Celebrity Deaths

[JUAN]

John Sterling - 87, sports broadcaster in Atlanta and New York, most famous for his years with the Yankees.  But most ga.ous in Atlanta for this call in the straight test July 4th and 5th games ever.

19 innings, Mets 16, Braves 13.  The only home run of pitcher Rick Camp's 13-year professional career.

[JUAN]

Ted Turner -87.  Didn't care for his politics but a broadcasting genius.

[Uncle Duke]

Ted Turner -87.  Didn't care for his politics but a broadcasting genius.

As the owner of the Atlanta Braves, Turner also signed the first every free agent (Andy Messersmith) as a result of Curt Flood's lawsuit against MLB's "reserve clause."  He assigned Messersmith jersey number "17," the same as his famous "Superstation" Channel 17.   He planned to put "Channel" over the number on the back of Messersmith's jersey instead of his name, but the MLB commissioner put a stop to it.

[JUAN]

That was the first fight between Bill Lucas (first black GM) and Kuhn.  Kuhn eventually caused Lucas to have a brain hemorrhage, and when Turner accused Kuhn of killing Lucas, Kuhn sued.  Turner then proceeded to prove the truth of his statement in court.  I sat through a day of the trial.. It was a hoot.  Turner was also grooming Tommie Aaron to be the first black manager, but Aaron got leukemia and died.