Athletes and Sports Stars Who Died in 1984

Jan 1 Ken Sitzberger, American diver & broadcaster (Olympic gold 3m springboard 1964), dies of a brain hemorrhage at 38

Ray Kroc (1902-1984)

Jan 14 American fast food entrepreneur (McDonald's) and owner of baseball's San Diego Padres, dies of heart failure at 81

Jan 19 Max Bentley, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame center (Hart Trophy 1946; Chicago Blackhawks), dies at 63

Johnny Weissmuller (1904-1984)

Jan 20 Romanian-American actor (Tarzan) and swimmer (5 Olympic gold 1924, 28), dies of pulmonary edema at 79

Feb 8 Karel Miljon, Dutch boxer (Olympic bronze 1928), dies at 80
Feb 28 Leslie Walcott, cricketer (Test for WI v England 1930), dies
Mar 6 Ian Cromb, New Zealand cricket all-rounder (5 Tests, 1 x 50, 8 wickets; Canterbury), dies in a car accident at 78
Mar 13 Dick Whitington, journalist/cricketer (South Aust & AIF batsman), dies
Mar 15 Ken Carpenter, American athlete (Olympic gold discus 1936), dies at 70
Mar 18 Charlie Lau, White Sox coach/renowned hitting instructor, dies at 50
Mar 20 Stan Coveleski, American Baseball HOF pitcher (World Series 1920; AL ERA leader 1923, 25; AL strikeout leader 1920; Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators), dies at 94
Apr 4 Johnny Arnold, English cricket batsman (1 Test, HS 34; Hampshire CCC) and soccer winger (1 cap; Oxford City, Southampton, Fulham), dies at 76
Apr 5 Theo Koomen, Dutch sportscaster, dies in auto-accident at 54
Apr 17 Claude Provost, French Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1933)
Apr 28 Piet Kraak, Dutch soccer goalkeeper (33 caps; Stormvogels, Elinkwijk), dies from a stroke at 55
May 1 Jüri Lossmann, Estonian athlete (Olympic silver marathon 1920), dies at 93
May 8 Gino Bianco, Brazilian racing driver (b. 1916)
May 10 Joaquin Agostinho, Portuguese cyclist, dies at 41
May 14 Elmer Riddle, American baseball pitcher (NL wins leader 1943; Cincinnati Reds), dies at 69
May 19 Bill Holland, American auto racer (Indianapolis 500 1949; runner-up 1947, 48, 50), dies at 76
Jun 6 Bill Voce, English cricket fast bowler (27 Tests, 98 wickets, BB 7/70; Nottinghamshire CCC), dies at 74
Jun 16 Lew Andreas, American basketball coach (b. 1895)
Jun 17 Swale, Kentucky Derby winner, collapses & dies

Clarence Campbell (1905-1984)

Jun 24 Canadian ice hockey executive (President NHL 1946-77), dies from respiratory ailments at 78

Jul 7 Carl Boenish, American father of BASE jumping, dies at 43
Jul 13 John Davis, American weightlifter (Olympic gold bantamweight 1948, heavyweight 1952), dies from cancer at 63
Jul 14 Al Schacht [Clown prince of baseball], American baseball player, dies at 91
Jul 25 Bryan Hextall, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame right wing (NY Rangers; 3-time 1st team NHL All Star), dies from a heart attack at 70
Jul 30 Maurice Tremlett, cricketer (England pace bowler 1948-49), dies
Aug 11 Paul Felix Schmidt, Estonian-German chess player, dies at 67
Aug 13 Tigran Petrosian, Soviet Armenian World Chess Champion (1963-69), dies of stomach cancer at 55
Aug 25 Viktor Chukarin, Soviet gymnast (Olympic gold 1952, 56), dies at 62
Aug 25 Waite Hoyt, American MLB baseball HOF pitcher (World Series 1923, 27, 28; AL wins leader 1927; NY Yankees), dies from heart failure at 84
Sep 7 Don Tallon, Australian cricket wicket-keeper (21 Tests, 58 dismissals, 2 x 50s; Queensland CA), dies of heart disease at 68

Joe Cronin (1906-1984)

Sep 7 American Baseball HOF shortstop (7 x MLB All Star), manger (Boston RS, Washington Senators) and executive (AL President 1959-73), dies at 77

Sep 8 Frank Lowson, England cricket batsman (7 Tests, 2 x 50s; Yorkshire CCC), dies at 59
Sep 8 Johnnie Parsons, American auto racer (Indianapolis 500 1950; AAA/USAC Championship 1949), dies at 66
Sep 15 Jack Ikin, English cricketer (England opener 1946-55), dies at 66
Sep 27 John Facenda, American sportscaster (NFL Action), dies at 72
Oct 1 Billy Goodman, American baseball infielder (MLB All-Star 1949, 53; AL batting champion 1950; Boston Red Sox), dies of cancer at 58

Walter Alston (1911-1984)

Oct 1 American Baseball Hall of Fame manager (World Series 1955, 59, 63, 65; Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers), dies from heart attack complications at 72

Oct 11 K. M. Rangnekar, Indian cricketer (33 runs at 5 50 for India), dies at 67
Oct 11 Sid Carroll, Australian cricketer (prolific NSW opener 1945-59 avg 39 59), dies at 61
Oct 13 George 'High Pockets' Kelly, American Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman (World Series 1921, 22; NL HR leader 1921; NY Giants), dies from a stroke at 89
Oct 26 Gus Mancuso, American baseball catcher (World Series 1931, 33; MLB All Star 1935, 37; NY Giants, St. Louis Cardinals) and broadcaster (Cardinals' radio network), dies from emphysema at 78
Oct 28 Knut Nordahl, Swedish soccer midfielder (26 caps; AS Roma; Olympic gold 1948), dies at 64
Nov 28 Ricky Bell, American College Football HOF running back (USC; #1 Overall Selection 1977 NFL Draft TB Buccaneers; San Diego Chargers), dies of heart failure caused by dermatomyositis at 29
Dec 7 Lonnie "LeeRoy" Yarbrough, American race car (Nascar) driver, dies of head injury from a fall at 46
Dec 15 Jan Peerce [Jacob Pincus Perelmuth], American tenor (NBC Symphony, 1938-55; NY Metropolitan Opera, 1941-67; "Bluebird of Happiness"), dies at 80
Dec 16 Debs Garms, American baseball utility (World Series 1944 St. Louis Cardinals; NL batting champion 1940 Pittsburgh Pirates), dies at 77
Dec 26 Tebbs Lloyd Johnson, English race walker (Olympic bronze 50k 1948; oldest Olympic medal-winning athlete; 48 years and 115 days), dies at 84