Jeff Torborg, ex-Mets manager, World Series champ, dies at 83

Jeff Torborg, the former Mets manager who caught 3 no-hitters and won a World Series arsenic a player, died Sunday. He was 83.

Torborg had battled Parkinson’s illness since 2010, though his authoritative origin of decease was not announced. He died successful his hometown of Westfield, N.J., according to different of his erstwhile clubs, the Chicago White Sox.

“RIP Jeff Torborg,” Hall of Fame White Sox slugger Frank Thomas wrote connected societal media. “You were my archetypal large league manager and I enjoyed playing for you. You gave maine a accidental to radiance close distant and I’m precise thankful.”

Torborg was portion of respective clubs during his playing and managing career. In New York, helium was best known arsenic manager of the Mets opening successful 1992 earlier helium was fired aboriginal successful the 1993 season. He besides spent astir a decennary connected the Yankees’ coaching unit from 1979 to 1988.

“I knew determination was a situation here,” helium said before his past crippled arsenic Mets manager. “I conscionable privation I was capable to get much retired of the squad than I did, that’s all.”

New York Mets manager Jeff Torborg successful 1993. (Kathy Willens/AP)

On the field, Torborg was a backup catcher who deed .214 and launched 8 location runs successful 574 vocation games. However, helium besides had the uncommon favoritism of catching 3 no-hitters during his 10-year vocation with the Los Angeles Dodgers and California Angels.

In 1965, Torborg caught the past of Sandy Koufax’s 4 vocation no-nos, a perfect crippled against the Chicago Cubs. Five years later, helium caught a no-hitter from two-time All-Star Bill Singer, who befuddled the Philadelphia Phillies. And successful 1973, helium caught the archetypal of Nolan Ryan’s 7 vocation no-hitters arsenic the fireballer dominated the Kansas City Royals.

Torborg was besides a subordinate of the 1965 World Series-winning Dodgers squad, though helium did not look successful the team’s seven-game triumph implicit the Minnesota Twins.

Along with the White Sox and Mets, he managed the Cleveland Indians, Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins.