In memoriam: A look back at the sports figures we lost in 2022

Kathy Whitworth, golfing legend who won 88 tournaments on the LPGA Tour, more wins than anyone on either the LPGA or PGA tours. She was the first female golfer to top $1 million in career earnings. Dec. 24. She was 83.

Demetrious Johnson, NFL safety who played with the Lions from 1983-86. Dec. 24. He was 61.

Stephan Bonnar, UFC fighter and wrestler. Dec. 22. He was 45.

Ronnie Hillman, running back in the NFL from 2012-17, having his best years with the Denver Broncos. He was a member of the team that won Super Bowl 50. Dec. 21. He was 31.

Franco Harris, running back in the NFL from 1972-84, mostly with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a key player in one of the game's most-famous plays, "The Immaculate Reception." Dec. 21. He was 72.

Tom Browning, major-league pitcher for 12 seasons, almost all with the Cincinnati Reds, with whom he won a World Series and threw a perfect game. Dec. 19. He was 62.

Steve Smoger, Hall-of-Fame boxing referee who worked more than 200 title bouts. Dec. 19. He was 72.

Billie Moore, first women's head coach to lead two different schools to a national title (Cal-State Fullerton, UCLA). Also coached the first U.S. women's team in the Olympics, and is a member of the Haismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Dec. 14. She was 79.

Louis Orr, basketball player and coach who starred at Syracuse, and was head coach at Bowling Green and Seton Hall. He most recently was on staff at Georgetown. Dec. 15. He was 64.

Mike Leach, legendary college football coach who was head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State. Dec. 12. He was 61.

Paul Silas, longtime basketball player and coach who was an All-Star and an NBA champions as a player, and coached the San Diego Clippers, Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Bobcats. He's in the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Dec. 11. He was 79.

Grant Wahl, legendary American soccer journalist who died covering the World Cup in Qatar. Dec. 10. He was 49.

Kevin Schamehorn, professional who played briefly with the Red Wings and was a legendary player for the Kalamazoo Wings. Dec. 8. He was 66.

Mills Lane, legendary boxing referee and TV personality who is in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Dec. 6. He was 85.

John Hadl, quarterback in the FL and NFL for 16 seasons, mostly with the San Diego Chargers. He made two Pro Bowls and is in the College Football Hall of Fame. Nov. 30. He was 82.

Chuck Stobart, longtime college football coahc, including head coach at Toledo, Utah and Memphis. He also coached the offensive backfield at Michigan from 1969-76 during The Ten Year War with Ohio State. Nov. 29. He was 90.

Charles Wolf, basketball coach, who coached the Detroit Pistons from 1963-64. Nov. 26. He was 95.

Börje Salming, longtime defenseman in the NHL, mostly with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He also played one season for the Red Wings. Nov. 24. He was 71.

Bob Ackerman III, member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame who played in four major championships and won two Michigan Opens before launching a successful teaching business. Nov. 10. He was 69.

Fred Hickman, longtime broadcaster who worked at CNN, ESPN, TBS and YES Network, and spent a couple years at Detroit's WDIV in the 1980s. Nov. 9. He was

Dow Finsterwald, American professional golfer who won 11 Tour titles, including the 1958 PGA Championship. He played on four Ryder Cup teams and was captain for Team USA in 1977. Nov. 4. He was 93.

Dave Butz, NFL defensive tackle from 1973-88, mostly with Washington. The former Purdue star is in the College Football Hall of Fame. Nov. 4. He was 72.

Ray Guy, first punter ever taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. He played 14 seasons in the NFL, all with the Raiders, winning three Super Bowls. He's a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nov. 3. He was 72.

Mike Fanning, defensive tackle in the NFL for 10 seasons, including one season (1983) with the Lions. He was born in Mount Clemens. Oct. 30. He was 69.

Vince Dooley, legendary Georgia football coach who won a national championship in 1980. He also served as Georgia's athletic director. Oct. 28. He was 90.

Willie Norwood, NBA player from 1971-78, mostly with the Pistons over two stints. He remained in Detroit and was president of the Detroit chapter for retired NBA players. Oct. 24. He was 75.

Dave Herman, offensive guard who played 10 seasons in the AFL and NFL, for the New York Jets. He also played at Michigan State. Oct. 19. He was 81.

Charley Trippi, halfback and quarterback for the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL from 1947 through 1955. He won an NFL championship and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame (Georgia). Oct. 19. He was 100.

Bruce Sutter, reliever who pitched 12 seasons in MLB, winning a World Series title and a Cy Young Award. He entered the Hall of Fame in 2006. Oct. 13. He was 69.

Lucious Jackson, power forward and center who played nine years in the NBA, winning an NBA title with the Philadelophia 76ers in 1967. Oct. 12. He was 80.

Cyrus Mann, basketball player who starred at Detroit Southeastern before playing at Illinois State. The Boston Celtics drafted him and he played in the Phillipines, before returning to Detroit to play in the CBA. Oct. 12. He was 66.

Joe Crozier, hockey defenseman who went on to coach the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs. Oct. 11. He was 93.

Dick Ellsworth, pitcher in MLB for 14 seasons, from 1958 through 1971 for five teams. He was an All-Star in 1964. Oct. 10. He was 82.

Leon Burton, Flint native who played football at Arizona State and later with the New York Titans of the AFL. Oct. 7. He was 87.

Sara Lee, professional wrestler from Saginaw who was the female winner on the sixth season of WWE's "Tough Enough." Oct. 5. She was 30.

Dave Dryden, goalie who played in the NHL for nine seasons and created the modern goaltending mask. Oct. 4. He was 81.

Jerry Vainisi, general manager of the 1985 Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears who later went on to serve in the Lions front office. Oct. 4. He was 80.

Tiffany Jackson, All-America college basketball player at Texas who went on to play in the WNBA. She returned to Texas as an assistant coach. Oct. 3. She was 37.

Tyrone Davis, tight end who played eight seasons in the NFL from 1995 through 2002, mostly with the Green Bay Packers. Oct. 2. He was 50.

Jim Sweeney, center and guard in the NFL for 16 seasons, from 1984 through 1999, finishing with his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. Oct. 1. He was 60.

Rick Redman, linebacker for Washington who was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. He played in the NFL for nine seasons. Sept. 30. He was 79.

Marvin Powell, star offensive tackle for USC who was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. (August 30, 1955 – September 30, 20He played 11 seasons in the NFL. Sept. 30. He was 67.

Héctor Lopez, outfielder and third baseman for the Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees from 1955 through 1966. He was two World Series with the Yankees and went on to become the first Black manager in Triple A. Sept. 29. He was 93.

Gilles Boisvert, professional goaltender who played three games for the Red Wings in the 1959-60 season. Sept. 29. He was 89.

Tom Urbani, major-league pitcher from 1993-96 who finished his career with the Tigers in 1996. Sept. 28. He was 54.

Darrell Mudra, long-time college football coach, including stints at Arizona and Florida State. He was nicknamed Dr. Victory. Sept. 21. He was 93.

Maury Wills, outfielder in MLB from 1959-72, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1962, he set the modern-day record for stolen bases with 104. Sept. 19. He was 89.

Jerry Matthews, renowned golf-course architect who opened nearly 100 courses in Michigan. A Michigan State alum, he also taught at his alma mater. Sept. 16. He was 88.

Anthony Varvaro, major-league pitcher from 2010-15 who retired to become a police officer in New York. He died in a car accident on his way to a Sept. 11 memorial. Sept. 11. He was 37.

Frank Cignetti Sr., long-time football coach who was head coach at West Virginia and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Sept. 10. He was 84.

Jonathan Tjarks, popular sportswriter and podcaster for The Ringer. Sept. 10. He was 34.

Shelby Jordan (74), offensive tackle in the NFL from 1975-86, winning a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Raiders. He played at Washington University and is in the College Football Hall of Fame. Sept. 9. He was 70.

Dan Schachte, long-time NHL linesman who was the first American-born official to work 2,000 NHL games. Sept. 6. He was 64.

Mark Littell, pitcher in MLB from 1973-82, winning a World Series title with the 1982 St. Louis Cardinals. Sept. 5. He was 69.

Guy Morriss, long-time football player and coach who was head coach at Kentucky and Baylor. Sept. 5. He was 71.

Earnie Dee Shavers, professional boxer from 1969-96 who twice challenged for the heavyweight championship He had 69 KO wins, with 23 in the first round. Sept. 1. He was 78.

Lee Thomas, first baseman and right fielder who played in MLB for six seasons, then went on to become an executive. He is considered the architect of the 1993 Phillies team that won the World Series. Aug. 31. He was 86.

Steve White, defensive end in the NFL for seven seasons who later became a football writer for SB Nation. Aug. 30. He was 48.

Ernie Zampese, long-time football coach in college and the NFL, including as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys from 1994-97. He won a Super Bowl with Dallas. Aug. 29. He was 86.

Pete Burnside, left-handed pitcher who played in MLB for eight seasons, including out of the bullpen for the 1959 and 1960 Tigers. Aug. 26. He was 92.

Len Dawson, Hall of Fame quarterback for 19 seasons, mostly with the Kansas City Chiefs. He led the franchise to victory in Super Bowl IV. Aug. 24. He was 87.

Gary Gaines, high-school football coach who was the inspiration of the book, "Friday Night Lights," and later the movie. He coached at eight high schools and two colleges, all in Texas. Aug. 22. He was 73.

Tom Weiskopf, who won 16 times on the PGA Tour, including the 1973 British Open. He later was an acclaimed course designer, including in Michigan, where he built Forest Dunes and Shanty Creek's Cedar River course. Aug. 20. He was 79.

John Wockenfuss, major-leaguer for 12 years, including 10 with the Tigers (1974-83), with whom he was a fan favorite largely because of his unique batting stance. He was traded before the 1984 season for Willie Hernandez and Dave Bergman, a move that helped lead the Tigers to the 1984 World Series title. Aug. 19. He was 73.

Pete Carril, legendary basketball coach at Princeton who used the famous "Princeton offense." Aug. 15. He was 92.

Leandro Lo, jiu-jitsu black-belt who won eighth world championships in five different weight classes. Aug. 7. He was 33.

Gene Visscher, Muskegon native and head basketball coach at Weber State (197-74) and Northern Arizona (1981-83). Aug. 6. He was 81.

Vin Scully, legendary broadcaster for the Dodgers starting in 1950 and ending in 2016. He also called many national events, including the 1984 World Series and several big golf tournaments. He's in the broadcaster's win of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Aug. 2. He was 94.

Bill Russell, legendary center for the Boston Celtics from 1956-69, winning 11 NBA championships and five MVP awards while making the All-Star team 12 times during his Hall of Fame career. July 31. He was 88.

William White, safety for eight seasons in the NFL, including with the Lions, where he played with college teammate Chris Spielman. He was diagnosed with ALS in 2016. July 28. He as 56.

Johnny Egan, who played in the NBA from 1961 through 1972, including his first three years with the Pistons. He later coached the Houston Rockets. July 21. He was 83.

Larry Jeffrey, NHL player from 1961-69 who played for several teams, including the Red Wings. He won a Stanley Cup with the 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs. July 18. He was 81.

Gary Moeller, head coach of Michigan football from 1990-94 and head coach of the Lions during the 2000 season. July 11. He was 81.

Carter Payne, former Michigan soccer player who was playing for Tormenta FC in Georgia. July 9. He was 21.

Hugh Evans, Hall of Fame basketball referee who worked 1,969 regular-season NBA games and 35 NBA Finals games before retiring in 2001. July 8. He was 81.

James Caan, legendary actor ("Godfather," "Misery") who attended Michigan State for two years and played football there in the 1950s. July 6. He was 82.

Bryan Marchment, NHL defenseman from 1989-2006 for several teams, most notably the Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonto Oilers and San Jose Sharks. He was an enforcer. Most recently, he was a scout for the San Jose Sharks. July 6. He was 53.

Hank Goldberg, ESPN personality who specialized in handicapping for NFL games and horse racing. He was the radio analyst for the Miami Dolphins from 1978-1992. July 4. He was 82.

Ken Devine, long-time executive director of the Michigan PGA who helped bring the 2004 Ryder Cup to Oakland Hills. July 1. He was 87.

Jim Pappin, right winger who played in the NHL for 14 seasons, winning two Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1964 and 1967. He had the Cup-winning goal in 1967. June 29. He was 82.

Marlin Briscoe, "The Magician," who was the first Black quarterback in pro football when he threw 14 touchdown passes for the Denver Broncos in 1968. He played for the Lions in 1975. June 27. He was 76.

Tony Siragusa, "The Goose," who played 12 seasons in the NFL as a defensive tackle before becoming a sideline reporter for Fox, from 2003-15. June 22. He was 55.

Bruton Smith, billionaire promoter and owner of Speedway Motorsports Inc. who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007. June 22. He was 95.

Jaylon Ferguson, linebacker and defensive end who was the 85th overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2019. June 21. He was 26.

Caleb Swanigan, star basketball player at Purdue who went on to be drafted in the first round by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2017. June 20. He was 25.

Dave Hebner, long-time referee, promoter and agent with World Wrestling Entertainment. He worked some of the most memorable matches in WWE history, including a controversial match between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant on "The Main Event" in 1988. June 17. He was 73.

Tim White, long-time referee with World Wrestling Entertainment and producer of WWE's "Smackdown!" He also was Andre the Giant's assistant in the 1980s and 1990s. June 19. He was 68.

Dave Wickersham, pitcher in the major leagues for 10 seasons, including with the Detroit Tigers from 1964-67. He won 19 games in 1964, after being acquired rom the Athletics for Rocky Colavito. June 18. He was 86.

Hugh McElhenny Jr., who played halfback in the NFL from 1952-64, most notably with the San Francisco 49ers as part of their "Million Dollar Backfield." He played for the Detroit Lions in 1964. June 17. He was 93.

Carlos Ortiz, pro boxer from Puerto Rico who won three world titles and is in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. June 13. He was 85.

Joe Staton, a first baseman who appeared in 15 games with the Tigers in 1972 and 1973. June 10. He was 74.

Maxine Randall, Hillsdale native and star pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1940s and 1950s. June 9. She was 92.

Gene Kenney, legendary Michigan State men's soccer coach who led the program to two national championships. June 8. He was 94.

Rocky Freitas, offensive tackle for 11 years in the NFL, including with the Lions from 1968-77. He made the Pro Bowl in 1972. June 8. He was 76.

Eric Nesterenko, center in the NHL from 1951-72, winning a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1961. June 6. He was 88.

Art "Pinky" Deras, arguably the greatest Little-Leaguer who ever played, who led the 1959 Hamtramck team to the Little League World Series. June 5. He was 75.

Larry Hillman, defenseman in the NHL from 1955-76, including with the Red Wings from 1955-57. In 1955, after winning a title with Detroit, he became the youngest player to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup (18 years, two months, nine days). May 31. He was 85.

Ray Liotta, legendary actor whose big break came as Shoeless Joe Jackson in "Field of Dreams" in 1989. May 26. He was 67.

Bob Miller, pitcher for the Tigers from 1953-55 who was signed as a "Bonus Baby" the same day as Al Kaline. He debuted at 17. May 24. He was 86.

Roger Angell, Hall of Fame baseball writer for The New Yorker. May 20. He was 101.

Calvin Magee, NFL tight end and college coach who was Michigan's offensive coordinator from 2008-10. May 20. He was 59.

Bob Ciaffone, professional poker player from Saginaw who finished third in the 1987 World Series of Poker Main Event. May 13. He was 81.

Bob Lanier, Hall of Fame basketball player and legendary Pistons player. May 10. He was 73.

Adreian Payne, legendary Michigan State basketball player who was a first-round pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2014. May 9. He was 31.

Fred Reed, Eastern Michigan assistant football coach who previously coached for the Lions. May 8. He was 54.

Guy Lafleur, Hockey Hall of Famer who played 17 seasons in the NHL, for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, winning five Stanley Cup championships. He's considered one of the top 100 players of all-time. April 22. He was 70.

Daryle Lamonica, quarterback for the Oakland Raiders who was a two-time AFL MVP and won three AFL championships. April 21. He was 80.

Bob Dozier, left, legendary football coach at Detroit Mackenzie who is a member of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and was a star quarterback at Detroit Cass Tech. April 15. He was 76.

Jack Newton, Australian professional golfer whose lone PGA Tour victory came at the 1978 Buick-Goodwrench Open in Grand Blanc. April 15. He was 72.

Mike Bossy, who played his entire NHL career, from 1977-87, with the New York Islanders, helping lead the team to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships in the 1980s. April 14. He was 65.

Shirley Spork, Detroit native and one of 13 founders of the LPGA and a future member of the LPGA Hall of Fame. April 12. She was 94.

Dwayne Haskins, NFL quarterback who starrd at Ohio State, being named MVP of the 2019 Rose Bowl. April 9. He was 24.

Rayfield Wright, Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys for 13 seasons. April 7. He was 76.

Gene Shue, NBA point guard from 1954-64, who was an original member of the Pistons, making five All-Star teams with Detroit. He went on to a long head-coaching career. April 4. He was 90.

Tommy Davis, major-league infielder from 1959-76, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He won two batting titles, made three All-Star teams and won a World Series in 1963. April 3. He was 83.

Stan Parrish, long-time college football coach who was head coach at Marshall, Kansas State and Ball State. He was interim head coach at Eastern Michigan in 2013. He also was quarterbacks coach at Michigan from 1996-2001, when he coached Tom Brady. April 3. He was 75.

Eugene Melnyk, owner, governor and chairman of the NHL's Ottawa Senators. March 28. He was 62.

Joan Joyce, long-time softball coach at Florida Atlantic University who had more than 1,000 career wins. She also played on the LPGA for 19 years, one needing just a record 17 putts in a round, and struck out Ted Williams in an exhibition game in 1961. March 26. She was 81.

Joe Williams, who coached three college basketball teams to the NCAA Tournament, including Jacksonville, Furman and Florida State. He led Jacksonville to the 1970 championship game, losing to John Wooden and UCLA. March 26. He was 88.

Gil Stein, last president in NHL history before the league shifted to a commissioner and hired Gary Bettman. March 24. He was 94.

Grindstone, winner of the 1996 Kentucky Derby. March 22. He was 29.

Tom Young, college basketball coach best known for his time at Rutgers (1973-85), which he took to four NCAA Tournaments, including the 1976 Final Four. March 20. He was 89.

John Clayton, long-time NFL reporter who became a household name during a long stint with ESPN. March 18. He was 67.

Scott Hall, Hall of Fame wrestler who went by the ring name "Razor Ramon" and was a long-time tag-team partner of Detroiter Kevin Nash. March 14. He was 63.

Odalis Pérez, major-league pitcher from 1998-2008, for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals and Washington Nationals. March 10. He was 44.

Johnny Grier, NFL officials from 1981-2004 who became the first Black referee in NFL history in 1988. March 8. He was 74.

Roy Winston, who played linebacker for 15 seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, winning a 1969 NFL championship. He was named one of the top 50 Vikings of all-time. March 5. He was 81.

Terry Cooney, major-league umpire in Major League Baseball from 1974-92 who famously ejected Roger Clemens during a game in the 1990 American League Championship Series. March 4. He was 88.

Dick Versace, head basketball coach at Bradley University and with the Indiana Pacers, who also was a top assistant under Chuck Daly with the Detroit Pistons in the 1980s. Feb. 25. He was 81.

Ken Burrough, two-time Pro Bowl receiver in 11 seasons with the NFL's Houston Oilers. He was a first-round pick in 1970 by the New Orleans Saints. Feb. 24. He was 73.

Julio Cruz, major-league second baseman from 1977-86 with the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox. He later became a broadcaster for the Mariners. Feb. 22. He was 67.

Charley Taylor, eight-time Pro Bowler who played wide receiver for 14 seasons with Washington of the NFL. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984. Feb. 19. He was 80.

Emile Francis, hockey player, coach and executive who was general manager of the Rangers, Blues and Whalers from 1964-89. Feb. 19. He was 95.

Bill Dondo, football player at the University of Detroit who went on to be head coach at Bufalo from 1977-89. Feb. 15. He was 89.

Jeremy Giambi, major-league first baseman and designated hitter from 1998-2003, with the Kansas City Royals, Oakland A's, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox, and who was notably portrayed in the movie "Moneyball." Feb. 9. He was 47.

Al Glick, long-time University of Michigan donor, most notable for the University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital and the football program. Feb. 8. He was 95.

Gerald Williams, major-league outfielder from 1992-2005 for several teams, including the New York Yankees. Feb. 8. He was 55.

Bill Fitch, Hall of Fame basketball coach who was the first coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, led the Boston Celtics to the 1981 NBA championship and also coached the Houston Rockets, New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. He also coached in college, including at Minnesota. Feb. 2. He was 89.

Mike Nykoluk, briefly a player in the NHL who went on to be head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1980-84. Jan. 31. He was 87.

Jeff Innis, right-handed reliever for the New York Mets from 1987-83. Jan. 30. He was 59.

Richard L. Duchossois, race-horse owner who also had ownership stakes in Churchill DOwns and Arlington Park. Jan. 28. He was 100.

Gene Clines, major-league outfielder from 1970-79, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates, with whom he won a World Series. He was part of MLB's first all-minority lineup, and was a coach with several organizations after his playing days. Jan. 27. He was 75.

Clark Gillies, Hockey Hall of Famer who played for the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres from 1974-88, winning four straight Stanley Cups with the Islanders from 1980-83. Jan. 21. He was 67.

Bob Goalby, 11-time winner on the PGA Tour, including the 1968 Masters. Jan. 20. He was 92.

Joe Hall, longtime Kentucky men's basketball coach who led the Wildcats to the 1978 NCAA championship. He's in the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Jan. 15. He was 93.

Tim Rosaforte, acclaimed golf writer and journalist who had a long stint as the "insider" for the Golf Channel. Jan. 11. He was 66.

Don Maynard, Pro Football Hall of Famer who was Joe Namath's primary target and retired in 1973 as pro football’s career receiving leader with 633 catches for 11,834 yards and 88 touchdowns. Jan. 10. He was 86.

Greg Robinson, longtime football coach in college and the NFL who was defensive coordinator at Michigan from 2009-10. Jan. 5. He was 70.

Ralph Neely, longtime offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys won won two Super Bowls and was four-time All-Pro. Jan. 5. He was 78.

Tommy Matchick, infielder for the 1968 World Series-champion Tigers who hit a key home run during the pennant race and was a regular at team reunions over the years. Jan. 4. He was 78.