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Had their say. After a record-setting 87 successful days in the lead, the Angel of Life is finally knocked out of this year's Game when two different scores both come in on January 25. Robert Shaw, longtime leader of the Atlanta Symphony conducted his final chorus, putting Ruth in the lead with 300 points. The other 300 are split by Mark K. and Marsha, when at age 109 Sarah "Sadie" Delany rejoined Bessie, her sister and companion of over a century.

Crossing the Jordan. Just two weeks later, Jordan's beloved King Hussein appears at what will be his last state function. Ruth's lead increases and the Orleps get on the board with the other 150 points.

Left and gone away. After months of repeated bounce-backs from surgery complications, a brief coma and even one mistaken report of his death on NBC, Joe DiMaggio's final streak ended on March 8th. Marsha breaks away from the second-place tie while Rob, Kari and Andy, Keith S., and PDM each get on the board with 60 points apiece.

Went the Oriole Way. On March 25, Orioles mainstay Cal Ripkin Sr. ended his Baltimore career for good. 300 points go to Keith S., who jumps past Marsha into second place.

He moov to a smaller box? "Close dee box!" Lecil Martin, aka country and western legend Boxcar Willie, took his final ride on the rails on April 13. This moves Mark into a first-place tie with Ruth, and a week later he pulls ahead while Marsha and the Dolly Dagger also score when Señor Wences, on his 103rd birthday, utters his final words without moving his lips.

A former Buddy. Then, Hollywood leading man Charles "Buddy" Rogers faded to black on the very next day, April 21. Mark K. presses his lead further by the full 300 points.

Final bit part. Just two weeks later on May 2, brawling British actor Oliver Reed expires in a Malta bar after arm-wrestling a bunch of Royal Navy sailors between rounds of rum. Dave gets on the board with the full 300 points.

Oil's well that ends well. Leon Hess jets out on May 7, the end of that same week. The 300 points allow Keith S. to jump past Ruth into second place with 660.

Lost in the Velvet Fog. On June 5 Mel Torme's TV appearances on "Night Court", "Seinfeld", and "Sliders" officially become his last. Keith M. gets on the board with 150 points while the Orleps slide up into fourth place with 375.

He's dead, Jim. Six days later Star Trek's DeForest Kelley begins preparations for his final reprise of Dr. "Bones" McCoy. Keith M. scores another 150 points while Ruth closes in on second place, now just 60 points behind Keith S.

Smile! You're dead. After an entire summer with no Game activity whatsoever, Allen Funt introduced his final segment on September 5. When it was least expected, he was selected by three different players. Larry gets on the board with 100 points, Marsha just barely edges out the Orleps to take over fourth place, and Mark K. dominates with a new total of 925 points. The remaining two months go by quietly making Mark K. the 1999 WINNER!