Athletes and Sports Stars Who Died in 2017

Mike Ilitch (1929-2017)

Feb 10 American businessman (founded Little Caesars Pizza, owner Detroit Red Wings, Tigers), dies at 87

Feb 17 Peter Richardson, British cricket batsman (34 Tests, 5 x 100, 9 x 50, HS 126; Worcestershire CCC, Kent CCC), dies at 85
Feb 22 Ed Garvey, American labor leader (NFL Players Association), dies at 76
Feb 22 John McCormack, Canadian ice hockey player, dies at 91
Feb 23 Derek Ibbotson, English 5K runner (Olympic bronze 1956), dies at 84
Mar 2 Simon Hobday, South African golfer (US Senior Open 1994), dies of cancer at 76

Raymond Kopa (1931-2017)

Mar 3 French soccer attacking midfielder (45 caps; Angers, Reims, Real Madrid; Ballon d'Or 1958; 'the Napoleon of football'), dies at 85

Mar 10 John Surtees, British auto racer (World F1 C'ship 1964) and motorcycle racer (World C'ships: 350 cc – 1958, 59, 60; 500 cc – 1956, 58, 59, 60), dies of respiratory failure at 83
Mar 13 Ed Whitlock, British-Canadian runner, oldest person to run marathon under 4 hrs (at 85), dies at 86
Mar 15 Jackie Pung, American golfer (5 LPGA titles), dies at 95
Mar 19 Ken Still, American golfer (3 PGA Tour titles), dies of kidney failure at 82
Mar 19 Roger Pingeon, French cylist (Tour de France 1967 champion), dies at 76
Mar 22 Dallas Green, American baseball manager and pitcher (Phillies, Yankees), dies at 82
Mar 26 Brian Oldfield, American shot-putter (credited with making rotational technique popular), dies at 71
Mar 31 Rubén Amaro, Sr., Mexican baseball player (Philadelphia Phillies), dies at 81
Apr 3 Sydney Burke, South African cricket fast bowler (2 Tests; 11-196 on Test debut v NZ 1961), dies at 83
Apr 6 Bob Cerv, American baseball player (Yankees), dies at 91
Apr 21 Ugo Ehiogu, English soccer defender (4 caps; Aston Villa, Middlesborough), dies from cardiac arrest at 44
Apr 23 Johnny Roe, Irish jockey (9 x Irish flat racing Champion Jockey; National Stakes 1971; 1000 Guineas Stakes 1975), dies at 79
Apr 23 Kenny Sears, American NBA player (NY Knicks), dies at 83
Apr 28 Luis Olmo, Puerto Rican NBA player (Brooklyn Dodgers), dies at 97
May 1 Sam Mele, American MLB outfielder/manager (Minnesota Twins record 102 wins 1965), dies at 95
May 5 Adolph Kiefer, American swimmer (Olympic gold 100m backstroke 1936), dies at 98
May 6 Steven Holcomb, American Bobsledder (Olympic gold, 2010), dies in his sleep, with mix of alcohol and prescription medication found in his blood, at 37
May 11 Yale Lary, American NFL safety Hall of Famer (Detroit Lions), dies at 86
May 12 Michael Jackson, American NFL wide receiver (NFL receiving TD leader 1996; Baltimore Ravens), dies in a motorcycle accident at 48
May 14 Frank Brian, American basketball guard (NBA All-Star 1951, 52; Fort Wayne Pistons), dies at 94
May 18 Jim McElreath, American auto racer (California 500, 1970), dies at 89
May 22 Nicky Hayden, American motorcycle racer (MotoGP Champion 2006), dies after being hit by a car at 35
May 23 Cortez Kennedy, American NFL defensive tackle (Seattle Seahawks)dies at 48

May 26 American Baseball HOF pitcher (9 x MLB All-Star; perfect game 1964; no-hitter 1958; Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies) and politician (US Senator Kentucky 1999-2011; US Representative 1987-99), dies of a stroke at 85

May 26 John Severson, founder of 'Surfer' magazine and artist (known for his depictions of surf culture), dies of cancer at 83
Jun 1 Jack McCloskey, American basketball coach (Portland Trail Blazers 1972-74) and executive (GM Detroit Pistons NBA C'ship 1989, 90), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 91
Jun 1 Roberto De Vicenzo, Argentine golfer (British Open 1967; US Masters 1968 runner-up), dies at 94
Jun 3 Jimmy Piersall, American baseball outfielder (MLB All Star 1954, 56; his bipolar disorder subject book & film, "Fear Strikes Out"), dies at 87
Jun 19 Tony DiCicco, American soccer coach (US women 1994-99; FIFA Women's World Cup gold 1999; FIFA Women's U-20 World Cup gold 2008), dies from cancer at 68
Jun 22 Hervé Filion, Canadian harness racing driver (World Driving C'ship 1970; Harness Tracks of America Driver of the Year 1969-74, 76, 78, 81, 89), dies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 77
Jul 2 Tatiana Zatulovskaya, Israeli chess player (Women's Soviet Chess Championship 1960, 62, 63), dies at 81
Jul 2 Vladislav Rastorotsky, Soviet gymnastics coach, dies at 84
Jul 4 Gene Conley, American baseball pitcher (4 x MLB All Star; Boston/Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies) and basketball forward (NBA C'ship 1959–1961; Boston Celtics), dies at 86
Jul 6 Heinz Schneiter, Swiss soccer defender (44 caps; BSC Young Boys) and manager (FC Thun, BSC Young Boys), dies at 82
Jul 12 (Charles) "Chuck" Blazer, American soccer administrator, dies from colorectal cancer at 72
Jul 12 Tommy Carberry, Irish jockey (Grand National 1975, Cheltenham Gold Cup 1970, 71 [L'Escargot]) and trainer (Grand National 1999 [Bobbyjo]), dies from a stroke at 75
Jul 15 Babe Parilli, American football player, dies at 87
Jul 21 Peter Doohan, Australian professional tennis player, dies from motor neurone disease at 56
Jul 23 Mervyn Rose, Australian tennis player (Australian C'ships 1954, French C'ships 1958), dies at 87
Jul 29 Lee May "The Big Bopper", American Major League Baseball 1st baseman, dies from pneumonia at 74
Aug 2 Ara Parseghian, American College Football HOF coach (Northwestern; NCAA C'ship 1966, 73 Notre Dame), dies at 94
Aug 3 Ángel Nieto, Spanish motorcycle racer (World C'ships: 50cc 1969, 70, 72, 75, 76, 77; 125cc 1971, 72, 79, 81, 82, 83, 84; 90 Grand Prix victories), dies in a road accident at 70
Aug 5 Doug Insole, English cricketer (England batsman of the 50's, nine Tests), dies at 91

Betty Cuthbert (1938-2017)

Aug 6 Australian athlete (Olympic gold 100m, 200m, 4x100m 1956; 400m 1964), dies from dementia at 79

Aug 6 Darren Daulton, American baseball catcher (MLB All-Star 1992, 93, 95; World Series 1997; Silver Slugger Award 1992; Philadelphia Phillies), dies of brain cancer at 55
Aug 14 Frank Broyles, American collegiate athlete, and administrator (University of Arkansas Athletic Director, 1974-2007), dies at 92

Colin Meads (1936-2017)

Aug 20 New Zealand rugby union player and All Black great known as "Pinetree", dies of pancreatic cancer at 81

Aug 22 Rafael "Felo" Ramírez, Cuban-American Spanish language sports announcer (Miami Marlins), dies at 94
Aug 28 Bobby Boyd, American NFL cornerback (5 × All-Pro 1964–1968; NFL interceptions leader 1965; Baltimore Colts), dies of bladder cancer at 79
Aug 28 Willie Duggan, Irish rugby union no. 8 (41 Tests Ireland, 4 British & Irish Lions; Blackrock College RFC, Sunday's Well RFC), dies from an aneurysm at 67
Sep 3 Sugar Ramos [Ultiminio Ramos], Cuban-Mexican boxer (World Featherweight champion 1963-64), dies at 75
Sep 6 Jim McDaniels, American basketball forward (All American 1971; Western Kentucky Uni; No. 1 overall pick ABA Draft 1971; ABA All-Star 1972; Carolina Cougars), dies from diabetes complications at 69
Sep 7 Gene Michael, American baseball shortstop, and general manger (NY Yankees), dies of a heart attack at 79
Sep 8 Catherine Hardy Lavender, American 4x100m runner (Olympic gold 1952), dies at 87
Sep 8 Isabelle Daniels, American sprinter (Olympic bronze 56), dies at 80

Jake LaMotta (1922-2017)

Sep 19 American boxer (world middleweight champion 1949-51, immortalised in 'Raging Bull'), dies at 95

Sep 29 Ludmila Belousova, Russian figure skater (Olympic gold USSR pairs 1964, 68; World C'ship gold pairs 1965, 66, 67, 68 [Oleg Protopopov]), dies at 81
Oct 2 Robert Yates, American auto racing team owner and engine builder (Yates Racing, NASCAR), dies from cancer at 74
Oct 3 Solly Hemus, American baseball infielder (St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies) and manager (St. Louis Cardinals 1959–61), dies at 94
Oct 6 Connie Hawkins, American professional basketball player, 1961-76 ABA MVP-1968 (Harlem Globetrotters, 1963-66; Phoenix Suns, L.A. Lakers), dies of cancer at 75
Oct 6 Terry Downes, British middleweight boxing champion (1961-62), dies at 81
Oct 7 Jim Landis, American MLB outfielder, 1957-67, 5X Gold Glove, 2X All-Star(Chicago White Sox, and 5 other teams), dies of lung cancer at 83
Oct 8 Y. A. Tittle, American NFL quarterback (Baltimore, San Francisco, NY Giants, MVP 1963), dies at 90
Oct 30 M V Sridhar, Indian cricketer (scored 366 for Hyderabad v Andhra Pradesh 1994), dies of a heart attack at 51
Nov 4 Gilbert Rogin, American journalist and author (The New Yorker, Sports Illustrated), dies at 87
Nov 7 Roy Halladay, American Baseball HOF pitcher (8 x MLB All-Star, Cy Young Award 2003, 10; perfect game 2010; postseason no-hitter 2010; Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies), died when piloting a plane under influence of painkillers, sleeping pills at 40
Nov 10 A. G. Milkha Singh, Indian cricket batsman (4 Tests, HS 35; Madras), dies at 75

Bobby Doerr (1918-2017)

Nov 13 American Baseball Hall of Fame second baseman (9 x MLB All Star; Boston Red Sox), dies at 99

Nov 16 Ferdie Pacheco, American physician (cornerman for Mohammad Ali) and boxing analyst (NBC, Showtime), dies at 89
Nov 18 Gillian Rolton, Australian equestrian (Summer Olympics 1992, 1996- gold), dies from endometrial cancer at 61

Jana Novotna (1968-2017)

Nov 19 Czech tennis player (Wimbledon 1998; WTA Tour C'ship 1997), dies of cancer at 49

Nov 29 William Steinkraus, American equestrian (Olympic gold 1968, 2 silver 1960, 70, bronze 1952), dies at 92
Dec 6 Cy Young, American athlete and only US male to win gold in javelin throwing (1952 Olympics), dies of complications from dementia at 89
Dec 7 Peter Walwyn, British thoroughbred trainer (champion trainer 1974-75), dies at 84
Dec 10 Zarley Zalapski, Canadian NHL defenseman, 1987-2000 (Pittsburgh Penguins; Calgary Flames, and 3 other teams), dies of a viral infection at 49
Dec 13 Tommy Nobis, American College Football HOF linebacker (Uni of Texas; #1 pick NFL Draft 1966 Atlanta Falcons; NFL Rookie of the Year 1966; First-team All-Pro 1967; 5× Pro Bowl), dies at 74
Dec 14 Lones Wigger, American competitive rifle shooter (Olympic gold/silver-1964, 72), dies at 80
Dec 19 Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, American baseball pitcher (1st female pitcher to play in the Negro Leagues), dies from heart complications at 82
Dec 21 Richard "Dick" Enberg, American sportscaster (NBC, CBS, ESPN), dies of a heart attack at 82
Dec 29 Alfred Binns, West Indian cricket wicket-keeper (5 Tests, 17 dismissals; Jamaica), dies at 88