Dick Groat dies age 92, leaving behind one of the most accomplished legacies in American Sports

Pittsburgh Pirates legend and hometown icon Dick Groat has died at age 92, leaving his mark in American Sports history, following an impressive 14-year MLB career and a season in the NBA. 

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.

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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.

Former Duke basketball player and legend Dick Groat in 2017. He died Thursday, age 92

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. When the Pirates front office forced him to chose between a professional career in either basketball or baseball, he chose to represent his hometown team and 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 to bless 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). 

Groat was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007, 55 years after Duke retired his jersey.