Pittsburgh legend Dick Groat dies at 92: Pirates and Duke icon leaves behind one of the most successful legacies in American sports history
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Pittsburgh Pirates legend and hometown icon Dick Groat has passed away at the age of 92, leaving his mark on American sports history after an impressive 14-year MLB career and one season in the NBA.
The Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania native 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 batting average of .286 and 2,138 hits with four NL teams, including the Phillies and Giants.
Groat, who also played college baseball at Duke, was told he would be inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame Class of 2023 on the same day 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 ever to be admitted to the college basketball and baseball halls of fame.
Groat was more naturally gifted in basketball, considered his real passion. The 5-foot-11 guard played three years for the Blue Devils (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 with his number (10) to be retired in school history.
Former Duke basketball player and legend Dick Groat in 2017. He died Thursday at the age of 92
In 1952, the Fort Wayne Pistons (Detroit) selected Groat as the No. 3 pick of the NBA draft, though his early success was interrupted by a two-year stint in the military. When the Pirates front office forced him to choose between a professional career in basketball or baseball, he chose to represent his hometown team and MLB largely because of financial compensation.
For seven seasons (1956-1962), Groat teamed up with future Hall of Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski to bless the Pirates with one of the greatest teams in baseball history. He led the NL in double plays, a record of five plays, four clean sheets and two assists.
Groat ranks ninth in MLB history in games played at shortstop (1,877) and fourth in doubles plays (1,237). He also ranks high on the Dutch list in record eliminations (10th, 3,505), 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.