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Paying tribute to sports legends, Hall of Famers who passed away in 2023
From Dick Butkus and Jim Brown to Bobby Hull, Brooks Robinson and Willis Reed, the sports world and collecting hobby lost some true sports legends in 2023.
Butkus, the hard-hitting linebacker for the Chicago Bears, was one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the NFL. Brown, meanwhile, retired as the league’s leading rusher. Both are in the conversation as the greatest players of all time.
Baseball lost the greatest defensive third baseman of all time in Robinson, the Orioles legend, AL MVP and World Series hero.
Hull, meanwhile, was one of the greatest players in NHL history. “The Golden Jet” was a two-time MVP, three-time leading scorer and led the Original Six Chicago Blackhawks to the 1961 Stanley Cup.
Reed was a six-time All-Star, two-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP. But he was best known for one of the greatest comeback stories in sports history, limping onto the court with an injury in Game 7 to lead the Knicks to the 1970 championship.
Also See: From Wilt and Kareem to Maravich and West, 1973 Topps Basketball filled with Hall of Famers
They are among the biggest names who sadly passed away in 2023. Here’s a look at other notable sports deaths of 2023.
NOTABLE SPORTS DEATHS
Art McNally, 97
NFL Director of Officiating, first NFL official elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Charles White, 64
1979 Heisman Trophy winner at USC; played nine seasons in NFL for Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams.
Sal Bando, 78
Four-time All-Star third baseman for Oakland A’s that won three straight World Series titles (1972-74); former general manager for Milwaukee Brewers.
Billy Packer, 82
Longtime sports broadcaster known for his coverage of NCAA college basketball and March Madness.
Bobby Hull, 84
Hockey Hall of Famer and Chicago Blackhawks legend with 604 career goals. A 12-time All-Star, Hull won two Hart Trophies as NHL MVP.
Terry Holland, 80
Longtime Virginia basketball coach who led the Cavaliers to the Final Four twice among nine NCAA Tournament appearances.
Conrad Dobler, 72
Three-time Pro Bowler who played 10 seasons in the NFL, including six with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Tim McCarver, 81
Longtime catcher who played for 21 MLB seasons, mostly with the St. Louis Cardinals. Two-time World Series winner and catcher for Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson. Popular broadcaster after his playing career (1980-2013); winner of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford Frick Award.
Bud Grant, 95
NFL head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer. Coached Minnesota for 18 seasons, leading the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances.
Felton Spencer, 55
No. 6 overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft. Played for 12 seasons for Utah, Orlando, Golden State, San Antonio and New York.
Joe Pepitone, 82
Played 12 seasons in the major leagues, including eight with the New York Yankees, where he was a fan favorite.
Willis Reed, 80
Pro Basketball Hall of Famer who played 10 seasons in the NBA, winning the 1969-70 NBA championship with the New York Knicks. Former NBA head coach and front office executive.
Hobie Landrith, 93
First player drafted by the New York Mets in the 1961 expansion draft. Played 14 seasons with the Reds, Cubs, Cardinals, Giants, Orioles and Senators.
Dave Wilcox, 80
Pro Football Hall of Famer and seven-time Pro Bowler who played 11 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
Dick Groat, 92
Eight-time All-Star shortstop and two-time World Series winner for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. Also a former college basketball star and one of just 13 athletes to play in both MLB and the NBA. The No. 3 pick in the 1952 NBA Draft.
Petr Kilma, 58
Played 13 seasons in the NHL, scoring 313 goals, including the overtime winner in Game 1 of the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals — the longest game in Finals history.
Vida Blue, 73
Legendary left-hander who helped lead the Oakland A’s to three straight World Series titles (1972-74). The 1971 Cy Young Award winner and AL MVP; a six-time All-Star.
Joe Kapp, 85
Former Canadian Football League star who also played in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and Boston Patriots.
Denny Crum, 86
Legendary college basketball coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer who had 675 wins, two NCAA championships and six Final Four appearances for the Louisville Cardinals (1970-2001). Also won three NCAA championships as an assistant coach for UCLA’s John Wooden.
John Bland, 77
South African golfer who won 36 PGA Tour titles and 21 on the Senior PGA Tour.
“Superstar” Billy Graham, 79
Professional wrestling pioneer and announcer inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2024.
Jim Brown, 87
NFL legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer who played nine seasons for the Cleveland Browns, leading the NFL in rushing eight times. NFL’s all-time leading rusher and rushing touchdown leader when he retired in 1966.
Roger Craig, 93
Longtime baseball player and coach who played for 12 seasons in the major leagues. Last pitcher to win a game for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the first to win a game for the New York Mets. Spent 10 seasons as an MLB manager, leading the 1989 San Francisco Giants to the World Series.
Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri (aka The Iron Sheik), 81
Pro wrestling legend and former WWE champion who helped raise the popularity of the sport in the 1980s.
Jim Turner, 82
Former NFL and AFL kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets. Two-time Pro Bowler helped the Jets win Super Bowl III.
Clark Haggans, 46
Played for 13 seasons in the NFL with Arizona, San Francisco and Pittsburgh; helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL.
Vince Tobin, 79
Former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator. Led the Arizona Cardinals to its first playoff appearance in 1998 as head coach.
Fred Willis, 75
Played six seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Oilers. Played football and hockey at Boston College.
Johnie Cooks, 64
Played 10 years in the NFL with Baltimore Colts, New York Giants and Cleveland Browns. College football All-American at Mississippi State.
Nikki McCray-Penson, 51
Two-time Olympic gold medalist and college basketball star for Pat Summitt’s Tennessee Volunteers. Played for 15 years in the WNBA before becoming a college coach. Won the 2017 national championship as an assistant coach for Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks.
Rocky Wirtz, 70
NHL team owner who won three Stanley Cup championships (2010, 2013, 2015) with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Alex Cole, 58
Former MLB outfielder for the Indians, Pirates, Twins and Red Sox.
Terry Funk, 79
Professional wrestling legend and Hall of Famer who wrestled for more than 50 years, beginning in the 1960s. Also appeared in multiple Hollywood movies, including “Paradise Alley” with Sylvester Stallone and “Road House” with Patrick Swayze.
Windham Rotunda (Bray Wyatt), 36
Five-time WWE champion and son of Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda. A fan favorite known for his athletic in-ring performance and creative, colorful persona.
Gil Brandt, 91
Pro Football Hall of Famer and pioneer of the Dallas Cowboys; vice president for player of personnel for 28 years. Helped lead Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories.
Brooks Robinson, 86
Baseball Hall of Famer regarded as the best defensive third baseman of all time. An 18-time All-Star who won 16 Gold Gloves and the 1964 AL MVP award. Helped lead the Orioles to the 1966 and 1970 World Series titles.
Tim Wakefield, 57
Legendary knuckleballer who pitched for 19 years in the major leagues, winning two World Series (2004, 2007) with the Boston Red Sox. Had a career record of 200-192 with a 4.41 ERA; spent 29 years with the Red Sox organization as a player and front-office executive.
Dick Butkus, 80
Pro Football Hall of Famer regarded as one of the greatest players in NFL history. A hard-hitting linebacker for the Chicago Bears; an eight-time Pro Bowler, six-time All-NFL selection and two-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Andy Bean, 70
An 11-time winner on the PGA Tour; member of the 1979 and 1987 U.S. Ryder Cup teams. Had two runner-up finishes at the PGA Championship and one at the British Open.
Sir Bobby Charlton, 86
English soccer legend who was on the 1966 World Cup team; helped Manchester United win the European Cup; served as director of the United organization.
Betsy Rawls, 95
World Golf Hall of Famer; won 55 LPGA Tour events and eight major championships.
Adam Johnson, 29
Former NHL and AHL player tragically killed in a skating accident during an Elite Ice Hockey League game in the UK on Oct. 28. Minnesota native played 13 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2018-19.
Frank Howard, 87
The 6-7, 250-pound slugger hit 382 home runs in 16 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Senators/Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers. A four-time All-Star; 1960 NL Rookie of the Year; won 1963 World Series with the Dodgers; led both the NL and AL in home runs. A coach for several teams, including the Brewers, Yankees and Mets, after his playing career.
Bobby Knight, 83
Legendary college basketball coach who won 902 games with Army, Indiana and Texas Tech. A Basketball Hall of Famer known for his tough disciplined style and emotional outbursts; won three NCAA national championships with the Hoosiers.
Walter Davis, 69
Former North Carolina basketball star spent 15 years in the NBA. Six-time All-Star; 1978 NBA Rookie of the Year; averaged 18.9 points in 11 seasons with the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets.
Willie Hernandez, 69
Left-handed reliever who won the 1984 AL Cy Young Award and AL MVP while leading the Detroit Tigers to the World Series. Also pitched for the Cubs and Phillies.
Frank Wycheck, 52
A three-time NFL Pro Bowl selection and one of the best tight ends of all time, Wycheck spent 11 seasons in the NFL with the Washington Redskins and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans.
George McGinnis, 73
Pro Basketball Hall of Famer who played for 11 seasons in the professional ranks, leading the ABA Indiana Pacers to two league titles (1972, 1973). Three-time NBA All-Star selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1973 NBA Draft. Played with Julius Erving, helping the Sixers to the 1977 NBA Finals.
Eric Montross, 52
Played eight seasons in the NBA with the Celtics, Mavericks, Nets, 76ers and Raptors. The 7-foot center was a college basketball star for North Carolina, leading the Tar Heels to the 1993 NCAA championship.
Ed Budde, 83
NFL offensive lineman who played his entire career with Kansas City, helping lead the Chiefs to two AFL championships and the Super Bowl IV title. Selected to the AFL All-Time Team.
Herb Kohl, 88
Wisconsin state senator who owned the Milwaukee Bucks from 1985-2014.
Cale Yarborough, 84
NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer who won three straight Cup championships in the 1970s. A four-time Daytona 500 winner, Yarborough had 83 career wins, tying him with Jimmie Johnson for sixth all time.
Jeff Owens is the editor of SCD.
