Jeff Torborg, who parlayed his major league smarts as a catcher into a longtime managerial and coaching career, died Sunday, the White Sox announced. He was 83. No cause of death was immediately announced, but in recent years Torborg had battled Parkinson’s disease.
The Westfield, N.J., native managed the Mets for less than two seasons and had an extended coaching career with the Yankees in various roles. Torborg’s greatest success as a manager came with the White Sox from 1989-91. He was named American League Manager of the Year in 1990 after leading the team to 94 victories.
His stint managing the Mets was turbulent. After the team finished 70-92 under his guidance in 1992 — a unit that would later become known as “The Worst Team Money Could Buy” (the title of a book written about that squad) — Torborg was fired only 38 games into the next season and replaced by Dallas Green. The Mets were 13-25 at the time.
Torborg later managed the Expos and Marlins. In the latter job he was fired early in the 2003 season before the team rallied to win the World Series under Torborg’s replacement, Jack McKeon.
It was after Torborg’s first managerial job — with Cleveland from 1977-79 — that the former Rutgers standout returned home to begin a stint coaching with the Yankees that lasted nearly a decade.
During that time Torborg served as a bullpen coach and was among the numerous individuals in the 1980s to hold the pitching coach title for the Yankees during the heyday of team owner George Steinbrenner’s volatility.
Torborg’s tenure with the Mets began as the team’s payroll climbed to $45 million (No. 1 in MLB) following the signing of high-profile free agent Bobby Bonilla. Other highly paid veterans on the team included Bret Saberhagen, Vince Coleman and Eddie Murray.
By June the team was under .500. The Mets fell out of contention in the second half to finish fifth in the NL East. Torborg was fired in May of the following season with the Mets sputtering.
Torborg spent his 10-year playing career with the Dodgers and Angels. He caught Sandy Koufax’s perfect game in 1965. He also caught one of Nolan Ryan’s seven no-hitters.
In between managerial stints Torborg was a broadcaster for Fox and CBS Radio. In the latter job he teamed with Vin Scully on the network’s World Series coverage from 1995-97.
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