pitcher for the Reds, 1954–1955. January 22 – César Gutiérrez, 61, Venezuelan shortstop who with the 1970 Tigers became one of three players in major league history with a 7-for-7 game. January 31 – Bill Voiselle, 86, All-Star pitcher for the Giants and Braves who won 21 games and led the NL in strikeouts and innings as a 1944 rookie. February February 4 – Luis Sánchez, 51, Venezuelan relief pitcher for the Angels who led the team in saves in 1983 and 1984. February 6 – Mutsuo Minagawa, 69, submarine pitcher for the Nankai Hawks in Nippon Professional Baseball from 1954 to 1971, who was the last Japanese pitcher to win 30 or more games in a single season. February 8 – Mike Bishop, 46, backup catcher who played briefly for the New York Mets in 1983. February 10 – Ruth Williams, 78, pitcher who played from 1946 through 1953 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. February 11 – Rankin Johnson, 87, relief pitcher who appeared in seven early-season games for 1941 Philadelphia Athletics; later a long-time minor league baseball executive. February 13 – Nelson Briles, 61, pitcher who won 19 games for the 1968 St. Louis Cardinals and pitched a two-hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1971 World Series, and later a broadcaster. February 22 – Ben Huffman, 90, long-time scout for the Chicago White Sox who signed Minnie Miñoso and Harold Baines; elected to Major League Baseball Scouts Association Hall of Fame in 1990; in his playing days, a left-swinging catcher who batted .273 in 76 games for 1937 St. Louis Browns. February 25 – Nick Colosi, 79, Sicilian-born National League umpire from 1968 to 1982, who made controversial balk call against Luis Tiant in Game 1 of the 1975 World Series. March March 2 – Rick Mahler, 51, pitcher for the Atlanta Braves (1979–1988 and 1991), Cincinnati Reds (1989–1990) and Montreal Expos (1991); won 17 games in 1985 and threw three Opening Day shutouts; member of 1990 World Series champions; brother of Mickey Mahler. March 6 – Danny Gardella, 85, left fielder for the 1944–1945 New York Giants who was the first major leaguer to challenge baseball's reserve clause in court; "jumped" to outlaw Mexican League in 1946 and suspended from Organized Baseball, but was reinstated in 1950, when he appeared in one game for the St. Louis Cardinals. March 6 – Chuck Thompson, 83,