Boston Red Sox in their 1944 season. October 20 – Mel Harder, 93, spent 36 seasons overall with the Cleveland Indians, as a pitcher from 1928 to 1947, then as a highly regarded pitching coach from 1948 to 1963; Cleveland's interim manager in 1961 (one game) and 1962 (two games); appeared in four All-Star games from 1934 to 1937 and posted a record with 13 consecutive shutout innings, while setting franchise records for wins (223), games started (433) and innings pitched () that were later broken by Bob Feller; holds club record of 582 career games pitched; later a coach for the Mets, Cubs, Reds and Royals. November November 10 – Ken Raffensberger, 85, All-Star pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs during 14 seasons spanning 1939–1954, being noted for his pinpoint control, as he hurled four one-hitters and led National League in shutouts twice. November 15 – Ed Freed, 83, outfielder who played briefly with the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1942 season. December December 1 – Dave McNally, 60, three-time All-Star pitcher and member of two World Series championship teams with the Baltimore Orioles, who had four consecutive 20-win seasons from 1968 to 1971, pitched a 1–0 shutout in Game 4 of the 1966 World Series to swept the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, and batted a grand slam in Game 3 of the 1970 World Series, to become the only pitcher to hit a slam in Series history; also known, along with Andy Messersmith, for challenging the reserve clause in standard player contracts, which resulted in a December 1975 arbitrator's decision permitting free agency in professional baseball. December 2 – Frank Bradley, 84, pitcher for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League from 1937 through 1942. December 2 – Ben Wade, 80, pitcher who played for the Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates in a span of five seasons between 1948 and 1955, as well as a distinguished scout and then director of scouting for the Los Angeles Dodgers, supplying the club with players that would lead it to eight National League championships and four World Series titles during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. December 3 – Jug Thesenga, 88, pitcher who appeared in five games for the Washington Senators in the 1944 season. December 6 – Clarence Beers, 83, relief pitcher for the