Dick Groat, R.I.P.

Former MLB and NBA player Dick Groat passed away today of complications of a stroke. He was 92. 

While Groat was standout basketball player at Duke University and played briefly in the NBA for the Fort Wayne Pistons, he would become one of baseball's premier shortstops during the 1950's and 1960's primarily with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals despite having very little power or speed.

Groat began his MLB career with the Bucs in 1952 finishing tied for third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting with Eddie Matthews of the Boston Braves. After missing two seasons for military service, Groat focused exclusively on baseball after 1955 and would form the best double play combination in the game with Bill Mazeroski. 

In 1960, Groat would win the NL MVP en route to the Pirates' first World Series title in 35 years. In addition to a World Series ring, Groat won the NL batting title with a .325 average. Prior to the 1963 season, the Bucs traded Groat to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Don Cardwell. While Cardwell had a serviceable stint in Pittsburgh, Groat very nearly won his second NL MVP finishing runner up to Sandy Koufax in his first year in a Redbirds uniform with a career high 201 hits while leading the NL in doubles with 43. In 1964, Groat would earn his second World Series ring once again at the expense of the New York Yankees. That season, Groat would also be selected to his eighth NL All-Star Team. 

Following stints with the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants, Groat would end his career following the 1967 season. In 14 seasons, Groat collected 2,138 hits with a lifetime batting average of .286 with 39 HR and 707 RBI. 

Groat still harbored anger towards the Pirates for dealing him to the Cardinals for nearly 30 years until 1990 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary reunion of the 1960 World Series team. It was only last week, the Pirates announced that Groat would be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame later this season along with Bob Friend, Elroy Face and Kent Tekulve. As with the Steelers and Franco Harris late last year, this ceremony will now become something of a public memorial. I wish teams would honor their legends while they still walk among us. R.I.P.