The late Lyman Bostock was born on this day in 1950. Lyman Bostock played 4 years in the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins and then the California Angels. He was an outstanding hitter. His career average was .311.  Sadly his career and his life ended tragically on September 23rd, 1978. After a game in Chicago he went to visit his Uncle as he always did when he was in Chicago. Bostock grew up in Gary, Indiana. After visiting a while he and his uncle went to visit a woman who Bostock had tutored as a teenager. After the visit Bostock’s uncle agreed to give the lady they were visiting and her sister a ride to their cousins house. Bostock had just met the sister of the woman. The woman’s husband saw them in the back of the car and assumed that his wife was having an affair with the guy in the backseat. At a stoplight he shot into the car killing Lyman Bostock. Another senseless killing. The killer spent 21 months in jail and in a mental hospital before being fit to be released again into society. Only in America.

What kind of guy was Lyman Bostock? After he signed with the California Angels in 1978 he had a terrible first month of the season. He refused to accept his paycheck saying he hadn’t earned it. The Angels said you have to take your paycheck. So Lyman Bostock took his paycheck and donated it to charities.

You don’t hear Lyman Bostock’s name very often. He had only played 4 seasons and its been  34 years since his death but whenever I do hear or come across his name a sadness comes over me.