The year 2020 has been a rough year for everyone. We’ve had to endure a worldwide pandemic, political turmoil, social upheaval and other adverse challenges. For sports fans, 2020 will partly be remembered as the year we lost so many greats and all-time legends, including some of the most influential figures in the games we love. Here are just some of the sports icons that passed during the past year:
JANUARY:
Jan. 1 – DAVID STERN, influential NBA Commissioner
Jan. 1 – DON LARSEN, only man to pitch a perfect game in the World Series
Jan. 2. – SAM WYCHE, longtime NFL head coach
Jan. 15 – ROCKY JOHNSON, legendary pro wrestler and father of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Jan. 26 – KOBE BRYANT, NBA Hall of Famer
Jan. 28 – CHRIS DOLEMAN, NFL Hall of Famer
FEBRUARY:
Feb. 3 – WILLIE WOOD, football Hall of Famer and Green Bay Packers safety
Feb. 16 – TONY FERNANDEZ, five-time MLB All-Star
MARCH:
Mar. 17 – ROGER MAYWEATHER, two-time boxing champion and uncle of Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Mar. 26 – FRED “CURLY” NEAL, legendary and beloved Harlem Globetrotter
APRIL:
Apr. 4 – TOM DEMPSEY, former NFL placekicker once held league record for longest FG (63 yds)
Apr. 6 – AL KALINE, 18-time MLB All-Star and Detroit Tigers legend
Apr. 14 – HANK STEINBRENNER, co-owner of the New York Yankees
Apr. 15 – WILLIE DAVIS, legendary Green Bay Packer defensive end
Apr. 24 – KARENA GREENY OWEN, former Rainbow Wahine basketball standout
MAY:
May 4 – DON SHULA, winningest head coach in NFL history
May 14 – BOB WATSON, accomplished MLB player and executive
May 14 – PHYLLIS GEORGE, trailblazing “NFL Today” host
May 22 – JERRY SLOAN, Hall of Fame NBA player and coach
May 23 – EDDIE SUTTON P, Hall of Fame college basketball coach
JUNE:
June 1 – PAT DYE, College Football Hall of Fame coach
June 2 – WES UNSELD, Hall of Fame NBA player and coach
June 3 – JOHNNY MAJORS, College Football Hall of Fame coach
June 6 – KURT THOMAS, former world champion gymnast
June 28 – JOE BUGEL, former NFL coach and architect of Washington’s “Hogs” offensive line
JULY:
July 25 – LOU HENSON, longtime college basketball coach at Illinois and New Mexico State
July 28 – JOHN MCNAMARA, longtime MLB manager
AUGUST:
Aug. 9 – JAMES HARRIS, longtime pro wrestler who performed as Kamala, the Ugandan Giant
Aug. 27 – LUTE OLSEN, legendary Hall of Fame basketball coach
Aug. 29 – CLIFF ROBINSON, former Portland Trailblazers star
Aug. 31 – JOHN THOMPSON, legendary Hall of Fame basketball coach
Aug. 31 – TOM SEAVER, Hall of Fame baseball legend
SEPTEMBER:
Sept. 6 – LOU BROCK, Hall of Fame baseball legend and former stolen base king
Sept. 22 – JOE LAURENITIS, former pro wrestler known as “Road Warrior Animal.”
Sept. 23 – GAYLE SAYERS, Hall of Fame Chicago Bears halfback and punt returner
OCTOBER:
Oct. 2 – BOB GIBSON, Hall of Fame pitcher
Oct. 9 – WHITEY FORD, winningest pitcher in World Series history
Oct. 11 – JOE MORGAN, Hall of Fame baseball legend
Oct. 14 – FRED DEAN, Football Hall of Famer
NOVEMBER:
Nov. 9 – TOM HEINSOHN, Hall of Fame great who played and coached the Boston Celtics
Nov. 13 – PAUL HORNUNG, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Green Bay Packers legend
Nov. 21 – BRUCE O’NEIL, former Hawaii men’s basketball head coach and international basketball executive
Nov. 25 – DIEGO MARADONA, international soccer superstar
DECEMBER:
Dec. 2 – RAFER JOHNSON, former U.S. Olympic decathlon gold medalist
Dec. 2 – PAT PATTERSON, pro wrestling legend and former WWE executive
Dec. 7 – FRED AKERS, famed Texas Longhorns football coach
Dec. 21 – KEVIN GREENE, Hall of Fame linebacker
Dec. 25 – KC JONES, NBA Hall of Fame player and coach
Dec. 25 – DANNY HODGE, legendary amateur wrestling champion and pro wrestling icon
Dec. 26 – JON HUBER, pro wrestler known as “Luke Harper” in the WWE and “Brodie Lee” in AEW
Dec. 26 – BRYAN ADDISON, former University of Hawaii safety
Dec. 26 – PHIL NIEKRO, Hall of Fame major league pitcher known for his knuckleball
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