One of Pittsburgh’s greatest athletes has passed away.
Dick Groat, a key member of the 1960 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates, died Thursday morning at the age of 92 after suffering complications from a stroke.
Groat played shortstop for the Pirates and was an eight-time All-Star and was a key part of two championship teams: the aforementioned 1960 Pirates and the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals. His major league career, though, was interrupted in the 1953 and 1954 seasons due to military service.
Groat also excelled on the hardwood. At Duke, he was a two-time All-American, a two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year, and the 1950-51 Helms National Player of the Year. He was selected third overall in the 1952 NBA Draft by the Fort Wayne Pistons, but opted to play baseball after a season in pro basketball.
After his playing career, Groat joined Bill Hillgrove for radio coverage of PITT basketball, a position he held for 40 years until his retirement in 2019.
Groat’s death comes just days after he learned of his induction into the Pirates’ Hall of Fame in August.
