The Major League Baseball world was hit with some tragic news on Thursday when the Pittsburgh Pirates announced that Dick Groat, who won the National League MVP award as part of their 1960 World Series championship team, had passed away at the age of 92.
The news comes just days after Groat was told that he would be part of the Pittsburgh Pirates 2023 Hall of Fame class.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of such a beloved member of the Pirates family and Pittsburgh community,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a statement. “The National League MVP and World Series Champion in 1960, Dick remained a very active and cherished member of our Alumni Association. We were honored to have just recently informed Dick and his family that he had been selected to the Pirates Hall of Fame. He 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.”
It’s a tragic loss for the baseball community, and the MLB world took to social media to pay their respects.
Dick Groat was one of the nicest, kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever met. He was so kind and generous to me in my time at Duke and after. As great as he was as an athlete, he was a better person. RIP to the great Dick Groat. https://t.co/VHEWJrrJQR
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) April 27, 2023
Man, this one hurts.
I am not kidding when I say the world has never seen a more kind and a more genuine man than Dick Groat.
Thank you for being such an amazing friend to our family, and taking care of my pap on the road all those years.
Rest in peace, Legend. 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/L0zhqfAkMa
— Jack Hillgrove (@JackWTOV9) April 27, 2023
How wonderful is it that our last memory of Dick Groat, just days ago, was him accepting his notification from an old pal that he is a Pirates Hall of Famer? Cheers, Mr. Groat. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/m1yjRUcF0j
— Dan Zangrilli (@DanZangrilli) April 27, 2023
Rest in peace, Dick Groat. pic.twitter.com/u52UgE7FeF
— Pittsburgh Pirates History (@HistoryPirates) April 27, 2023
RIP Dick Groat pic.twitter.com/VjId3XMlRr
— Pittsburgh Clothing Co. (@PGHClothingCo) April 27, 2023
One of the greatest athletes to ever live.
• 8X MLB All Star
• 2X World Series Champ
• 1960 Batting Champ (.325)
• 1960 NL MVP
• better point guard than Bob CousyRIP to the legendary Dick Groat. pic.twitter.com/cjLfmkoXe9
— Donny Football (@DonChed54) April 27, 2023
While Groat is most widely known for his success on the baseball diamond, he was actually a two-sport star. Groat was an All-American baseball and basketball player at Duke before going on to play in both the MLB and the NBA.
It’s unlikely we’ll see another athlete like him anytime soon.
[MLB]
