Jeff Torborg, a former Mets manager and longtime Yankees coach, has passed away at the age of 83. Although no cause of death was disclosed, it was reported that Torborg had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in recent years.
A native of Westfield, N.J., Torborg had a standout college career at Rutgers University, where he earned All-American honors after hitting .537 in a single season. Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1963, Torborg made his mark as a catcher by recording the rare feat of catching three no-hitters during his career—thrown by Sandy Koufax, Bill Singer, and Nolan Ryan. Besides the Dodgers, he also played for the California Angels. Though traded to the St. Louis Cardinals after the 1973 season, he never played a game for them.
Torborg began his coaching and managerial career in 1977 with the Cleveland Indians as a bullpen coach, eventually replacing Frank Robinson as manager and serving in that role for three years. He joined the Yankees in 1979, where he spent nearly a decade in various coaching roles. In 1989, he left to manage the Chicago White Sox, where he achieved notable success, earning A.L. Manager of the Year honors in 1990 after leading the team to a 25-game improvement.
In 1992, Torborg became the Mets’ manager, securing a significant pay increase. However, his tenure in New York was short-lived and disappointing, with the team finishing 70-92 in his first season. He was fired early in the 1993 season after a 13-25 start and was replaced by Dallas Green.
