Lee 'Buzz' Capra Dies at 78

May 14, 2026, 16:47
USSports

Introduction

Lee 'Buzz' Capra was a professional baseball player and coach. He died on May 11, 2026. He was 78 years old.

Main Body

Capra started with the New York Mets in 1969. In 1974, he played for the Atlanta Braves. He played very well that year. He was an All-Star and won many awards. He stopped playing in 1977 because his arm was hurt. Then, he became a coach. He helped players for the Braves, Mets, White Sox, and Phillies. Capra did other things too. He was in the Army. He worked as a carpenter. He also taught art at a school in Chicago.

Conclusion

Capra has daughters, grandchildren, and brothers and sisters. People remember him for his great baseball games and his work as a coach.

Learning

🕒 Talking About the Past

Look at how the story describes Lee Capra's life. When we talk about things that are finished, we usually add -ed to the action word.

The Pattern:

  • Start →\rightarrow Started
  • Play →\rightarrow Played
  • Stop →\rightarrow Stopped
  • Help →\rightarrow Helped

⚠ī¸ The 'Rule Breakers' Some words don't follow the -ed rule. You just have to memorize them:

  • Is/Am →\rightarrow Was
  • Become →\rightarrow Became
  • Win →\rightarrow Won
  • Do →\rightarrow Did

Quick Tip: Use these words when you tell a story about someone's life or something that happened yesterday.

Vocabulary Learning

professional (adj.)
having a job that requires special training and skill; a paid worker
Example:She is a professional musician.
baseball (n.)
a sport played with a bat and ball on a field
Example:He loves playing baseball.
player (n.)
someone who plays a game or sport
Example:The player scored the winning goal.
coach (n.)
a person who trains athletes
Example:The coach gave us a pep talk.
died (v.)
to stop living
Example:The old tree died after the storm.
started (v.)
to begin
Example:He started his new job yesterday.
well (adv.)
in a good or healthy way
Example:She sang well in the competition.
awards (n.)
prizes given for achievements
Example:She received several awards for her research.
stopped (v.)
to cease
Example:He stopped smoking last year.
playing (v.)
engaging in a sport or game
Example:They were playing soccer in the park.
arm (n.)
the upper limb of a person
Example:He broke his arm during the game.
hurt (adj.)
injured or in pain
Example:The child was hurt by the falling tree.
became (v.)
to transform into
Example:He became a teacher after college.
helped (v.)
assisted
Example:She helped me with my homework.
army (n.)
the military force that fights on land
Example:He joined the Army after high school.
carpenter (n.)
a worker who builds with wood
Example:The carpenter built a new table.
taught (v.)
instructed
Example:She taught me how to bake.
art (n.)
creative expression using visual media
Example:She loves painting art.
school (n.)
a place for learning
Example:The school is open on Mondays.
chicago (n.)
a city in the United States
Example:I visited Chicago last summer.