RIP Dick Groat.

[Brian Van Horn]

https://triblive.com/sports/former-p...ck-groat-dies/

A college basketball Hall of Famer as well who played a year in the NBA.

[Bigdaddy]

An amazing athlete, and an even better man. We need more Dick Groats.

[Orioles1954]

I read his obituary and had NO idea he was such a great basketball player. R.I.P.

[egri]

RIP. Growing up as a Red Sox fan, I always had a soft spot for the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates, because they beat the Yankees. I worked on that team card in 2016-2017; it's always sad when another member of it leaves us.

[ALR-bishop]

Rightfully considered a Pirate, he did come to the Cardinals in 1963 and did help them win the pennant in 64 and then beat the Yankees in the World Series. And, thanks in part to an injury to Bill Mazeroski he was part of an all Cardinals infield in the 1963 All Star game...White, Javier, Groat and Boyer

[toledo_mudhen]

High School: Swissvale HS (Swissvale, PA)

School: Duke University (Durham, NC)

Debut: June 18, 1952 (Age 21-227d, 10,932nd in major league history)
vs. NYG 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Last Game: October 1, 1967 (Age 36-331d)
vs. PHI 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Full Name: Richard Morrow Groat

MVP
8x All-Star
2x World Series
Batting Title

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

I read his obituary and had NO idea he was such a great basketball player. R.I.P.

When I was doing TTM for older BAA/NBL/NBA players I wrote him saying I collected basketball players. He signed a few index cards and returned my letter with a question mark next to the words 'basketball players'. I guess he was so used to getting baseball requests that he did not comprehend someone wanting him for his NBA career.

[JCRedbird]

Lifelong Cardinals fan and Groat brought the punch they needed to win the pennant and the series in 1964. Great trade by the Cards as they gave up Julio Gotay and journeyman Don Cardwell for Groat. Gotay was supposed to be "all that" but never panned out. We went up to Cincy in Sept of 1963 as Musial had announced his retirement and Cincy was the closest NL stadium to our hometown. I was 8 years old and looking for autographs. Groat is signing my scorecard and the usher yells at me telling me to leave the players alone. Scared me to death!! Groat told the usher to not worry about the players, just help people with their seats. Forever my hero. Signed it right on Mr. Red's crotch. Cards lost 5-2 and Musial went 0 for 2

[timn1]

As a fellow Dukie I've always enjoyed Dick Groat's career and cards.

I notice he was only inducted into the Pirates HOF this year! - that seems strange to me, given how important he was to the team in the postwar years.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by timn1

As a fellow Dukie I've always enjoyed Dick Groat's career and cards.

I notice he was only inducted into the Pirates HOF this year! - that seems strange to me, given how important he was to the team in the postwar years.

The Pirates just established their Hall of Fame last year. So, Groat is part of their second class. Most of the members of the inaugural class are in the BBHOF. Only 3 Danny Murtaugh, Dave Parker and Steve Blass are not.

[icollectDCsports]

RIP, Dick Groat.

[FrankWakefield]

Condolences to his family and friends,

Nice memories, Richard.

I saw him play on the 1964 team. And I listened to a bunch of those games in 1964. #24 was a reliable, surehanded shortstop out there. Stable. And watching him doing the hit and run was like a clinic. Brock, or Flood, or Javier would break, Groat is watching the middle infielders, and he'd hit the ball through the hole, it was like Groat was willing the fielder out of the way...

An intelligent, skilled, surehanded, reliable, good ball player. I thought of him as about the best short stop I'd seen, until I saw the then Padres' Ozzie Smith get to a hot shot that then Cardinal Gary Templeton had drilled into the hole for a certain hit, until a diving Ozzie snagged it.

[timn1]

I just assumed the Pirates had had a HOF for a long time, given the franchise's rich history.

Originally Posted by rats60

The Pirates just established their Hall of Fame last year. So, Groat is part of their second class. Most of the members of the inaugural class are in the BBHOF. Only 3 Danny Murtaugh, Dave Parker and Steve Blass are not.