-- GROAT HE ACHIEVED RARE ATHLETIC GREATNESS. HE WAS A NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP IN 1960. WORLD SERIES CHAMPION WITH THE PIRATES. HE AND BILL MAYS FORMED A LEGENDARY TANDEM AT SHORTSTOP AND SECOND BASE. BEFORE HIS DEATH, HE LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT HE WILL BE INDUCTED INTO THE PIRATES HALL OF FAME. I THINK WE ALL FEEL GOOD TODAY AT THE PIRATES. AND THE ONE THING THAT WE’RE HOLDING ON TO IS THE FACT THAT HE DID PASS, KNOWING THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE INDUCTED IN THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES HALL OF FAME. GROAT WAS A TWO SPORT ATHLETE AT DUKE UNIVERSITY. HE EARNED ALL-AMERICAN HONORS IN BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL. AFTER HIS BASEBALL CAREER, GROAT TEAMED UP WITH BILL HILLGROVE TO ANNOUNCE PITT BASKETBALL GAMES FOR 40 YEARS NORTH OF THE MASON-DIXON LINE. HE WAS A SHORTSTOP, SOUTH OF THE MASON-DIXON LINE IN TOBACCO ROAD COUNTRY. HE WAS A BASKETBALL PLAYER. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT LINE DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER PART. IT’S AMAZING. I THINK GREATS, THE MOST OVERUSED WORD, ESPECIALLY IN SPORTS. BUT HE WAS TRULY ONE OF THE GREATS. PITT BASKETBALL COACH JEFF CAPEL SAYS HE REVERES GROATS HUMANITY. BOTH ARE DUKE UNIVERSITY ALUMS. HUMBLENESS BEING KIND, BEING A GOOD PERSON, EVEN THOUGH HE NEVER WORE JERSEY HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, HE WAS INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THIS PLACE AND REALLY PROUD OF HIS ASSOCIATION WITH IT. HE WAS INCREDIBLY PROUD OF HIS ASSOCIATION WITH THIS CITY. OBVIOUSLY A SPORTS LEGEND, THE BEST ATHLETE, WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, PROBABLY THE STATE OF PENN SYLVANIA HAS EVER PRODUCED. BUT BEYOND THAT, HE WAS A GREAT HUMAN BEING, GREATER HUMAN BEING, THAN HE WAS AN ATHLETE. HE WAS HUMBLE. HE WAS FAIR. AND BEFORE HIS PASSING, THE PIRATES SAY THAT -- GROAT WAS ELATED UPON HEARING
Dick Groat revered as legendary sports figure and humble person
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Updated: 9:08 PM EDT Apr 27, 2023
Dick Groat achieved rare athletic greatness as a two-sport All-American at Duke University, while playing baseball and basketball.His legendary baseball career includes National League MVP and World Series champion with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960.But Groat, who died Thursday at 92, was equally revered for his humility and respect for others."I think great is the most overused word, especially in sports, but he was truly one of the greats," said University of Pittsburgh men's basketball coach Jeff Capel. "Even though he never wore a jersey here at the University of Pittsburgh, he was incredibly proud of this place, really proud of his association with it. He was incredibly proud of his association with this city."After his baseball career, Groat teamed with Bill Hillgrove to become the broadcast announcers for Pitt basketball games, a tandem that lasted 40 years."Obviously a sports legend, the best athlete western Pennsylvania, probably the state of Pennsylvania, has ever produced," Hillgrove said. "Beyond that, he was a great human being, greater human being than he was an athlete. He was humble. He was fair."Before his death, the Pirates organization announced last week that Groat will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame as a member of the 2023 class.
PITTSBURGH — Dick Groat achieved rare athletic greatness as a two-sport All-American at Duke University, while playing baseball and basketball.
His legendary baseball career includes National League MVP and World Series champion with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960.
But Groat, who died Thursday at 92, was equally revered for his humility and respect for others.
"I think great is the most overused word, especially in sports, but he was truly one of the greats," said University of Pittsburgh men's basketball coach Jeff Capel. "Even though he never wore a jersey here at the University of Pittsburgh, he was incredibly proud of this place, really proud of his association with it. He was incredibly proud of his association with this city."
After his baseball career, Groat teamed with Bill Hillgrove to become the broadcast announcers for Pitt basketball games, a tandem that lasted 40 years.
"Obviously a sports legend, the best athlete western Pennsylvania, probably the state of Pennsylvania, has ever produced," Hillgrove said. "Beyond that, he was a great human being, greater human being than he was an athlete. He was humble. He was fair."
Before his death, the Pirates organization announced last week that Groat will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame as a member of the 2023 class.
