The Boston Red Sox have announced that after more than two and a half decades in a Red Sox uniform, Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr has passed away at 99.
The Boston Red Sox today announced in a press release the passing of Hall of Fame second baseman Bobby Doerr at his Oregon home. At 99 years of age, Doerr was the oldest living Hall of Famer and former Major Leaguer.
“Bobby Doerr was part of an era of baseball giants and stood out as one himself,” said principal owner John Henry. “And even with his Hall of Fame achievements at second base, his character and personality outshined it all. He will be missed.”
Born on April 7, 1918, in Los Angeles, the California native spent his entire 14-year career with the Red Sox, aiding them in a trip to the World Series in 1946, hitting .409/.458/.591 in the series against St. Louis. Doerr did miss one season, 1945, to serve in the military.
Over his career, Doerr hit .288/.362/.461 for Boston. Following his playing career that concluded in 1951, Doerr went back to Oregon to become a cattle rancher. After he had fulfilled that desire, Doerr decided it was time to return to baseball.
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Doerr, along with fellow teammates Johnny Pesky, Ted Williams and Dom DiMaggio, is honored with a bronze “Teammates” state outside of Fenway Park. All four shared parts of different seasons on the Red Sox. He as the last living member of the men depicted in the statue, and he will now be reunited with the ones he was once so close to.
“We never had a captain, but he was the silent captain of the team,” said Ted Williams of Doerr’s leadership abilities.
He served as a scout for the Red Sox from 1957 to 1966. He was then hired as a coach under manager and fellow Hall of Famer Dick Williams and resigned following the manager’s firing. He was praised for his work with future Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski before the 1967 season, one in which Yaz earned the Triple Crown and belted 44 home runs compared to his previous career high of 20.
Following his resignation, he was hired as the hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1977 to 1981.
He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986 and had his number, 1, retired by the Red Sox in 1988.
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Doerr leaves the title of oldest living Hall of Famer to Cincinnati Reds great Red Schoendienst, who will turn 95 years old this February.