Monte Irvin (age 96) died at his home in Houston. He started in the Negro Leagues, and played with the NY Giants & Chicago Cubs. One of first of several black ballplayers to play MLB. HOF inductee in 1973. I had the chance to meet him on several occasions and he was probably one of the nicest, intelligent, charismatic people I've ever know. A class act.

I met Jo-Jo Moore (the Gause ghost) in the late '90's. He was an all-star lead-off hitter for the Giants in the 1930's. He must have known Monte Irvin. The 1951 Giants outfield was Bobby Thompson, Willie Mays, Don Mueller, and Monte Irvin. Mays was the worst of the bunch that season. Wish I'd known Monte - seems like people have nothing but good to say about him.