seats that clubs can sell for 25 cents. The Boston Braves have 10,000 such seats, the St. Louis Cardinals 9,000, the Philadelphia Phillies 6,500, and the Cincinnati Reds 4,000.”

1956: Connie Mack dies at age 93. “The legendary Connie Mack dies at age 93. After managing Pittsburgh's National League club from 1894 to 1896, the former catcher became a prominent figure in Ban Johnson's Western League. A founder of the American League in 1901, Mack managed and owned the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901 to 1950, leading the team to five World Series titles and nine American League pennants. He won election to the Hall of Fame in 1937.”

1972: Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard are elected to the Hall of Fame. “Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard are elected to the Hall of Fame through the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues. The two former stars, who led the Homestead Grays to nine straight league championships from 1937 to 1945, become the second and third players to be selected by the Committee, joining Satchel Paige, who was elected in 1971.”

1982: The Dodgers break up their infield. “The Los Angeles Dodgers trade veteran second baseman Davey Lopes to the Oakland Athletics for minor leaguer Lance Hudson. The move, which opens a spot for rookie Steve Sax, breaks up the Dodgers' infield, which had been intact since 1974. The other starting infielders, Steve Garvey (1B), Bill Russell (SS) and Ron Cey (3B) remain with the team.”

1991: Roger Clemens becomes the highest paid player. “Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens signs a four-year $21,521,000 contract extension, making him baseball's highest-paid player.”

12-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1943-1957, starting with six years in the Negro Leagues through 1948, then played with the Dodgers, Reds, and Senators from 1952-1957

All-Star for the Baltimore Elite Giants in both 1947 and 1948

NL Rookie of the Year in 1952 as a relief pitcher for the Dodgers after posting a 15-4 record, 15 saves, and a 2.15 ERA over 142.1 IP

He then started three games in the World Series that year against the Yankees. Although he lost two of three, he had a 2.53 ERA over 21.1 IP.

Overall had a 49-36 record, 30 saves, a 3.71 ERA, and a 108 ERA+

7-year major league career in the Negro Leagues, spanning from 1920-1926, playing for the Kansas City Monarchs

According the data available at baseball-reference.com, he had a .300+ average every season, including .386 in 329 AB in 1922, .365 in 378 AB in 1923, and .355 in 299 AB in 1924

Was a good defensive SS, frequently amongst his league's leaders in fielding statistics

According to Wikipedia, "His career ended abruptly in mid-1926 when he was shot in the leg by a girlfriend and suffered a compound fracture jumping from a second-story balcony to escape from her."

Overall had a .350/.393/.524 slash line and a 148 OPS+

11-year major league career, spanning from 1942-1955 (missing 1943-45 for miliatry service), mostly playing RF for the Giants, Braves, Reds, and White Sox

Three-time All-Star, his career-year came in 1947 when he hit .291 with 36 HR and 107 RBI

Overall had 130 HR, a .274/.347/.423 slash line, and a 109 OPS+

12-year major league career, spanning from 1941-1956, mostly playing LF and CF with the Tigers, but with some time spent with the Red Sox, Orioles, Indians, and Giants

Two-time All-Star, including in 1948 when he hit .314 with 10 HR and 103 RBI, and in 1950 when he hit .323 with 21 HR, 103 RBI, and an AL-leading 11 triples

Overall had 98 HR, a .278/.353/.426 slash line, and a 107 OPS+

10-year major league career, spanning from 1889-1898, all as an OF with the Reds

Led the NL with 19 HR in his rookie season when he also hit .321 with 46 SB, 104 RBI, and 107 runs

Led the NL again with 13 HR in 1892, and then had 13 HR, 123 RBI, 126 runs, and a lofty .376 average in the high-offense 1894 season

Had 30+ SB six times, with a high of 50 SB in 1890, and scored 100+ runs four times

Born James Wear Holliday, according to his SABR Bio he was given the nickname Bug early in his career "because he looked so small playing center field." (He was 5'11", but only 151 pounds as a rookie.)

Overall had 252 SB, a .312/.377/.449 slash line, and a 126 OPS+

11-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1966-1976, mostly with the Yankees and Indians

Had 15+ wins each year from 1969-1972, including his one All-Star season in 1970 when he posted a 20-11 record and 2.90 ERA

Had outstanding control, leading the AL in fewest walks per nine innings for five consecutive seasons

Overall had a 133-131 record, a 3.30 ERA, and a 101 ERA+

As described at Wikipedia, "Peterson and fellow Yankee pitcher Mike Kekich swapped wives and children, an arrangement the pair announced at spring training in March 1973. The Peterson and Kekich families had been friends since 1969. Peterson and the former Susanne Kekich remained married, but the relationship between Kekich and Marilyn Peterson only lasted a few months."

These potential World Series matchups aren't as unlikely as they seem, by MLB writers, 2/7/2026

The biggest surprises of the offseason (so far!), by Anthony Castrovince at MLB, 2/6/2026

Which teams have the best 1-2 punches atop their rotations?, by Jared Greenspan at MLB, 2/6/2026

These Cards prospects could be on the fast track to St. Louis, by Will Leitch at MLB, 2/7/2026

New year, new questions facing Blue Jays, by Keegan Matheson at MLB, 2/7/2026

5 Baseball Cards to Knock Off the Winter Rust, at Wax Pack Gods Newsletter, 2/8/2026