Former Duke basketball star and MLB MVP Dick Groat dies at age 92

**str** · 04-29-23, 08:11 AM

Originally posted by stevenash

Way before my time, I read where there wasn't a sport he didn't succeed in.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...t-star-dies-92

When I was 9-10 I won my choice of several prizes shooting BB guns at targets at Glen Echo Amusement Park just outside of Wash. DC.

I picked a Dick Groat autographed (doubt it was real) picture of him at Shortstop. I had every Topps card several times that year.

He was GREAT. A classic back in the day shortstop.

I only found out about how good he was in Basketball a few years later.

Side note: Look at his bat in the picture.

Classic H & B Louisville slugger and it is a Davenport model. Back then, they made those bats based on players preferences of different thicknesses of the handle all the big names used and he must have liked his thinner than some according to the picture.

Most likely that is Jim Davenport of the SF Giants.

Pretty cool to see that. Brings back memories.

Not that anyone cares but I used a Jackie Brandt ( Orioles) auto bat.

Hated the O's, loved the Senators.

Hate seeing these old timers pass away. I know, the cycle of life.

A ton of found memories of baseball back then.

Thanks for sharing Nasher.

All the best.

**Chi_archie** · 04-29-23, 08:53 AM

one of the great and under rated two sport athletes of all time

**homie1975** · 04-29-23, 08:08 PM

never heard of him until today.

i wish i had seen him play

**Flashmo** · 04-30-23, 07:32 AM

Brooks Koepka's Uncle

**stevenash** · 04-30-23, 08:20 AM

Originally posted by Flashmo

Brooks Koepka's Uncle

Did not know that.
Nice find.

**str** · 04-30-23, 08:46 AM

Originally posted by Flashmo

Brooks Koepka's Uncle

That makes me want to like Koepka now.

Thanks Flashmo.

**RITZ** · 04-30-23, 09:53 AM

Dick Groat MVP was really a great baseball player! I loved his baseball cards!

**stevenash** · 04-30-23, 10:26 AM

Those Pirate teams were STACKED too.

Pittsburgh needs to be baseball relevant again, it's a great baseball city, even though I'm a KC Royals fan, I'm loving the start the Pirates are off to so far this season.

**homie1975** · 04-30-23, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by str

That makes me want to like Koepka now.

Thanks Flashmo.

he is not very likeable

**stevenash** · 04-30-23, 05:16 PM

Originally posted by homie1975

he is not very likeable

Most of the pro golfers aren't.
Most of them give off that entitlement vibe, most of them are unapproachable...

**str** · 04-30-23, 06:40 PM

Originally posted by str

That makes me want to like Koepka now.

Thanks Flashmo.

Originally posted by homie1975

he is not very likeable

I know. Like most of us, I feel that vibe right through the TV screen.
But... Dick Groat was one of many heroes of mine as a kid.

So I will try real hard to like the jerk out of respect to his uncle who was just the opposite.

**19th Hole** · 05-01-23, 12:51 AM

I must say that the comments concerning Dick Groat seem
to capture more interesting aspects of the man than I would have expected.

I have seen Dick Groat play many times as a boy as I was a National League fan.

Sorry to hear of his passing.

**19th Hole** · 05-01-23, 01:04 AM

Originally posted by stevenash

Those Pirate teams were STACKED too.

Pittsburgh needs to be baseball relevant again, it's a great baseball city, even though I'm a KC Royals fan, I'm loving the start the Pirates are off to so far this season.

...
Great to see MLB excitement returning to Pittsburgh.

**19th Hole** · 05-01-23, 01:07 AM

Originally posted by stevenash

Most of the pro golfers aren't.
Most of them give off that entitlement vibe, most of them are unapproachable...

~~~

I used to have many PGA tour players come into my restaurant.
I found most to be very approachable and affable.

**stevenash** · 05-01-23, 06:31 PM

Originally posted by 19th Hole

~~~

I used to have many PGA tour players come into my restaurant.
I found most to be very approachable and affable.

You're probably right, I'm just basing my opinion on the vibe I get from the visuals I get on TV.

I will say this much, when I was like 22 I think (early 20's) I was in Las Vegas when the PGA tour was there for the Desert Open, I think they call it the Las Vegas Open or something like that now, anyways, it was after round two, a Friday evening, I was at the bar, and sitting two stools down was Davis Love III knocking down a beer, went over to shake his had, wished him luck, you know, quick small talk, left him alone after 20 seconds, and he came across very friendly.