Norm Siebern died last Friday at age 82:

The Yankees had made such a habit of bolstering their roster by trading for Kansas City’s better players that the Athletics were often referred to as the Yankees’ farm team, and in 1959 the Yankees sent Siebern; the aging Bauer; Don Larsen, who had pitched a perfect game in the 1956 World Series but whose career was on the downslope; and the young first baseman Marv Throneberry (who would later become known for his goofy play with the expansion-era Mets) to Kansas City for Maris, then just 25, and two inconsequential players — first baseman Kent Hadley, who didn’t last the 1960 season, and infielder Joe DeMaestri, whose major league career ended in 1961.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Siebern was considered a good prospect when he came up in 1956, but injuries kept him from realizing his potential with the Yankees. He went on to post excellent OBPs with the Athletics and Orioles with good power. Twice he produced WARs around five, which certainly falls into a star quality player.

While he is known for the Maris trade, he was also part of a deal that finished the rise of the Orioles into a powerhouse. On Dec. 2, 1965, the Orioles traded Siebern for Dick Simpson of the Angels. Simpson never played for the Orioles, as a week later he was part of the deal that brought Frank Robinson to Baltimore. I guess Siebern was an early version of Roberto Kelly.