Jeff Torborg, a former Mets manager who also spent a decade coaching with the Yankees, has died.
The MLB lifer, who was a catcher during his playing days, was 83.
No cause of death was announced, but Torborg was said to have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in recent years.
Torborg, a Westfield, N.J., native, was named an All-American after batting .537 one season at Rutgers University. He was signed as an amateur free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1963 and although he wasn’t a player of All-Star caliber during his playing career, he has the distinction of catching three no-hitters during his career, including Sandy Koufax, Bill Singer and Nolan Ryan.
In addition to the Dodgers, he also played for the California Angels and, although he was traded to St. Louis after the 1973 season, he never played for the Cardinals.
Torborg’s coaching/managing career began in 1977 when he was hired by the Cleveland Indians to be their bullpen coach. He replaced MLB legend Frank Robinson as manager when the latter was fired and after holding that position for three years, he joined the Yankees’ coaching staff, where he held a variety of positions, and stayed in the Bronx between 1979-1988.
Former New York Mets manager Jeff Torborg, center, argues with umpire Ed Rapuano during a game in the early 1990s. (Star-Ledger)Star-Ledger
He left the Yankees in 1989 to become manager of the Chicago White Sox and in his second season, thanks to a 25-win improvement from the year before, he was named A.L. Manager of the Year. Torborg left to become manager of the Mets prior to the 1992 season — earning a substantial raise in the process — but he tenure in Queens was a disaster. After the Mets finished 70-92 in 1992m he was fired just 38 games into the 1993 campaign after compiling a 13-25 record. He was replaced by Dallas Green.
After serving as a sportscaster for a number of years, he also had managerial stints in Montreal and Florida. He was fired again following a poor start with the Marlins in 2003 and, interestingly, they went on to win the World Series that season under Jack McKeon.
Torborg was 634-718 during his managerial career (.469 winning percentage) and never coached in the post-season.
Torborg, who lived in Mountainside, N.J., for 25 years, returned to broadcasting after leaving the Marlins and retired in 2007.
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