Bob Skinner, a three-time World Series champion and three-time All-Star outfielder, has died at the age of 94. The Pittsburgh Pirates, where Skinner began his Major League Baseball career and helped the franchise stun the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series, confirmed his passing on Tuesday. The team said they were informed of Skinner's death by his wife, Joan. He died in San Diego, though a cause was not provided.
A Storied Career on the Field
Skinner, a 6-foot-4 left-handed hitter who threw right-handed, was known for his laid-back demeanor, earning the nickname "Sleepy." Over 12 seasons in the majors, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and St. Louis Cardinals. He compiled a career batting average of .277 and was named to the National League All-Star team in 1958 and twice in 1960, during a period when MLB held two All-Star games per season.
Skinner spent more than eight seasons with Pittsburgh from 1954 to 1963 before being traded to Cincinnati and later to the Cardinals. He was part of the 1964 St. Louis team that won the World Series. His best season may have been 1960, when he drove in a career-high 86 runs while hitting in the middle of the Pirates lineup. In the 1960 World Series, he started Game 1 but injured his thumb sliding into a base, forcing him to sit out until Game 7. He went 0 for 2 with a walk in that decisive game, scoring on Rocky Nelson's second-inning homer and later laying down a sacrifice bunt that advanced two runners during an eighth-inning rally that put Pittsburgh ahead.
Coaching and Managerial Roles
After retiring as a player at the end of the 1966 season, Skinner transitioned into coaching and managing. He had a brief managerial stint with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1968 to 1969, posting a 93-123 record, and served as an interim manager for one game with his hometown San Diego Padres in 1977. A respected coach, he worked with six different organizations in various capacities. He returned to Pittsburgh in 1979 as the club's hitting coach, earning his third World Series ring as part of the "We Are Family" Pirates that defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the 1979 World Series.
Personal Life and Legacy
Skinner was born on October 3, 1931, in La Jolla, California. He was a standout at San Diego Junior College and signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the early 1950s. His debut in 1954 came after two years of military service during the Korean War. Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a statement: "Bob was an important part of one of the most beloved teams in our storied history and helped deliver a moment that will forever be woven into the fabric of our city. Bob was a talented player, a proud Pirate and a respected member of the baseball community."
Skinner is survived by his wife Joan, sons Mark, Craig, Drew, and Joel, along with eight grandchildren.
