Sports
Pirates All-Star, World Series champion Bob Skinner dies at 94
Jun 4, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; A cap shoes and glove belonging to Pittsburgh Pirates third base Ke’Bryan Hayes on the field before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Former Pittsburgh Pirates player and coach Bob Skinner, who also had managerial stints with the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres, has died. He was 94.
Known by the nickname “Sleepy” during his time with the Pirates, the San Diego-area native played nearly nine of his 12 major league seasons in Pittsburgh, earning three All-Star Game nods and winning a World Series with the club in 1960.
“We are saddened to relay the news of the passing of former Pirates outfielder and coach Bob Skinner,” the Pirates said in a statement. “Skinner was a member of the 1960 World Series Championship Pirates and a coach on the 1979 World Series Championship team. He made his Major League debut with the Bucs in 1954 and played nine of his 12 seasons in Pittsburgh.”
Skinner served as a Pittsburgh coach for 10 seasons over two stints (1974-76, 1979-85).
Skinner also won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 after a midseason trade from the Cincinnati Reds.
After he retired as a player following the 1966 season, Skinner became manager of the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate in San Diego in 1967 then took over as manager in Philadelphia when Gene Mauch was fired 54 games into the 1968 season.
Skinner resigned as Phillies manager in 1969 with the team off to a 44-64 start as he was going through a reported feud with star player Dick Allen.
Skinner returned for a second stint as Pirates batting coach in 1979 as the team won the World Series. He also had coaching stints with the Padres (1970-73, 1977), California Angels (1978) and Atlanta Braves (1986-88).
Skinner also had a one-game stint as an interim manager of the Padres in 1977, and finished 93-123 as a major league skipper.
In 1,381 career games as a player, Skinner batted .277 with 103 home runs and 531 RBIs for the Pirates (1954, 1956-63), Reds (1963-64) and Cardinals (1964-66).
Skinner is the father of former major league catcher Joel Skinner, who played nine seasons with the Chicago White Sox, the then-Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees. Joel Skinner was a longtime minor league manager who also was interim manager of Cleveland for 76 games in the 2002 season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
MLS great Kei Kamara retires from soccer at age 41
Jul 16, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; FC Cincinnati forward Kei Kamara (85) controls the ball against Inter Miami CF in the first half at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Legendary MLS striker Kei Kamara has announced his retirement from professional soccer at the age of 41.
Kamar, ranked No. 2 in league history with 147 regular-season goals, announced his decision on social media.
“I never played for just one crest,” he said in a video posted Monday on X. “I played for the love of the game.”
Kamara’s MLS career spanned 20 years with a league-record 12 teams. His 464 regular-season matches are tied for third behind Kyle Beckerman (498) and Dax McCarty (488). Only Chris Wondolowski (171) scored more goals.
The Sierra Leone native entered the league in 2006 as a first-round pick by the Columbus Crew and has also played for the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo, Los Angeles FC, Minnesota United, CF Montreal, New England Revolution, San Jose Earthquakes, Sporting Kansas City, Vancouver Whitecaps and most recently, FC Cincinnati in 2025.
“From Sierra Leone to America, 20 years of chasing something bigger,” Kamara said. “Goals fade, records fade. But what you carry forward, that stays.”
Kamara was an MLS All-Star in 2015 and 2023 and made the MLS Best XI in 2015. He won the U.S. Open Cup with Sporting KC in 2012 and LAFC in 2024.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Phil Mickelson out of LIV Golf Virginia, PGA Championship
Aug 22, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Phil Mickelson of HyFlyers GC walks the course during the quarterfinals of the LIV Golf Michigan Team Championship at The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Phil Mickelson will miss this week’s LIV Golf Virginia tournament and next week’s PGA Championship as he continues to deal with a family health matter.
The six-time major winner was listed in the 154-field released Tuesday for the May 14-17 PGA Championship, but he told Flushing It Golf he will not participate at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa.
“I wish I could. I can’t unfortunately,” Mickelson said in an exchange of messages with the media outlet. “I’m hoping to play the rest of the year after that, but I honestly don’t know.”
Mickelson, 55, has only participated in one event on the 2026 LIV Golf schedule. He finished T48 in South Africa in March before missing last month’s Masters, where he is a three-time champion.
Scott Vincent will replace the HyFlyers GC captain for this week’s LIV Golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club in Washington, D.C.
–Field Level Media
Sports
N.J. hosting four World Cup camps with addition of Haiti
Jun 16, 2022; New York, New York, USA; A general view of a hallway showing the FIFA World Cup 2026 logo leading to the FIFA World Cup Announcement room. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-Imagn Images It will be a melting pot in the Garden State with Morocco and Haiti joining Brazil and Senegal with base camps in New Jersey for this summer’s World Cup, The Athletic reported Tuesday.
Brazil, Morocco and Haiti all were selected into Group C for the tournament.
Brazil will be based at the New York Red Bulls’ training facility in Morris Township ahead of its opening pair of group stage games June 13 at East Rutherford, N.J., and June 19 at Philadelphia.
Morocco will set up camp at Pingry School, a private college preparatory school near Bridgewater Township, as it gets set for its group-stage opener against Brazil at East Rutherford.
Haiti will be based at Stockton University in Galloway, which was host to Brazil’s Flamengo during last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup. Haiti plays its opener June 13 against Scotland in Foxborough, Mass., before facing Brazil at Philadelphia.
Senegal, which was selected into Group I, will be based at Rutgers University in Piscataway as it prepares for back-to-back games at East Rutherford on June 16 against France and June 22 against Norway.
–Field Level Media
MLS great Kei Kamara retires from soccer at age 41
Phil Mickelson out of LIV Golf Virginia, PGA Championship
