Dick Groat

Dick Groat was born November 4, 1930 in Swissvale, Pennsylvania.

 He graduated from Duke University where he was a four-time All-American in baseball and basketball.  In 1952 he was College Basketball Player of the Year.  That same spring he played in the college baseball world series.

Only three days later, right off the Duke campus and without playing a single game in the minor leagues, he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Dick led the Pirates in hitting as a rookie. At the same time, he played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Fort Wayne (now Detroit) Pistons in 1952 & 1953.

Dick served in the military during 1953 and 1954 and returned to the Pirates in 1955.  He played with the Pirates until 1962 when he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals.  Dick won the coveted leagues Most Valuable Player award and batting championship in 1960 as the Pirates won the World Series.  In 1964 he again won a second World Series Championship with the St. Louis Cardinals.

During the winter of 1965, Dick was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, and retired in 1967 while playing with the San Francisco Giants, due to a serious ankle injury.  During his long Major League career, Dick played on eight All-star teams.

Dick is presently owner of Champion Lakes Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.  During the winter he broadcasts Pitt basketball games with Bill Hillgrove.  Dick resides in Edgewood, Pennsylvania and has three daughters and six grandchildren.