Invoice Virdon, former Yankees supervisor, lifeless at 90
PITTSBURGH — Invoice Virdon, the regular heart fielder who received the 1955 Nationwide League Rookie of the Yr for St. Louis and guided the Houston Astros to a few straight postseason appearances as a supervisor, has died. He was 90.
Virdon died on the Lester E. Cox Medical Middle in Springfield, Missouri, based on Virdon’s spouse Shirley. No explanation for demise was given.
Virdon was a profession .267 hitter in 12 seasons with St. Louis and Pittsburgh, successful a World Collection in 1960 with the Pirates and a Gold Glove in 1962. He retired for good in 1968 and went into teaching, going 995-921 throughout a 13-year managerial profession that featured stints with Pittsburgh, the New York Yankees, Houston and Montreal.
His best success got here throughout an eight-year run with the Astros from 1975-82, when he led the franchise to its first two postseason appearances, each ending with five-game losses. Houston misplaced to Philadelphia within the 1980 NL Championship Collection and to the Los Angeles Dodgers in an NL Division Collection prompted by the 1981 gamers’ strike.
Virdon stays Houston’s profession wins chief as a supervisor (544). He was voted NL Supervisor of the Yr in 1980 after guiding the Astros to the NL West title, one they secured after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in a one-game playoff.
“His impact on the Astros organization will never be forgotten,” the Astros mentioned in an announcement. “He was respected throughout baseball for his intensity and knowledge of the game.”
Virdon was signed by the Yankees in 1950 and traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in April 1954 in a deal that despatched star outfielder Enos Slaughter to New York.
The left-handed-hitting Virdon reached the majors in 1955. Taking up for Corridor of Famer Stan Musial in heart, Virdon hit .281 with 17 dwelling runs and 68 RBIs whereas serving as one of many few vibrant spots for a group that completed subsequent to final within the NL.
The Cardinals dealt Virdon to Pittsburgh in Could 1955, and he flourished. By the point 1960 arrived, the Pirates’ fortunes had turned thanks partly to an outfield that included Virdon in centerfield and Corridor of Famer Roberto Clemente in proper.
Pittsburgh reached the 1960 World Collection and Virdon performed a key position within the Pirates’ gorgeous upset of the Yankees. Virdon hit .241 within the seven-game sequence, together with a pair of hits in Recreation 7. His sharp single to shortstop within the seventh inning helped the Pirates rally after falling behind 7-4.
“Bill Virdon was a man who took such great pride in being a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates family,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting mentioned in an announcement. “Every fan who followed our 1960 team will always remember the instrumental role that he played to bring a third World Series championship to the city of Pittsburgh.”
Virdon completed with 1,596 hits, together with 91 dwelling runs and 502 RBIs in 12 seasons. He received a second World Collection with Pittsburgh in 1971 whereas serving as a coach beneath supervisor Danny Murtaugh. He changed Murtaugh as supervisor in 1972, starting a considerably nomadic profession. He took the Pirates to the playoffs in 1972 however was fired earlier than the top of the 1973 season.
He surprisingly discovered himself because the supervisor of the Yankees in 1974 after American League president Joe Cronin nixed New York’s try to signal Dick Williams from the Oakland Athletics. Virdon led the Yankees to a second-place end behind Baltimore in 1974 however discovered himself out of a job by the center of 1975 when New York employed Billy Martin.
Houston promptly signed Virdon and he ended up spending eight years with the Astros. Fueled by a pitching workers that included Corridor of Famer Nolan Ryan and stars Joe Niekro and J.R. Richard, Virdon molded the Astros into contenders. They reached the playoffs for the primary time in 1980 after going 93-80, the final victory a 7-1 conquer the Dodgers a a tiebreaker sport.
Houston reached the postseason once more in the course of the strike-shortened 1981 season and his tenure with the Astros ended a 12 months later. Virdon spent two extra years managing the Montreal Expos in 1983-84. Whereas he interviewed for a number of managerial positions after the Expos fired him, he labored primarily as a coach for a number of organizations over the following 20 years earlier than stepping away from teaching for good in 2002.
Virdon remained an lively a part of Pittsburgh’s alumni program following his retirement, usually attending spring coaching as a particular teacher.
“Hate to hear about the passing of Bill “Quail” Virdon,” former Pirates star Andrew McCutchen posted on Twitter. “He hit me ground balls as long as his body would let him. Time would pass and Id (sic) catch him sitting on bucket. Id (sic) tease him and tell him to get up. His response, ‘Old age can kiss my (butt).”
Virdon was born on June 9, 1931, in Hazel Park, Michigan. He’s survived by spouse Shirley, three daughters, seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
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