Legendary Pittsburgh Pirates World Series Player Dies

PITTSBURGH, PA — Dick Groat, who won fame as a member of the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates World Series championship team, died Thursday at Presbyterian University Hospital from complications of a stroke.

He was 92.

Groat played 15 seasons with the Pirates, Cardinals, Phillies and Giants. He was an eight-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, also helping the St. Louis Cardinals win the title in 1964.

En route to the 1960 World Series, Groat also won the National League batting title and also was the N.L. MVP.

The Wilkinsburg native also was known for his ability on the basketball court. He was a two-time All-American player at Duke University and was selected in the 1952 NBA Draft. He briefly played basketball professionally for the Fort Wayne Pistons but ultimately chose baseball over basketball.

Groat was inducted into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Groat also served as a color analyst on University of Pittsburgh basketball radio broadcasts for four decades before his 2019 retirement.

Just last week, the Pirates announced that Groat, Elroy Face, Bob Friend and Kent Tekulve will comprise the 2023 class of inductees into the Pirates Hall of Fame.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.