The 1955 Rookie of the Year, Bill Virdon was a Gold Glove centerfielder and World Series champ; as a skipper he was The Sporting News’ Manager of the Year in 1974 & 1980.
Virdon was Rookie of the Year for the Cardinals in '55; they traded him away in May of '56
Bill Virdon’s first taste of big league baseball with the Cardinals in 1955 culminated in his selection as the National League Rookie of the Year. Seven months after winning the award, a trade to Pittsburgh changed his life. The May 17th deal in ’56 brought Virdon to the Pirates in excha
Virdon was Rookie of the Year for the Cardinals in '55; they traded him away in May of '56
Bill Virdon’s first taste of big league baseball with the Cardinals in 1955 culminated in his selection as the National League Rookie of the Year. Seven months after winning the award, a trade to Pittsburgh changed his life.
The May 17th deal in ’56 brought Virdon to the Pirates in exchanged for Dick Littlefield and Bobby Del Greco. Virdon enjoyed a dozen years in the bigs and finished with more than 1,500 career hits. Though Littlefield and Del Greco each appeared in 9 seasons at baseball’s highest level, they were nothing more than journeymen.
A part-time Del Greco had a career-high 351 at bats in 1962. The centerfielder played for six teams and finished with a .229 career average. Littlefield pitched for four NL and four AL teams retiring with a 33-54 career win/loss mark. He’s best remembered as the man traded for Jackie Robinson.
Shown here is the official document from the commissioner’s office that called up Littlefield for his big league debut. At the bottom is the signature of Hall of Fame shortstop Joe Cronin who as the GM of the Red Sox.
Bill Virdon played for 12 seasons, managed for 13 & spent a lifetime in the game
After his trade from St. Louis to Pittsburgh, Bill Virdon found a home in the Steel City. He became a fan favorite and played the remainder of his 12-year career with the Pirates. The center fielder averaged more than 140 games played in his first 10 years in Pittsburgh. A defensive difference-maker
Bill Virdon played for 12 seasons, managed for 13 & spent a lifetime in the game
After his trade from St. Louis to Pittsburgh, Bill Virdon found a home in the Steel City. He became a fan favorite and played the remainder of his 12-year career with the Pirates.
The center fielder averaged more than 140 games played in his first 10 years in Pittsburgh. A defensive difference-maker in the 1960 Pirates’ World Series triumph, Virdon also earned a Gold Glove Award in 1962.
After more than a decade in the bigs Virdon hung up his spikes when the Pirates released him in November of ’65 . He stayed in the game as a minor league manager in the Pittsburgh farm system. In ’68 he returned to the majors as a coach under Pirates skipper Larry Shepard.
When Freddie Patek went on the disabled list on July 15th Virdon was pressed into service on the active roster. He appeared in six games, half as a pinch hitter. Twenty-eight months removed from his playing days, he hit a two-run homer in his penultimate big league at bat.
When he left the game as a player for good, his lifetime stats included 1,596 hits, 735 runs, and 502 runs batted in.
Virdon remained on the Pirates coaching staff through the ’71 season before being named manager for ’72. He piloted the Bucs to the Eastern Division championship in his first season. Virdon was fired 136 games into the ’73 season despite his team being just three games out of first place.
The New York Yankees hired him in ’74. Piloting the Yanks was a tall task for Virdon. He inherited a club that finished in fourth-place, 17 games out of first in ’73.
Under Virdon, New York finished second, just two games behind division-winning Baltimore. The performance earned him the American League Manager of the Year Award.
In ’75 he lasted just 104 games before being fired by the third-place New York team in August. The respected baseball man wasn’t out of a job long; the Astros hired him later the same month.
Virdon lasted eight seasons in Houston, earning his second Manger of the Year Award in 1980. He pushed the Astros to the postseason twice and finished second or third in three other campaigns.
His final two years as manager came in Montreal in ’83 and ’84 with the Expos. In 13 years as a skipper, Virdon managed a .519 winning percentage and 995 wins.
From 1985 through 2001 Virdon served as a bench for the Pirates and Astros. After leaving the big leagues he coached in the minors for the Houston and St. Louis. All told, the baseball lifer witnessed 62 spring trainings.
Virdon lived a long and productive life until passing away at age 90 on November 23, 2021.
In the image above are three Topps baseball cards autographed by the career baseball man. The first depicts the Rookie of the Year Award and features the autographs of five winners, Al Dark (1948), Roy Sievers (1949), Walt Dropo (1950), Herb Score (1955), and Virdon (1955). The other two autographed Topps examples are from ’57 and ’58.
Virdon's defense in the 1960 World Series helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win it all
The 1960 World Series was a David and Goliath matchup. The American League champion New York Yankees were coming off a decade in which they won six Fall Classic titles. Their roster included five men men who claimed MVP awards during their careers – Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Elst
Virdon's defense in the 1960 World Series helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win it all
The 1960 World Series was a David and Goliath matchup. The American League champion New York Yankees were coming off a decade in which they won six Fall Classic titles. Their roster included five men men who claimed MVP awards during their careers – Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, and Bobby Shantz.
The underdog Pirates’ top-four WAR leaders that year were Dick Groat, Don Hoak, Bob Friend and Vern Law. Pittsburgh appeared to be overmatched.
In the first inning of Game One, the Pirates jumped out to a 3-1 lead. In the top of the fourth, Mantle and Maris reached base to start the inning. The next batter Berra drove a Vern Law offering to deep center. It had “double” written all over it. A two-base hit would clear the bases and tie the game.
Instead, Pirates center fielder Bill Virdon flagged it down to preserve the lead. Pittsburgh held on for a 6-4 victory.
After New York won the next two games 16-3 and 10-0, Vidron continued his defensive heroics in Game Four. With one out in the 7th and the Pirates clinging to a 3-2 advantage, the Yankees put two runners on first and second.
Left fielder Bob Cerv’s chance at a two-RBI double ended as Virdon made one of the most memorable catches in World Series history. His acrobatic grab preserved the Pirates lead and helped tie the Series at two games apiece.
The teams split the next two games with the Pirates winning Game Five 3-2 and the Yankees blasting through Game Six 12-0. Game Seven would be a winner-take-all affair.
Behind Bill Mazeroski’s dramatic Game Seven walk-off homer, the Pirates were crowned the improbable champions of baseball. In the 7-game Series New York outscored Pittsburgh 55-27. Pittsburgh’s timely hitting and Virdon’s stellar defense delivered the World Series title.
Shown here are two two baseball cards commemorating Virdon’s defense. The Pirates centerfielder has autographed both Topps offerings.
Virdon hit .404 off of Sandy Koufax, the highest average among players with at least 15 at bats
Bill Virdon had a remarkable success batting against Sandy Koufax, one of baseball’s greatest pitchers. Koufax, the youngest player ever inducted into the Hall of Fame, dominated many hitters. Yet Virdon thrived. Virdon was a career .267 hitter with an 89 OPS+. When he faced Sandy Koufax, he t
Virdon hit .404 off of Sandy Koufax, the highest average among players with at least 15 at bats
Bill Virdon had a remarkable success batting against Sandy Koufax, one of baseball’s greatest pitchers. Koufax, the youngest player ever inducted into the Hall of Fame, dominated many hitters. Yet Virdon thrived.
Virdon was a career .267 hitter with an 89 OPS+. When he faced Sandy Koufax, he turned into Superman. In 60 plate appearances, Virdon hit .404 with a .467 on-base percentage against Koufax. His career OPS was .696, but against Koufax, it soared to .947.
Virdon recorded 21 hits and drew 8 walks. Seventeen of those hits were singles, and the other 4 were doubles. In the next image is a questionnaire in which Virdon explains his success against Koufax.
Virdon makes it sound so simple, “I was lucky for one thing. He threw me all fastballs and I was a fastball hitter.”
Shown here is a 1961 Topps baseball card titled, “Dodger Southpaws” featuring Koufax and Johnny Podres. Both men have signed the card. In ’61 against the Los Angeles lefty Virdon recorded 7 hits in 14 at bats with one walk, a double, and two RBI.
Virdon enjoyed 61 years in professional baseball as a player, coach, and manager
Bill Virdon enjoyed a long and prosperous career in baseball. He began his professional career in the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League at 19. He spent five years in the minors before reaching the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955. Virdon’s strong defense and bat earne
Virdon enjoyed 61 years in professional baseball as a player, coach, and manager
Bill Virdon enjoyed a long and prosperous career in baseball. He began his professional career in the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League at 19. He spent five years in the minors before reaching the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955. Virdon’s strong defense and bat earned him Rookie of the Year honors. Virdon spent 12 years playing big league baseball.
After retiring, Virdon quickly transitioned to coaching. The Mets hired him as a minor league manager in 1965. The Pittsburgh Pirates added him to their major league staff in 1968. Virdon played in six games that season, including hitting a two-run home run for his final career hit.
In 1972, Virdon became the Pirates’ manager, leading them to the NLCS. However, he was fired in 1973. The Yankees hired him in 1974, and Virdon led them to a strong finish. He earned his first Manager of the Year award that season.
Virdon managed the Houston Astros from 1975 to 1982. He guided them to the NLCS and earned his second Manager of the Year award. He finished his managing career in Montreal. Over 15 seasons, Virdon’s teams posted a 995-921 record. His squads finished in the top three 11 times.
In his final questionnaire response, Virdon reflects on his long, successful baseball career spanning 61 years.
A statue of Virdon was erected in 1995 at his induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
A life-size statue of Bill Virdon was erected in 1995 at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. The bronze scupture depicts Virdon making his famous catch in Game 1 of the 1960 World Series. The design was taken from the 1960 Topps Baseball Card “Virdon Saves the Game” shown in the previous i
A statue of Virdon was erected in 1995 at his induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
A life-size statue of Bill Virdon was erected in 1995 at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. The bronze scupture depicts Virdon making his famous catch in Game 1 of the 1960 World Series. The design was taken from the 1960 Topps Baseball Card “Virdon Saves the Game” shown in the previous image.
Copied Bill Virdons batting stance,baseball bat level with the grond for line drives. Great all around player closer to a Roberto Clemente. Clemente was in a class all by himself.
One of the nicest people I ever met! He is the answer to the following trivia question. who is the only Yankee manager to never win a game in Yankee Stadium?
Copied Bill Virdons batting stance,baseball bat level with the grond for line drives. Great all around player closer to a Roberto Clemente. Clemente was in a class all by himself.
One of the nicest people I ever met! He is the answer to the following trivia question. who is the only Yankee manager to never win a game in Yankee Stadium?