Former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder and coach Bob Skinner has died, the club confirmed Tuesday. He was 94 years old.
Skinner won two World Series with the club, first as a player on the 1960 championship team that took down the New York Yankees and then as a coach for the 1979 Pirates squad that beat the Baltimore Orioles.
Skinner was a three-time All-Star and also won a World Series while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964.
The former outfielder was born in La Jolla, California, on Oct. 3, 1931. He played baseball growing up and was signed by the Pirates after being scouted by Tom Downey.
Early in his career, the left-handed swing from Skinner garnered plenty of attention. Branch Rickey, who was the manager of the Pirates when Skinner came up, said that the outfielder was “absolutely the best natural hitter I have seen in many years.”
Skinner played one year of pro ball before service in the United States Marine Corps paused his minor league career from 1951 through 1953. He finally made his debut with the Pirates in 1954. His career lasted 12 seasons.
After retiring from playing, he had a year off before becoming the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1968, despite having no prior coaching experience. Skinner led the Phillies to a 48-59 record in 1968 and a 44-64 record in 1969 before resigning. He chose to step away from the job because of difficulties with star player Dick Allen, though his decision was admired by reporters at the time. Columnist Jimmy Cannon said of Skinner resigning, “He went down with style because he refused to maim his dignity as a man. There aren’t many men in baseball who would make this choice. The world is short of them.”
Pirates chairman Bob Nutting released a statement Tuesday honoring Skinner.
“As a member of the 1960 World Series championship team, Bob was an important part of one of the most beloved teams in our storied history and helped deliver a moment that will forever be woven into the fabric of our city.
Bob was a talented player, a proud Pirate and a respected member of the baseball community. On behalf of the entire Pirates organization, we extend our deepest condolences to Bob’s family, friends and all those who knew and loved him.”
Skinner only served as a manager one more time. He was the interim manager for the San Diego Padres for one game in their 1977 season — a win — after John McNamara resigned and Alvin Dark was named the manager for the remainder of the season.
