Ex-Cubs reliever McDaniel dies
Lindy McDaniel, an All- Star reliever who appeared in nearly 1,000 major-league games, died at 84 of COVID-19. He spent three of his 21 seasons with the Cubs.
Steady as a long man and closer, McDaniel pitched in 987 big-league games, trailing only Hall of Famer and former White Sox star Hoyt Wilhelm when he retired in 1975.
McDaniel debuted with the Cardinals as a 19-year- old in 1955 and won 15 games as a starter two years later before transitioning to the bullpen for the bulk of his career. He led the majors with 27 saves in 1960, earning an All- Star selection and tying for third in Cy Young Award balloting with Cardinals teammate Ernie Broglio behind winner Vern Law and runner-up Warren Spahn.
HIGH SCHOOLS
IHSA puts winter sports on hold
The Illinois High School Association and Chicago Public Schools suspended bowling, cheer, dance and boys swimming and diving until further notice. The move comes after Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that all youth indoor sports should be put on hold as part of his COVID-19 mitigations.
Also, the IHSA signaled it won’t start the basketball season before January.
HOCKEY Wolves add goalie Warm
The Wolves signed goalie Beck Warm for the 2020-21 season. The 21-year- old Warm spent the last four-plus seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Tri- City Americans and Edmonton Oil Kings, compiling a 71-56-7 record with a 3.15 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and five shutouts in 150 regular-season appearances.
† The Panthers hired Brett Peterson as an assistant GM, making him the first Black executive to hold that position in the NHL.
NBA Play-in tournament returning
The NBA plans to release the first half of its 72-game regular-season schedule (games from Dec. 22-March 4) around the start of training camp. The second half (March 11May 16), will be released during the first half of the season. To finalize the seventh and eighth playoff spots for each conference, the NBA will host a play-in tournament May 18-21 that will include teams with the seventh-highest through 10th-highest winning percentages in each conference.
† After acquiring Jrue Holiday on Monday, the Bucks were executing a trade with the Kings, with Bogdan Bogdanovic and Justin James going to the Bucks for Donte DiVincenzo, D.J. Wilson and Ersan Ilyasova.
† Cavaliers center Andre Drummond will exercise his $28.7 million contract option.
MISCELLANEOUS Four NFL teams add to COVID list
Giants kicker Graham Gano, injured Washington defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis, Falcons receiver Laquon Treadwell and Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell and defensive back Lamarcus Joyner were put on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
† The Bengals waived defensive end Takk McKinley after he failed a physical. The move comes less than a week after he was claimed off waivers from the Falcons.
† The Pro Bowl will play out on the EA Sports Madden NFL 21 video game after the real-life version of football’s all-star game was canceled.
† Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall resigned after an investigation into allegations of verbal and physical abuse.
† Mississippi basketball coach Kermit
Davis tested positive for COVID-19.