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Pittsburgh Pirates legend and hometown icon Dick Groat has died at age 92 after an impressive 14-year MLB career and a season in the NBA, as he’s considered to be one of the most accomplished two-sport athletes ever in American sports history.
The native of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, was a two-time World Series champion with the Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals, as well as the 1960 NL MVP and batting champion that year with a .325 average. He finished his career with a .286 batting average and 2,138 hits with four NL teams that also include the Phillies and Giants.
Groat, who also played college baseball at Duke, was informed that he’d be inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame Class of 2023 on the same day that he was hospitalized for complications related to a stroke, which ultimately led to his death, according to The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
In 2011, the former shortstop was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming the first person to ever be admitted to the college basketball and baseball halls of fame.
Groat was more naturally gifted in basketball, considered to be his real passion. The 5-foot-11 guard played for the Blue Devils for three years (1949-1952) and was a two-time All-America and two-time McKelvin Award winner as the Southern Conference athlete of the year. He was the first basketball player his number (10) retired in school history.
Pirates legend and ex-shortstop Dick Groat died from complications related to a stroke at 92
Groat (in 1962) won the World Series with his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, in 1960
Groat also played basketball for Duke, becoming the first college player to have his No. retired
In 1952, the Fort Wayne Pistons (Detroit) selected Groat as the No. 3 pick of the NBA draft, though his early success was paused by a two-year stint in the military.
He played a total of 26 professional basketball games, averaging 11.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
Upon his return from the armed forces, the Pirates front office forced Groat to chose between a professional career in either basketball or baseball. He chose the latter, representing his hometown team in the MLB largely due to financial compensation.
For seven seasons (1956-1962), Groat formed a deadly duo with future Hall of Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski, blessing the Pirates with one of the best teams in baseball history. He led the NL in double plays a record five times, putouts four times and assists twice.
Groat is ranked ninth in MLB history in games played at shortstop (1,877) and fourth in double plays (1,237). He also features highly in the NL’s list of record putouts (10th 3505), assists (8th, 5,811) and total chances (9th, 9,690).
Following his retirement from baseball in 1967, Groat spent 40 seasons as the radio color analyst for the Pittsburgh Panthers men’s basketball games (from the 1978-80 to 2018-19 seasons). In his time working in media, he and play-by-play partner Bill Hillgrove were the longest tenured broadcast team in college basketball.
Groat, who was inducted into the Pirates HOF in 2023, with Barry Bonds & Andrew McCutchen
Groat worked as a broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Panthers following his retirement from sports
On Thursday, the Pirates paid tribute to their legendary shortstop, tweeting: ‘We are saddened to confirm the passing of former Pirates great Dick Groat. Dick was a member of our World Series Championship team in 1960 and our Hall of Fame.
‘Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Groat family.’
Pirates chairman Bob Nutting added in a publicly released statement: ‘[Groat] was a great player and an even better person. Our thoughts go out to his three daughters, eleven grandchildren and the entire Groat family. His was a life well lived. He will be missed.’
The Duke Blue Devils’ Twitter account also paid tribute to its point guard, sharing: ‘RIP to the Duke legend, Dick Goat.’
The Pistons, Cardinals, Phillies and Giants have yet to react to the news.
