2014 was as eventful and exciting of a year as any sports fan could have ever dreamed for. While the year had plenty of those exciting and joyous moments, there was some sad we had to take in along with the happy. With the year coming to a close, it’s time to remember 50 sports figures we lost in 2014.
50. Rob Bironas
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50. Rob Bironas
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The fourth-most accurate kicker in league history died late on Sept. 20 as a result of a one-car crash. His passing came only three months after his wedding to the daughter of Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Bironas was 36.
49. Oscar Taveras
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49. Oscar Taveras
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The St. Louis Cardinals' outfielder was one of the top prospects in all of baseball when he died at the age of 22 on Oct. 26. Tavares, with his 18-year-old girlfriend in the passenger seat, drove his car off the road and into a tree in the Dominican Republic. His blood alcohol level was five times the legal limit.
48. Chuck Noll
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48. Chuck Noll
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The Hall of Fame coach is the only man to ever coach four Super Bowl championship teams. Noll’s entire 23-year head coaching career was spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who prior to his arrival, had played in only one postseason game in their previous 36 seasons. He died of natural causes at the age of 82.
47. Don Zimmer
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47. Don Zimmer
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One of the most popular men in recent baseball history, Zimmer played on the first Mets team in 1962 and coached for nine teams, including 13 years as a manager for four different clubs. His most iconic role was as the bench coach for Joe Torre's late 90s Yankees. Pedro Martinez once threw Zimmer to the ground during a brawl with the Red Sox. In total, Zimmer spent 66 years in baseball and passed away on June 4, at the age of 83.
46. Ralph Wilson
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46. Ralph Wilson
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The Buffalo Bills' owner founded the American Football League in 1960 and was a huge reason for the league’s merger with the NFL. Wilson was a 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and one of the big reasons why football is so popular today. Ralph Wilson was 95 years old at the time of his death.
45. Jean Beliveau
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45. Jean Beliveau
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The hockey legend won an incredible 17 Stanley Cups in total – 10 as a player and seven more working in the front office. Beliveau scored 507 goals in his career and sadly passed away on Dec. 2 at the age of 83.
44. Alvin Dark
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44. Alvin Dark
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Dark was a star college football player, two-time World Series champion and a marine during World War II. The three-time All-Star shortstop won titles as a player with the Giants in 1954 and as the manager of the 1974 Oakland Athletics. He passed away Nov. 13 at the age of 92.
43. Brad Halsey
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43. Brad Halsey
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Tragically, the former major-league pitcher died in a recreational climbing accident at the age of just 23. Halsey had pitched as recently as 2011 in the Yankees' minor-league system. The left-hander pitched in 88 games for Oakland, Arizona and New York.
42. The Ultimate Warrior
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42. The Ultimate Warrior
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Just three days after his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, The Ultimate Warrior died suddenly at the age of 54. The wrestling icon, born James Hellwig, legally changed his name to The Ultimate Warrior and was best known for his motivational messages during interviews.
41. Orlando Thomas
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41. Orlando Thomas
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The former Vikings' safety passed away from ALS at the age of 42. Thomas played seven seasons in the NFL, all with the Vikings, and was an All-Pro selection in his rookie reason of 1995.
40. Lou Hudson
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40. Lou Hudson
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A six-time All-Star with the Atlanta Hawks, “Sweet Lou” Hudson earned his nickname for his smooth and highly-effective jump shot. Hudson averaged at least 24 points per game for five-consecutive seasons and averaged 20.2 per game during his 13-year career. He passed away at the age of 69 following complications from a stroke.
39. Kosta Karageorge
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39. Kosta Karageorge
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The Ohio State defensive lineman went missing before being found dead in a dumpster of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Karageorge suffered several concussions and reportedly had spells of confusion. He was 22 years old at the time of his tragic death.
38. Kevin Ward Jr.
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38. Kevin Ward Jr.
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The most “controversial” death of 2014, the 20-year-old NASCAR driver was killed after being struck by Tony Stewart’s car on Aug. 9. Ward got out of his car following a crash, walked onto the track and started screaming at Stewart. Ward was clipped by Stewart’s tire and later passed away. A criminal investigation into the matter is ongoing.
37. Tony Gwynn
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37. Tony Gwynn
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Perhaps the most beloved player in baseball history, Tony Gwynn’s death on June 16 shocked and saddened the sports world. “Mr. Padre” spent his entire 20-year career in San Diego and has the 19th-most hits in baseball history. The 15-time All-Star died of oral cancer at the age of 54.
36. Malcolm Glazer
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36. Malcolm Glazer
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Malcolm Glazer, a self-made billionaire, first made his fortune in real estate as the president of CEO of First Allied. He owned both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United, and was worth a reported $ 4.2 billion at the time of his passing. Glazer was 85 years old.
35. Don Meyer
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35. Don Meyer
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Meyer had the most wins ever by a men’s basketball coach until Mike Krzyewski passed his mark of 923 wins in 2011. He spent most of his seasons racking up victories coaching at Lipscomb and then Northern State. Meyer died May 18, at the age of 69.
34. Dr. Jack Ramsay
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34. Dr. Jack Ramsay
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Ramsay had two highly successful careers before his passing earlier this year. First as a coach, the Hall of Famer led the Blazers to their only championship in 1977. Ramsay later became a hugely popular broadcaster, mostly with ESPN. He passed away at the age of 89 from cancer.
33. William Clay Ford
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33. William Clay Ford
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The grandson of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford, William Clay Ford Sr. was the Detroit Lions' owner. Ford passed away March 9 of pneumonia at the age of 88.
32. Pat Quinn
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32. Pat Quinn
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Quinn played nine years in the NHL as a defenseman, but enjoyed far more success behind the bench than he did on the ice. The Canadian icon coached five different teams and led Canada to the gold medal at the 2002 Olympics. Sadly, Quinn passed away on Nov. 23 after a long battle with an undisclosed illness.
31. Ralph Kiner
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31. Ralph Kiner
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Injuries forced Kiner to retire after 10 seasons as an outfielder, when his real impact on the sport was just getting started. Kiner began broadcasting for the New York Mets upon their inception in 1961 all the way until 2013 at the age of 90. The Hall of Famer passed away on Feb. 6 from natural causes.
30. Bob Welch
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30. Bob Welch
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The former pitcher had a masterful 17-year career with the Dodgers and then the Oakland A’s. Welch’s 1990 American League Cy Young award-winning season was the last in which a pitcher won at least 25 games in a single season. The three-time World Series champion died on June 9, at the age of 57.
29. Elena Baltacha
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29. Elena Baltacha
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A former top-50 professional and Britain’s No. 1 tennis player, Elena Baltacha passed away on May 4 from liver cancer. She represented Britain in the 2012 Olympics and passed away just four months after his diagnosis. Baltacha was 30.
28. Phillip Hughes
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28. Phillip Hughes
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On Nov. 27, two days after being struck on the neck by a cricket ball during a match, Australian Phillip Hughes died from a cerebral hemorrhage. Hughes was only 25 years old at the time of his passing.
27. Alice Coachman
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27. Alice Coachman
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A 2004 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame inductee, Davis was the first black woman to ever win an Olympic gold medal. The high-jump star won gold in the event in 1948 and passed away at the age of 90.
26. Frank Cashen
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26. Frank Cashen
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Cashen won two World Series as the Baltimore Orioles' general manager, but is best known for turning around the Mets' franchise. He built the 1986 New York Mets World Series championship team and sadly passed away on June 30 at the age of 88.
25. Shawn Afryl
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25. Shawn Afryl
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Afryl collapsed and later died from cardiac arrest during a workout with some of his Winona State teammates on July 22. He had previously played for the University of Illinois prior to transferring. Afryl was only 22 years old.
24. Mbulaeni Mulaudzi
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24. Mbulaeni Mulaudzi
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On Oct. 24, Mulaudzi, a South African runner, was killed in a car crash on his way to a track meet in Johannesburg. The sprinting star was a former 800-meter world champion and was only 34 years old at the time of his death.
23. John Bramlett
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23. John Bramlett
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“The Meanest Man in Football” was both a baseball and football star before ultimately choosing pro football for a career. A two-time All-Pro linebacker, Bramett earned his nickname for his intense passion on the field. He passed away at the age 73 on Oct. 23.
22. Juan Saez
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22. Juan Saez
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Far too young to be lost, Saez was only 17 years old at the time of his passing. On Oct. 14, the young jockey was thrown off his horse and sustained head injuries after his horse was involved in a collision. Saez had 21 wins and over $ 2 million in winnings in his too-short career.
21. Jim Fregosi
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21. Jim Fregosi
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In addition to his successful 18-year career with six All-Star appearances and a Gold Glove, Fregosi excelled as a manager and in the front office. He won 1,028 games in his managerial career and spent the last 13 seasons as the Braves’ Assistant to the GM. He passed away from a stroke at the age of 71.
20. Alfredo Di Stefano
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20. Alfredo Di Stefano
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Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Di Stefano was a main piece of Spanish soccer club Real Madrid’s dominant teams of the 1950s. He was one of only three players to be a part of all of the team’s five-consecutive championship seasons. Di Stefano died of a heart attack on July 7 at the age of 88.
19. Bob Suter
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19. Bob Suter
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Suter was a key piece of the 1980 United States “Miracle on Ice” Olympic hockey team. The former University of Wisconsin star passed away on Sept. 9, at the age of 57. Suter’s son, Ryan, is one of the best defenseman in the NHL.
18. Ed Sprinkle
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18. Ed Sprinkle
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Along with John Bramlett, Ed Sprinkle was dubbed “The Meanest Man in Football” for his tenacious play on the field and reputation as a “dirty” player. Bears coach George Halas once referred to Sprinkle as the “greatest pass-rusher I’ve ever seen.” George Sprinkle was 90 years old at the time of his death.
17. Louis "Red" Klotz
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17. Louis "Red" Klotz
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Klotz was a former NBA point guard with the original Baltimore Bullets, but is much better known as the creator of the Harlem Globetrotter’s traditional opponent, the Washington Generals. He was the oldest living NBA champion prior to his death on July 12 at the age of 93.
16. Fred Thurston
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16. Fred Thurston
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A run-blocking leader of Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers power sweep rushing attack, Fred Thurston won six NFL championships before retiring in 1967. Thurston was a two-time All-Pro and was quoted saying he drank “about 10 vodkas” to stay warm before the famous Ice Bowl game. Suffering from Alzheimer’s and cancer, Thurston passed away on Dec. 14 at the age of 80.
15. Nick Nicolaou
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15. Nick Nicolaou
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A longtime assistant coach at both the college and pro level, Nicolau’s first big gig was as the Indianapolis Colts' offensive coordinator from 1992-1994. Nicolau began his coaching career as an assistant with Southern Connecticut in 1960 and retired following the 1998 season as an assistant head coach with the Chargers. Nicolau was 81 years old.
14. Jim Swink
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14. Jim Swink
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The college football Hall of Famer passed away Dec. 3 at the age of 78 from complications of lymphoma. Swink starred as a running back at TCU and was the Heisman runner-up in 1955.
13. Caldwell Jones
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13. Caldwell Jones
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While on the golf course on Sept. 21, Jones suffered a massive heart attack and passed away at the age of 64. The former NBA and ABA journeyman played for eight teams during his 17-year career and was a two-time First-Team All-Defensive team selection.
12. Andriy Gusin
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12. Andriy Gusin
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Gusin was a professional Ukrainian football player and coach, best known for his play during the 2006 World Cup. He retired shortly following the World Cup, after a very successful 13-year career. Gusin, at the age of 41, was killed in a motorcycle crash on Sept. 17. He is survived by his wife and three children.
11. Jack Kraft
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11. Jack Kraft
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Kraft guided the Villanova University Wildcats to national prominence beginning in 1961. By the time he left the school in 1973, Kraft had compiled a 238-95 record, including a trip to the 1971 national championship game. Kraft passed away on Aug. 28 at the age of 93.
10. Robert Newhouse
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10. Robert Newhouse
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The former Cowboys running back is perhaps best known for the touchdown pass he threw in Super Bowl XII. Suffering from heart disease, Newhouse died on July 22 at the age of 64.
9. Bobby Castillo
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9. Bobby Castillo
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Castillo had a fairly successful nine-year career for the Dodgers and Twins. A member of the 1981 Dodgers World Series-winning team, the pitcher is best known for teaching pitching great Fernando Valenzuela his screwball. Castillo was 59.
8. Jimmy Ellis
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8. Jimmy Ellis
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Ellis won the WBA world heavyweight title in 1968 with his victory over Jerry Quarry. The boxer successfully defended his title the following year before being defeated by Joe Frazier in 1970. Ellis had a 12-round brawl with Muhammad Ali and retired from boxing with a career record of 40-12-1. He passed away from dementia complications on May 6, at the age of 74.
7. Frank Budd
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7. Frank Budd
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Budd was the world’s fastest human ever after setting the world record in the 100-yard dash in 1961. He participated in the 1960 Olympic games, running for the U.S. in the 100-meter dash and on the 100-meter relay team. Budd was 74.
6. Carol Vadnais
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6. Carol Vadnais
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Vadnais played 17 seasons in the NHL from 1966 to 1983. He was a defenseman for two Stanley Cup-winning teams, the 1968 Montreal Canadiens and the 1972 Boston Bruins. On Aug. 31, Vadnais died of cancer at the age of 68.
5. Tom Veryzer
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5. Tom Veryzer
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Veryzer played 996 games during 12 major-league seasons for the Tigers, Mets, Indians, and Cubs. The former shortstop died in July at the age of 61.
4. Dr. Frank Jobe
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4. Dr. Frank Jobe
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Perhaps no man deserves as much credit for resurrecting and keeping baseball careers going than Jobe. The surgeon changed sports medicine forever when he successfully performed the first Tommy John surgery in 1974, meaning the injury no longer was a career-ender. Jobe was 88.
3. Jerry Coleman
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3. Jerry Coleman
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Coleman did it all during his glorious 89 years of life. He won four World Series with the Yankees, including being named the MVP of the 1950 Fall Classic. After retiring, Coleman spent over 40 years as a broadcaster for the Padres. Coleman would leave baseball during his career to fight in World War II and the Korean War and is the only major leaguer to ever see combat in two wars.
2. Ernie Terrell
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2. Ernie Terrell
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Terrell’s short-lived reign as heavyweight champion came to an end in 1967 with a brutal 15-round loss to Muhammad Ali. At 6-foot-6, Terrell was a giant of his time and punished opponents with his 82-inch reach. Suffering from dementia, Terrell passed away on Dec. 16 at the age of 75.
1. Viktor Tikhonov
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1. Viktor Tikhonov
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Tikhonov is best known as the head coach of the dominant Soviet national hockey team of the 1970s and 80s, including the “Miracle On Ice” game against the United States. The coach passed away on Nov. 24 after a long battle with an undisclosed illness.
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