In this post, I\u2019ll quickly run through the Yankees<\/a> we lost this year with at least some form of extended reading if you have any interest (the work of Sam Gazdziak<\/a> at RIP Baseball<\/a> is much appreciated here). Are some of these players mostly anonymous? Of course. But they were still someone\u2019s brother, father, uncle, grandfather \u2014 you name it. If by some off-chance those relatives or friends stumble upon this corner of the internet, know that they are appreciated and remembered.<\/p>\n As I also wrote back then, most of these men wore Yankees pinstripes, just like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Thurman Munson, and all the other legends who are no longer with us. Even if it was just for a day, imagine how amazing a feeling that must have been.<\/p>\n Sandy Alomar Sr.<\/a> (2B) Josh covered the Alomar patriarch\u2019s passing during the October 14th news roundup:<\/p>\n We close with the loss of a man who could have an argument for being Mr. Baseball. Sandy Alomar Sr. passed away over the weekend at the age of 81. Sandy saw two children make the majors, after his own 15 seasons in the bigs, with parts of three coming with the Yankees (1974-76, the last of which saw the Yankees win their first pennant in 12 years). He then spent another 16 years as a coach across a trio of MLB clubs, and continued to be a titan in Latin baseball development. Rest in peace, Sandy.<\/p>\n Brian Dayett<\/a> (IF) Josh covered the Alomar patriarch\u2019s passing during the September 9th news roundup:<\/p>\n A melancholy happy trails to former Cubs and Yankees outfielder Brian Dayett, who passed away Sunday at the age of 68 due to Parkinson\u2019s disease complications. Dayett was drafted by the Yankees in the 16th round back in 1978, eventually spending two seasons with the club from 1983-84 (75 games in total) before being dealt to Chicago, where he spent the rest of his five-year career before playing in Japan and going into coaching. Our best wishes go to his family and friends.<\/p>\n Octavio Dotel<\/a> (RHP) Kevin memorialized Dotel<\/a> with a full writeup on April 8th, and Kunj had an excerpt in the following morning\u2019s news:<\/p>\n In case you missed the news yesterday, former MLB and Yankees pitcher Octavio Dotel passed away tragically yesterday. Dotel was one of many victims after a club collapsed in the Dominican Republic, though he was initially rescued alive, it seems he passed while being transferred to the hospital. Kevin has a longer, detailed write up on Dotel\u2019s life here, please do give it a read.<\/p>\n Lee Elia<\/a> (IF, minors) We did not have any coverage of Elia\u2019s passing at Pinstripe Alley in the moment, which is probably not too surprising since he was far more well known for his connections to other teams \u2014 especially the Cubs and Phillies, who he managed in the 1980s. But Elia did play for the Yankees\u2019 Triple-A team in Syracuse in \u201869 toward the end of his on-field career, and later returned to the organization on manager Dallas Green\u2019s coaching staff in \u201889.<\/p>\n Rich Hinton<\/a> (LHP) Matt covered Hinton\u2019s passing during the September 2nd news roundup:<\/p>\n Former Yankee pitcher Rich Hinton passed away back in August at the age of 78. Hinton briefly played for the Yankees in 1972, but was an opponent of the team in 1976 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, while he also pitched for three other teams in his nine-year career.<\/p>\n Facebook<\/p>\n Billy Hunter<\/a> (SS) Kevin covered Hunter\u2019s passing during the July 5th news roundup:<\/p>\n Bill Hunter, the last living member of both the St. Louis Browns and the inaugural 1954 Baltimore Orioles, has died at age 97. He was also a Yankee, having come to New York alongside Don Larsen and others in what became a 16-player trade. In 1955, Hunter was the club\u2019s starting shortstop and won a World Series title with the Yanks in 1956, his final season in New York. After his playing career ended, Hunter spent 13 seasons as the Orioles\u2019 third base coach. The condolences of everyone here at Pinstripe Alley go out to Bill Hunter\u2019s friends and family.<\/p>\n Andy Kosco<\/a> (RF\/1B) Peter covered Kosco\u2019s passing during the December 24th news roundup:<\/p>\n Former Yankees outfielder Andy Kosco has passed away at the age of 84. He played 131 games for the Yankees in 1968, batting .240 with 15 home runs, and his most notable moment came when he replaced Mickey Mantle at first base in the Hall of Famer\u2019s final game on September 28, 1968. The Yankees would trade Kosco to the Dodgers for pitcher Mike Kekich following the end of that season, and the Dodgers would later flip him to the Brewers in 1971 for another former Yankee in Al Downing.<\/p>\n Terry Ley<\/a> (LHP) We missed covering Ley\u2019s passing in our normal news writeups, but SABR\u2019s Max Effgen had a very nice remembrance of him that we\u2019ll link to here:<\/p>\n Jes\u00fas Montero<\/a> (C\/DH) I memorialized Montero<\/a> with a full writeup on October 19th, and Josh had an excerpt in the following morning\u2019s news:<\/p>\n By now you likely know that one-time top Yankee prospect Jes\u00fas Montero died over the weekend, after complications from a motorcycle collision in his native Venezuela. Andrew wrote up the news for us yesterday as well. Montero was just 35 years old. Montero spent a year with the Yankees at the major league level, and four with the Seattle Mariners. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.<\/p>\n Nate Oliver<\/a> (2B\/SS) Nick covered Oliver\u2019s passing during the April 12th news roundup:<\/p>\n Nate Oliver, a seven-year MLB veteran who briefly appeared with the Yankees, passed away on April 5th at the age of 84. The middle infielder played for the Dodgers from 1963 to 1967, including an appearance as a pinch-runner in the 1966 World Series. He appeared in one game for the Yankees in 1969 before spending time with the Cubs in that, his final, season. Oliver was also known for his singing voice, having performed the national anthem before games in the Dodgers, Angels, Reds, and Athletics\u2019 ballparks \u2014 one time even filling in for Ella Fitzgerald. Rest in peace.<\/p>\n Art Schallock<\/a> (LHP) Nick covered Schallock\u2019s passing during the March 9th news roundup:<\/p>\n We join the baseball world in celebrating the life of Art Shallock, the pitcher who spent parts of five seasons with the Yankees and held the distinction of oldest living ex-MLB player before his death Thursday at the age of 100. Shallock, who pitched for the Yankees in the 1953 World Series, was roommates with Yogi Berra and replaced Mickey Mantle on the Yankees\u2019 roster upon his initial call-up. He visited with the team last season when they played in San Francisco, talking with Anthony Rizzo and Aaron Boone in his first appearance at an MLB stadium in over 40 years. Schallock is survived by two children and five grandchildren.<\/p>\n Other Notable Yankees Figures Lost in 2025<\/p>\n Lou Cucuzza Sr. Kevin covered Cucuzza\u2019s passing during the February 24th news roundup:<\/p>\n Lou Cucuzza, Sr. passed away Sunday at the age of 86. Cucuzza, whose two sons currently work for the Yankees, was the Visiting Clubhouse manager for the Yankees, for whom he worked for 35 years until his retirement. The Yankees, in their statement mourning his death, noted Cucuzza\u2019s long service and impact on baseball. Rest in peace.<\/p>\n Joe Fosina Miller Gardner Josh covered Miller Gardner\u2019s passing during the March 24th news roundup:<\/p>\n By now I\u2019m sure you\u2019re all aware of the news that former Yankees All-Star outfielder Brett Gardner\u2019s son Miller has passed away after a sudden illness while on vacation. He was just 14 years old. There isn\u2019t really anything you can say at times like this, so I\u2019ll just leave it there. Our hearts as a blog go out to Brett, Jessica, Hunter, and the rest of Miller\u2019s family and loved ones.<\/p>\n Dick Groch Nick covered Groch\u2019s passing during the October 3rd news roundup:<\/p>\n Our condolences to the family of the late Dick Groch, who died Wednesday, per MLB.com\u2019s Adam McCalvy. The longtime Yankees scout is perhaps best known for his emphatic urging for the team to draft Derek Jeter with its sixth pick in the 1992 amateur draft. \u201cHe\u2019s not going to the University of Michigan,\u201d he famously told Yankees brass to allay their concerns that the shortstop was going to honor his outstanding commitment to the college instead of signing out of high school. \u201cThe only place Derek Jeter is going is Cooperstown.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeff Torborg<\/a> Matt covered Torborg\u2019s passing during the January 20th news roundup:<\/p>\n It was announced on Sunday that former MLB player and manager Jeff Torborg has passed away at the age of 83. While he is most known for his stints as manager of the White Sox, Mets, and other teams, the New Jersey native also spent a long time as a pitching and bullpen coach on the Yankees\u2019 staff in the 1970s and \u201880s. We send our best wishes to his loved ones.<\/p>\n Special thanks to SABR, Sam Gazdziak, Max Effgen, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n
October 19, 1943 – October 13, 2025
Yankees career: 1974-76
NYY statistics: 294 G, .248\/.287\/.302, 231 H, 40 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 46 SB, 70 OPS+
MLB honors: 1x All-Star (1970)
MLB.com obit<\/a><\/p>\n
January 22, 1957 – September 7, 2025
Yankees career: 1983-84
NYY statistics: 75 G, .237\/.288\/.378, 37 H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 86 OPS+
RIP Baseball obit<\/a><\/p>\n
November 23, 1975 – April 8, 2025
Yankees career: 2006
NYY statistics: 14 G, 10 IP, 10.80 ERA, 7 K, 7.65 FIP, 2.900 WHIP
MLB honors: 1x World Series champion (2011)
MLB.com obit<\/a><\/p>\n
July 16, 1937 – July 9, 2025
Yankees career: 1969 (minors); 1989 (coach)
NYY statistics: Never played in majors with NYY
MLB honors: 1x World Series champion (1980, coach)
ESPN obit<\/a><\/p>\n
May 22, 1947 – August 7, 2025
Yankees career: 1972
NYY statistics: 7 G, 16.2 IP, 4.86 ERA, 13 K, 3.84 FIP, 1.680 WHIP
Newsweek obit<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Rich-Hinton-FB.jpg\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n
June 4, 1928 – July 3, 2025
Yankees career: 1955-56
NYY statistics: 137 G, .239\/.276\/.327, 79 H, 10 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 63 OPS+
MLB honors: 1x All-Star (1953); 3x World Series champion (1956, with NYY; 1966 and 1970, coach); Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame (1996)
MLB.com obit<\/a><\/p>\n
October 5, 1941 – December 19, 2025
Yankees career: 1968
NYY statistics: 131 G, .240\/.268\/.382, 19 2B, 1 3B, 15 HR, 100 OPS+
MLBTR obit<\/a><\/p>\n
February 21, 1947 – August 30, 2025
Yankees career: 1971
NYY statistics: 6 G, 9 IP, 5.00 ERA, 7 K, 6.01 FIP, 2.000 WHIP
Obit<\/a><\/p>\n
November 28, 1989 – October 19, 2025
Yankees career: 2011
NYY statistics: 18 G, .328\/.406\/.590, 20 H, 4 2B, 4 HR, 163 OPS+
MLB.com obit<\/a><\/p>\n
December 13, 1940 – April 5, 2025
Yankees career: 1969
NYY statistics: 1 G, 0-for-1
MLB honors: 2x World Series champion (1963, 1965)
RIP Baseball obit<\/a><\/p>\n
April 25, 1924 – March 6, 2025
Yankees career: 1951-55
NYY statistics: 28 G, 90 IP, 3.90 ERA, 44 K, 4.54 FIP, 1.733 WHIP
MLB honors: 3x World Series champion (1951-53, with NYY)
MLB.com obit<\/a><\/p>\n
November 19, 1938 – February 22, 2025
Former Yankees Visiting Clubhouse manager (obit<\/a>)<\/p>\n
December 3, 1936 – July 8, 2025
Former Yankees uniform reconditioner (obit<\/a>)<\/p>\n
October 24, 2010 – March 21, 2025
Son of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner (obit<\/a>)<\/p>\n
November 14, 1940 – October 1, 2025
Former Yankees scout (obit<\/a>)<\/p>\n
November 26, 1941 – January 19, 2025
Former Yankees coach (obit<\/a>)
MLB honors: 1x World Series champion (1965); 1x AL Manager of the Year (1990)<\/p>\n