Obituaries
FRANK ALFANO, a second baseman who played in the Midwest and Carolina leagues for the Twins organization in 1972, died Sept. 5 in El Cajon, Calif. He was 69.
Alfano played college baseball at Southern California, where he was the starting second baseman on the Trojans’ 1970 and ’71 College World Series championship teams. He was selected to the CWS all-tournament team both years.
WILLIAM “BILL” ALLEN, a lefthander who pitched in the Georgia-Florida, Evangeline and Florida International leagues in 1950 and in 1953 and ’54, died Sept. 19 in St. Simons, Ga. He was 88.
JAMES “JIM” ARCHER, a lefthander who pitched for the Kansas City Athletics in 1961 and ’62, died Sept. 9 in Tarpon Springs, Fla. He was 87.
After spending seven years in the Orioles organization, Archer was part of an eight-player trade that sent him to Kansas City prior to the 1961 season. He made his major league debut on April 30, 1961, finishing that season 9-15, 3.20 with 110 strikeouts in 205.1 innings across 39 appearances (27 starts).
LEO “KENT” BILLS, a minor leaguer who pitched in the Sooner State and Mountain State leagues in 1951 and ’52, died Sept. 3 in Murray, Utah. He was 86.
a lefthander who pitched in the Appalachian and Carolina leagues for the Pirates organization in 1952 and ‘55,
