To his mother, he was Ed. To everyone else, he was “The Duke of Flatbush” — revered by a borough of baseball fans and forever remembered in a song that romanticized a most golden era.

Duke Snider, the Hall of Fame center fielder for the charmed “Boys of Summer” who helped the Dodgers bring their elusive and only World Series crown to Brooklyn, died Sunday. He was 84.

Snider died at the Valle Vista Convalescent Hospital in Escondido, Calif., according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, which announced the death on behalf of the family. Snider had been ill for months. His family said he died of natural causes.

Snider hit .295 with 407 career home runs, played in the World Series six times and won two titles.

MLB

Webb throws off mound for Texas

Texas Rangers pitcher Brandon Webb was back where he wanted to be: throwing off a pitcher’s mound.

The former NL Cy Young winner, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since the 2009 season opener for Arizona because of shoulder surgery, was on the mound for the first time in 10 days.

In other spring training news:

n In Peoria, Ariz., outfielder Jody Gerut said he was retiring after six seasons in the majors.

The 33-year-old Gerut appeared in 574 games in stints with Cleveland, the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh, San Diego and Milwaukee. He finished with a career batting average of .262 and had 472 hits.

n At Clearwater, Fla., Philadelphia Phillies All-Star second baseman Chase Utley has patella tendinitis in his right knee and missed his second straight game Sunday.

Auto Racing

Gordon ends winless streak at 66

Avondale, Ariz. — Just before peeling off what he called a lame burnout near the finish line, Jeff Gordon screamed into his radio, the emotion pouring out with his voice.

“We just beat Kyle Busch!” he yelled.

Gordon did much more than that. He was headed back to Victory Circle, the longest winless streak of his career finally in the rearview mirror.

Overcoming a slew of potentially disastrous incidents, Gordon passed Kyle Busch with eight laps left and stretched his lead from there, ending his winless streak at 66 races Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.

“It feels so amazing. I can’t tell you how amazing this feels,” Gordon said. “It’s been a long time, I know, and I’m going to savor this one so much.”

Golf

Donald upends No. 1 Kaymer

Marana, Ariz. — Luke Donald spoiled Martin Kaymer’s rise to No. 1 in the world by winning the Match Play Championship on Sunday with a performance so dominant he never played the 18th hole all week.

College Basketball

Monmouth coach resigns

Piscataway, N.J. — Dave Calloway resigned under pressure as Monmouth University’s basketball coach after 14 seasons.

Athletic Director Marilyn McNeil informed Calloway Sunday that the university planned to hire a new coach after the Hawks suffered their fifth straight losing season and missed the Northeast Conference tournament.

Georgia State fires Barnes

Atlanta — Georgia State coach Rod Barnes was fired after four seasons and will not be on the bench for the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. Athletic director Cheryl L. Levick said Sunday assistant Paul Graham will serve as interim coach.

Tennis

Del Potro wins first title since ’09

Delray Beach, Fla. — Juan Martin del Potro won his first title in his first final since capturing the 2009 U.S. Open with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Janko Tipsarevic on Sunday.