Jeff Torborg, who parlayed his major league intelligence as a catcher into a long career as a manager and coach, died Sunday, the White Sox announced. He was 83 years old. No cause of death was immediately announced, but in recent years Torborg had battled Parkinson’s disease.
The Westfield, New Jersey native managed the Mets for less than two seasons and had a long coaching career with the Yankees in various roles. Torborg’s greatest success as a manager came with the White Sox from 1989 to 1991. He was named American League Manager of the Year in 1990 after leading the team to 94 wins.
His time at the helm of the Mets was eventful. After the team finished 70-92 under his leadership in 1992 – a unit that would later become known as “The Worst Team Money Can Buy” (the title of a book written by Bob Klapisch and John Harper on this team) – Torborg was fired. only 38 games next season and replaced by Dallas Green. The Mets were 13-25 at the time.
Torborg went on to manage the Expos and Marlins. In the latter position, he was fired early in the 2003 season before the team rallied to win the World Series under Torborg’s replacement, Jack McKeon.
It was after Torborg’s first managerial job — with Cleveland from 1977 to 1979 — that the former Rutgers star returned home to begin a coaching tenure with the Yankees that lasted nearly a decade.
During this time, Torborg served as a bullpen coach and was among many people in the 1980s to hold the title of pitching coach for the Yankees during the height of team ownership volatility George Steinbrenner.
Torborg’s tenure with the Mets began as the team’s payroll ballooned to $45 million (No. 1 in MLB) following the signing of high-profile free agent Bobby Bonilla. Other highly paid veterans on the team included Bret Saberhagen, Vince Coleman and Eddie Murray.
In June, the team was below .500. The Mets fell out of contention in the second half to finish fifth in the NL East. Torborg was fired in May of the following season as the Mets crumbled.
Torborg spent his 10-year playing career with the Dodgers and Angels. He caught Sandy Koufax’s perfect game in 1965. He also caught one of Nolan Ryan’s seven hits.
In between executive stints, Torborg was a broadcaster for Fox and CBS Radio. In the latter job, he teamed with Vin Scully on the network’s World Series coverage from 1995 to 1997.
