Jeff Torborg, a World Series champion catcher who played 10 seasons in the majors and became a manager for 11 more years, has died, the Chicago White Sox announced Sunday. He was 83 years old.
Torborg, a New Jersey native, played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and California Angels during his playing career, which lasted from 1964 to 1973. He managed the White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Mets New York, the Montreal Expos and the Florida Marlins.
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He was part of the Dodgers’ World Series-winning team in 1965. He also served as the Marlins’ manager to open the 2003 season before being fired and replaced by Jack McKeon. The Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in six games to win the World Series.
“Former MLB catcher and Chicago White Sox manager Jeff Torborg passed away this morning in Westfield, New Jersey. He was 83 years old,” the team said in a post on X.
Florida Marlins manager Jeff Torborg is introduced during the 2002 season. (RVR-USA TODAY Sports photos)
“Torborg was named the 1990 AL Manager of the Year after guiding the Sox to a 94-68 record that season, a 25-game improvement from the previous year.”
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Torborg hit .214 with 101 RBIs and 297 hits in 1,525 plate appearances during his 10-year playing career. He made his debut as manager of the Indians four years after his retirement. He was only manager for one full season and two half-seasons before being fired.
He guided the White Sox to a 94-68 record in 1990 behind Carlton Fisk, Greg Hubbard and Bobby Thigpen, but the team did not make the playoffs. He took the Mets job in 1992 and didn’t have the same success.
He served as interim manager of the Expos in 2001 and full-time manager of the Marlins in 2002 before being fired midway through the 2003 season.
Torborg was a broadcaster between directorships. He was 634-718 as manager.
