Remembering notable sports stars and hobby legends who passed away in 2024

It is always sad when memorable sports stars we have followed and collected for years pass away.

In 2024, it seems like we mourned the passing of more big names than in most years, especially legendary names that had a huge impact on the hobby and the sports world, as well as their respective games.

We saw the passing of such iconic figures as Willie Mays, Pete Rose, O.J. Simpson, Bill Walton, Jerry West, and Rickey Henderson. In all, 17 Hall of Fame athletes across all sports died in 2024.

Also See: Baseball legend Willie Mays had a powerful impact on the game, hobby 

Big stars across all sports passed, including champions in golf, tennis, hockey, auto racing and wrestling. We also lost such popular and lovable stars as Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, Orlando Cepeda, Roman Gabriel, Bud Harrelson, Whitey Herzog, Dikembe Mutombo, Luis Tiant, and Fernando Venezuela.

Some died way to young, like Johnny “Hockey” Gaudreau, and some earned their just reward after a long, full life, like 97-year-old pitcher Carl Erskine, 99-year-old halfback Dub Jones, and 100-year-old golfer Jack Burke.

The good news is that collectors can continue to memorialize these heroes with special cards and collectibles available throughout the hobby.

Here’s a look at the most notable sports deaths of 2024:

The 11-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer played offensive guard for 14 seasons in the NFL with the Cowboys and 49ers.

The NASCAR Hall of Famer won 85 NASCAR Cup Series races, fourth on the all-time win list. The 1983 Cup champion was famous for being involved in a fight with his brother, Donnie, and Cale Yarborough at the end of the 1979 Daytona 500 that helped but NASCAR on the map nationally.

The professional wrestlers known as the Wild Samoans passed away two months apart. The brothers were three-time WWE Tag Team champions and members of the WWE and Pro Wrestling Halls of Fame. Sika was the father of current WWE star Roman Reigns.

The Hall of Fame coach played 11 seasons in the NBA before becoming a head coach and leading the Warriors to the 1974-75 NBA championship. He compiled a 1,075-557 record in 14 seasons as head coach.

An outfielder, Bean played six major league seasons with the Tigers, Dodgers and Padres. He was MLB’s first openly gay player and the league’s Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The father of NBA legend Kobe Bryant played in the NBA from 1975-83 for three different teams.

A professional golfer who starred in the 1950s, Burke won The Masters and PGA Championship in 1956 and won 16 PGA Tour titles. He is in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The son of former MLB star Jeff Burroughs, Sean starred in the 1992 Little League World Series and played in the major leagues for seven seasons with the Padres and three other teams in the 2000s.

The basketball Hall of Famer won 526 games at St. John’s University, five Big East championships, and reached the Final Four in 1985. The two-time national college Coach of the Year also coached the Nets in the ABA.

One of the first Dominican stars, Carty played in the major leagues for 15 seasons, including eight seasons with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. He won the 1970 NL batting title with a .366 average and batted .299 for his career. He helped the Braves win their first NL West Division title in 1969.

The former NFL tight end spent eight seasons with the Jets, where he had 245 receptions and 36 touchdowns, He made the Pro Bowl three times and won a Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins.

The Hall of Fame first baseman played from 1958-74, mainly with the San Francisco Giants, Cardinals and Braves. A 10-time All-Star and 1967 NL MVP, Cepeda finished his career with a .297 batting average, 379 home runs and 1,365 RBI.

Creek pitched for nine seasons in the major leagues for the Giants, Rays and other teams.

A 12-year NBA veteran, Cureton won two NBA championships with the 76ers and Rockets. He also played for the Bulls and Hornets.

A two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, Davis played 10 seasons for the Dolphins, Colts and Bills before abruptly retiring during the middle of a game in 2018.

DeLeon pitched in the major leagues for 13 seasons with five different teams, mostly the Cardinals and White Sox. He compiled a 86-119 record with a 3.76 ERA.

The legendary college basketball coach was the first to coach more than 100 games with four different NCAA Division 1 teams—Davidson, Maryland, James Madison and George State. When he retired in 2003, he was the fourth-winningest men’s coach in D-1 history with 21 seasons with 20 or more victories and 21 conference and tournament championships.

Also See: Dodger great Carl Erskine remembered as fan favorite, great autograph signer 

Erskine pitched for the Dodgers from 1948-59, posting a 122-78 record and 4.00 ERA. He threw two no-hitters and helped the Brooklyn Dodgers win the 1954 World Series.

A professional wrestler known as Sid Vicious, Sid Justice and Sycho Sid, he had memorable stints in WWE and WCW, winning the heavyweight championship with WWE.

A four-time Pro Bowler, Gabriel played quarterback for 16 seasons in the NFL with the Rams and Eagles. He was first-team All-Pro in 1969 and led the NFL in passing in 1973 with 3,219 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Gardner played second base in the major leagues for 10 seasons with five different teams, including the Orioles and Giants. He later managed the Twins from 1981-87.

Known as “Johnny Hockey,” Gaudreau played 11 seasons in the NHL for the Flames and Blue Jackets. As a rookie, he was selected to play in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game and made the All-Rookie team. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2016-17 as the NHL’s most gentlemanly player. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed in August while cycling.

A two-time All-Star catcher, Grote played in the major leagues for 16 seasons, mostly with the Mets.

Gullett pitched in the major leagues for nine seasons and was part of four World Series-winning teams. He won two World Series with the Reds in 1975 and ’76, and two more with the Yankees in 1977 and ’78. He finished his career with a 109-50 record and 3.11 ERA, winning 14 or more games five times.

The former MLB pitcher played for 10 seasons (1962-71) for the Washington Senators, Tigers and Brewers. Hannan co-founded the MLB Players Alumni Association and served as its first president.

A two-time All-Star, Harrelson played shortstop in the major leagues for 16 seasons, including 13 years with the Mets. He managed the Mets in 1990 and ’91 and was on the coaching staff of the 1986 World Series champions.

Also See: Humble Rickey Henderson reflects on Hall of Fame career 

The “Man of Steal” was baseball's all-time stolen base leader with 1,406 steals, twice as many as second-place Lou Brock. Henderson played for nine teams over 25 seasons and holds the MLB record for stolen bases, runs, unintentional walks, and leadoff home runs. The Hall of Famer holds the single-season record for stolen bases (130 in 1982) and is the only player in AL history with 100 steals in a season (1980, ’82 and ’83). The 1990 AL MVP, Henderson was the leadoff hitter for the 1989 World Series champion Oakland A's and the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays. 

The Hall of Fame manager won the 1982 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. A former MLB player, he had a 1,281-1,125 record with four teams over an 18-year career.

A two-time All-Star, Holtzman pitched in the major leagues for 15 seasons, winning three World Series with the Oakland A’s. He compiled a career record of 174-150 with a 3.40 ERA with the Cubs, A’s, Orioles and Mets.

Johnson played quarterback in the NFL for 15 seasons for three different teams, including the Broncos.

A five-time Pro Bowler and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Johnson played cornerback for the 49ers from 1961-76.

The longtime receiver and kick returner played for nine seasons with the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens. A 2012 Pro Bowler, he had a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLVII.

The American racing legend won races in all forms of motorsports, including Indy cars, sports cars, sprint cars and NASCAR. He won the 1963 Indy 500 as a driver and in 1970 and ’71 as an owner with driver Al Unser. He also won the off-road Baja 1000.

Also See: Top vintage football cards of all time are classic cardboard 

A four-time Pro Bowler, Jones played 10 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Browns. He shares the NFL record for most touchdowns in a game with six and won four NFL championships.

An NFL safety for 12 seasons, he won a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kiffin, the father of Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, was widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL history. He led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense from 1996-2008.

The veteran infielder was part of the Mets’ 1969 World Series team.

Landry played quarterback in the NFL for 15 seasons, including 11 years with Detroit Lions. He had 16,052 passing yards and 98 touchdowns and made the Pro Bowl in 1971.

A three-time NBA All-Star, Love was a fixture for years with the Chicago Bulls, averaging 17.6 points over his 11-year career.

One of baseball’s top executives, Lucchino was best known for winning four World Series as the President and CEO of the Red Sox. He also served as President of the Orioles and Padres and was part of the Super Bowl-winning Redskins.

Also See: Willie Mays’ top cards 

Widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, the Say Hey kid finished his career with 660 home runs, the third-highest total of all time when he retired. He also had 1,909 RBI and 339 stolen bases, while compiling a .301 batting average over a 23-year career. A 24-time All-Star, Mays was the 1951 Rookie of the Year and won two MVPs (1954, 1965), 12 Gold Gloves, and led the league in home runs four times. After beginning his career in the Negro Leagues, Mays led the New York Giants to the 1954 World Series championship. His MVP performance was capped by a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch in center field in Game 1, which is considered one of the greatest plays of all time. Mays became one of the game’s most popular players after the Giants moved to San Francisco. He finished his Hall of Fame career with the New York Mets in 1973.

Also See: Like Super Bowl champ Dolphins, 1973 Topps Football made history 

A three-time Pro Bowler, Morris won two Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins. He rushed for 4,133 yards and 31 touchdowns over eight seasons and led the league in touchdowns with 12 in 1972.

The 7-2 center was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in NBA history. Playing for the Nuggets, Hawks, Rockets and other teams, he was a four-time Defensive Player of the Year while averaging 9.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. An eight-time All-Star, he led the NBA in rebounding twice and blocked shots three times.

A 12-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer, Otto was the center for the Oakland Raiders for 15 seasons (1960-74).

A left winger for the NHL Red Wings from 1947-57, he was the last surviving member of the 1950 Stanley Cup champions.

Plummer was a major league catcher for 10 seasons, mostly with the Reds. He also managed the Seattle Mariners in 1992.

Reid played 13 seasons in the NBA, mostly with the Rockets. He compiled more than 10,000 points, 4,000 rebounds and 2,500 assists.

A wide receiver, Richards played in the NFL for seven seasons, mostly with the Cowboys. He had 122 career receptions for 2,136 yards and 17 touchdowns.

A Hall of Fame golfer, Rodriguez won eight times on the PGA Tour and 22 times on the Champions Tour.

Better known as Ole Anderson, Rogowski was a high-profile professional wrestler, booker and promoter from the 1960s through the 1990s.

Also See: Pete Rose a Hall of Famer among autograph, memorabilia collectors 

Baseball’s all-time hit king, Rose was one of baseball’s most exciting and controversial players. Known as Charlie Hustle, Rose broke Ty Cobb’s record with 4,256 career hits. A 17-time All-Star, Rose led the league in hits seven times and won two Gold Gloves and three World Series titles—two with the Reds and one with the Phillies. The 1963 Rookie of the Year and 1973 NL MVP, Rose finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .303, but his career was tarnished when he was accused of betting on baseball in 1989 while serving as manager of the Reds. Rose was banned from baseball and has yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

A seven-time Pro Bowler, Russell won two Super Bowls as a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s.

A three-time Pro Bowler, Ryan played quarterback for 13 seasons in the NFL (1958-70) for the Rams, Browns and Redskins. He won the 1964 NFL championship with the Browns.

The Hall of Fame linebacker made 10 straight Pro Bowls and won two NFL championships with Detroit before becoming head coach of the Lions.

The Hall of Fame tennis player won Wimbledon in 1953 and the U.S. Open in 1954.

Though he became more well known for his infamous murder trial, Simpson was a Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the greatest running backs in the history of the NFL. A six-time Pro Bowler, he led the NFL in rushing four times and finished his career with 11,236 yards and 61 rushing touchdowns (76 total). He was the 1973 NFL MVP after rushing for 2,003 yards in 14 games.

A four-time Pro Bowler and the No. 2 pick in the 1961 NFL Draft, Snead played quarterback in the NFL for 16 seasons for the Redskins, Eagles, Vikings, Giants and 49ers.

The longtime professional wrestler and booker was best known for his stint in World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

Talbot was an NHL defenseman for 17 seasons and later became head coach of the Blues and Rangers.

A three-time All-Star, Tiant pitched in the major leagues for 19 years, mostly with the Indians and Red Sox. He compiled a career record of 229-172 with a 3.30 ERA and led the American League in ERA in 1968 (1.60) and 1972 (1.91).

A six-time All-Star and the 1981 Cy Young Award winner and NL Rookie of the Year, Valenzuela pitched for 17 seasons for the Dodgers and several other teams. A member of the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame, he won 21 games in 1986 and had a career record of 173-153 with a 3.54 ERA.

The first Dominican to play in the major leagues, Virgil was a two-time All-Star who played for the New York Giants and five other teams. He also coached for 19 seasons with the Giants.

Also See: 1973 Topps Basketball filled with Hall of Famers 

A basketball Hall of Famer, Walker split his 13-year career between the Bulls and 76ers. A seven-time All-Star, he averaged 18.2 points per game and won the 1967 NBA championship with the Sixers.

Also See: Bill Walton really was ‘The Luckiest Guy in the World’

Walton left an indelible mark on both college and professional basketball. A three-time College Player of the Year at UCLA, he was the No. 1 overall in 1974 and led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA championship in 1977-78, when he was league MVP. Walton won another NBA championship with the Boston Celtics at the end of his injury-riddled 10-year career. He was named to the NBA 50^th and 75^th Anniversary teams and became a popular TV analyst after his basketball career.

Weathers played briefly in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders (1970-71) before becoming an actor. He famously played Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies and also appeared in Happy Gilmore.

Also See: Top Jerry West cards for collectors 

West was one of the most recognizable players in pro basketball as his silhouette was used in the official NBA logo. A 14-time All-Star, he averaged 27 points and led the Lakers to the 1972 NBA championship. As a front-office executive, West won eight NBA titles with the Lakers and Warriors and was named NBA Executive of the year twice. The only player and executive inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame three times, he was a member of the 35^th, 50^th and 75^th NBA Anniversary teams.

Williams was a major league manager for 12 seasons with the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Astros, compiling a record of 281-241.

The 1976 NL Rookie of the Year, Zachry pitched for 10 seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the Reds and Mets. He had a 69-67 record and made the 1978 All-Star Game.