Written By Dick Groat, a legendary two-sport athlete and a member of the College Basketball and College Baseball Hall of Fames, passed away on April 23, 2022, at the age of 92. He will be remembered as one of the greatest athletes to ever come out of Duke University and the University of Pittsburgh, and as a standout player in both baseball and basketball.
Groat was born on November 4, 1930, in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. He attended Swissvale High School, where he excelled in basketball and baseball. In 1948, he was named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette High School Player of the Year in basketball.
After high school, Groat enrolled at Duke University, where he continued to play both basketball and baseball. He was a two-time All-American in basketball, leading the Blue Devils to the NCAA Championship game in 1954. He was also a standout shortstop on the baseball team, earning All-American honors in 1952 and 1953.
Groat’s talent on the basketball court and the baseball diamond did not go unnoticed, and he was drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the second round of the 1952 NBA Draft and by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third round of the 1952 MLB Draft.
Groat decided to pursue a career in baseball, and he made his major league debut with the Pirates in 1952. He quickly established himself as one of the premier shortstops in the game, winning the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1952 and earning six All-Star selections and two Gold Gloves over the course of his career.
Groat played for several teams over his 14-year career, including the Pirates, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the San Francisco Giants. He retired in 1967 with a career batting average of .286, 2,138 hits, and 829 runs batted in.
Groat was not only a great player on the field, but he was also a respected leader and mentor to his teammates. His former Pirates teammate Bill Mazeroski once said of Groat, “He was a leader. He was the type of guy that would give you a pat on the back when you needed it and would also give you a kick in the pants when you needed that, too.”
After his playing career, Groat went on to have a successful career in broadcasting, calling games for the Pirates, Cardinals, and Phillies. He was also a successful businessman, owning several car dealerships in the Pittsburgh area.
Groat’s impact on both basketball and baseball cannot be overstated. He was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011. His number 10 is retired by the Pirates, and he was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 1984.
Groat’s death was met with an outpouring of condolences and tributes from the baseball and basketball communities. Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a statement, “Dick Groat was an icon at Duke, and his legacy will always be a part of the rich history of Duke Basketball. He was an outstanding athlete and a great ambassador for our university. He will be greatly missed.”
Pittsburgh Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting said, “Dick Groat was a true baseball and Pittsburgh icon. His legacy as a player, broadcaster and business leader will forever be remembered and celebrated by Pirates fans everywhere.”
In conclusion, Dick Groat’s remarkable career as a two-sport athlete and his impact on both basketball and baseball will never be forgotten. He was a leader, a mentor, and an icon, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations of athletes for years to come.
