Glenn Beckert's baseball exploits can be overshadowed by his four Hall of Fame teammates, but his contributions were vital to the success of the Chicago Cubs during the late 1960s and early 70s.
The four-time All-Star second baseman has died of natural causes at age 79, according to his family.
Beckert won a Gold Glove in 1968 before earning All-Star berths over the next four seasons. He had the best strikeout-to-at-bat ratio in the National League five times and finished third in average when he hit a career-high .342 in 1971. Beckert teamed with shortstop Don Kessinger for his entire nine-year Cubs career to form one of the best double-play combinations in baseball. Beckert compiled a .283 average in an 11-year career that began with the 1965 Cubs and ended with the 1975 Padres.
NHL
Oilers forward Colby Cave died Saturday at age 25 after suffering a brain bleed earlier in the week. Cave was placed in a medically induced coma Tuesday in Toronto. He underwent emergency surgery to remove a cyst causing pressure on the brain. The team has not said what caused the brain bleed. His agent says it does not appear linked to COVID-19. Cave, who previously played with the Bruins, scored once in 11 appearances with Edmonton this season. The team called him a "terrific teammate with great character."
GOLF
Doug Sanders brought a flamboyance to golf fashion ahead of his time, a colorful character known as much for the 20 times he won on the PGA Tour as the majors that got away. Sanders died Sunday morning in Houston, the PGA Tour confirmed through a text from Sanders' ex-wife, Scotty. He was 86. Sanders was still an amateur when he won his first PGA Tour event in 1956 at the Canadian Open in a playoff. His best year was in 1961 when he won five times and finished third on the PGA Tour money list. But he is best known for four runner-up finishes in the majors, the most memorable at St. Andrews in the 1970 British Open. Needing to sink a 3-foot par putt on the final hole to beat Jack Nicklaus, Sanders muffed it before losing to Nicklaus in a playoff the following day.
FORMULA ONE
Motor racing great Stirling Moss has died at the age of 90. The daring and speed-loving Englishman was widely regarded as the greatest Formula One driver never to win the world championship. Moss' wife says he died peacefully at his London home following a long illness. Susan Moss says "it was one lap too many. He just closed his eyes." Moss was affectionately known as "Mr. Motor Racing" and had a fearless and often reckless attitude. That took a toll on his slight body and his career ended at age 31 after a horrific crash. Moss won 16 of the 66 F1 races he entered. He said, "If you're not trying to win at all costs, what on earth are you doing there?" Moss was hospitalized with a chest infection in 2016 that led to him retiring from public life in 2018.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Sports leagues and broadcasters are being forced to get creative amid the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Devin Booker won the NBA 2K20 Players Tournament on Saturday night, sweeping Suns teammate Deandre Ayton in the best-of-three final. ESPN broadcast the three-day, 16-player Xbox One competition. Booker earned a $100,000 donation to a coronavirus-related relief effort of his choice.
The 43rd edition of the Boilermaker is being postponed. This year’s 15k race is expected to be pushed to Sept. 13 from its usual summer date in July. A Facebook post Saturday includes an email letter to Boilermaker volunteers saying race directors have decided on the new date. An official announcement is expected Tuesday. The race regularly draws close to 15,000 participants and tens of thousands of spectators to the Mohawk Valley. It has never been postponed or rescheduled.
A Spanish soccer team plans to have its players resume training individually this week. Real Sociedad would become the first Spanish soccer club to resume activities during the coronavirus pandemic. The club says players will have the option to start practicing at the team's training center after the Spanish government decided to ease some of its lockdown measures. Non-essential workers will be allowed to return to their positions this week while observing social-distancing guidelines and other restrictions.
Former British soccer star Kenny Dalglish has expressed "immense gratitude" to National Health Service staff after returning home from the hospital following his coronavirus diagnosis. The 69-year-old former Celtic, Scotland and Liverpool forward was hospitalized Wednesday for treatment on gallstones and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 despite not showing symptoms.
Smaller cities and communities are dealing with the cancellation of showcase sporting events. For Oklahoma City, that means losing the Women's College World Series. The annual event determines the NCAA softball championship. It has been hosted by Oklahoma City every year but one since 1990. Last year, it brought in an estimated $14 million to the city and its businesses. Even more was expected this year because of a stadium seating expansion.
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