Former Pittsburgh Pirates Manager Dies

PITTSBURGH, PA — Bill Virdon, a former Pirates player and manager who was the 1955 National League Rookie of the Year, has died, the team announced Tuesday. He was 90.

Virdon played on the Pirates' 1960 World Series championship team and was named manager of the Bucs in 1972. He was replaced during the 1973 season by Danny Murtaugh, the man he initially replaced. He later went on to manage the New York Yankees, Houston Astros and Montreal Expos.

"Bill Virdon was a man who took such great pride in being a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates family," Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a statement. "Every fan who followed our 1960 team will always remember the instrumental role that he played to bring a third World Series championship to the city of Pittsburgh.

"We are also eternally grateful for everything that Bill did representing the Pirates following his playing days not only as a successful manager, but also in helping a countless number of our
young players that he so proudly instructed and mentored as a coach and one of our long-time spring training guest instructors."

Virdon began his career in the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals and won the rookie of the year award after hitting .281 with 17 home runs and 69 RBIs. He was traded to the Pirates in 1956. Virdon had a .267 average with 1,596 hits, 91 home runs and 502 RBIs in 12 seasons in the majors.

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