Former World Series-winning catcher Ed Ott dies at 72 as ex-team Pittsburgh pays tribute to ‘a beloved member of the Pirates family’

Ed Ott, a former Major League catcher and coach who helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1979 World Series, died Sunday at the age of 72, his former team announced.

Ott died in the central Pennsylvania city of Danville, according to the Pirates. No further details were provided by the team.

“We are saddened by the loss of such a beloved member of the Pirates family,” Pirates President Travis Williams said in a statement.

“Ed spent seven of his eight years in the major leagues with the Pirates and was a valued member of our 1979 World Series championship team.

“It was great to see him last summer when he was in Pittsburgh to support former teammate Kent Tekulve at our Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Ott, who helped the Pirates win the 1979 World Series, died in the Pennsylvania town of Danville

‘Our sincere condolences to his wife Sue, daughter Michelle and the entire Ott family.’

A native of Muncy, Ott was selected by Pittsburgh in the 23rd round of the 1970 high school amateur draft. He hit .259 with 33 home runs and 195 RBIs in 567 Major League games.

Ott and Steve Nicosia were the primary catchers when the Pirates won it all in 1979. Ott hit .273 with seven home runs and a career-best 51 RBIs in 117 regular season games that year.

He played in three World Series games against Baltimore, going 4 for 12 and driving in three runs.

Ott played in his last Major League game with the Angels in 1981. After his playing career was over, he was a minor league coach with the Angels, Pirates and Reds before working on the big league staff with the Astros and Tigers.