The Pirates announced this morning that former Major League outfielder and veteran big league coach Gene Clines has passed away at the age of 75.
“Gene was a speedy outfielder who was a key member of our 1971 World Series team,” Pirates president Travis Williams said in a press release. “He made a tremendous impact on the game, not only as a player after his career with the Pirates, but also as a long-time coach in the big leagues.
“It was an honor to have Gene back in Pittsburgh this past September to recognize him and his teammates from our 1971 World Series Championship team who took the field as part of Major League Baseball’s first all-minority lineup. It was a joy to talk to him about his deep passion for baseball, his love for his teammates and his appreciation for the city of Pittsburgh. Our hearts go out to his wife Joanne, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
Clines spent parts of 10 seasons in the Majors, debuting as a rookie with the 1970 Pirates and indeed playing a key role on that ’71 championship team, when he batted .308/.366/.392 through 300 plate appearances with the World Series-champion Bucs. He’d remain in Pittsburgh through 1974 before being traded to the Mets in advance of the ’75 season. New York flipped him to the Rangers a year later, and Clines eventually landed with the Cubs following a third trade.
All told, Clines played 870 big league games, batting a combined .277/.329/.341 through 2556 plate appearances. He hit just five homers at the MLB level but also notched 85 doubles, 24 triples and 71 stolen bases while logging considerable time at all three outfield positions. Clines may not have been known for his power, but the first postseason hit of his career was a solo homer in Game 2 of the ’71 NLCS that gave the Bucs some breathing room, pushing their lead over the Giants to 4-2. (Bob Robertson eventually tacked on his second and third homers of the day in what proved a 9-4 Pirates victory.)
Following his playing career, Clines remained deeply involved in the game. He spent several years as the Cubs’ first base coach before settling in as a highly respected hitting coach, working with the Astros, Mariners, Brewers and Giants in that capacity before finally returning to the Cubs for the 2003-06 seasons. Along the way, Clines coached some of the greatest hitters of the generation, working with a young Craig Biggio in Houston, a young Ken Griffey Jr. in Seattle and, eventually, Barry Bonds in San Francisco. In addition to that impressive collection of pupils, Clines also teamed (and at times shared an outfield) with all-time greats such as Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell while playing with the Pirates.
Between his 10 years as a player and 20 years as a coach, Clines amassed three decades in a Major League dugout, leaving his mark on multiple generations of the nation’s pastime. We at MLBTR extend our condolences to the friends, family, loved ones and former teammates of Clines, as well as the innumerable fans who are surely mourning his passing as well.
sascoach2003
RIP. Suddenly feeling very mortal as the guys I grew up watching all pass to the ballpark in the sky…
Tick Tock Clock
I saw this story 2 days ago on a different website. Please report the news faster
Robertowannabe
The press release just came out from the Pirates today.. None of the Pittsburgh media had it reported until today. I see no issue with the timing…….
NYMetsFanatic
Always someone needs to complain about nothing. They aren’t satisfied unless they do.
jide
He died this morning
Robertowannabe
Would love to know the site that @Tick Tock Clock saw this 2 days ago. Appears that site has powers to see the future.
Mr. Chuck
Agree, Jide, that the reports show today as his date of death. Perhaps you are thinking of someone else, eh Tick Tock?
PeteWard8
Clines was a good hitter. Good ballplayer
Mickey777
A true gentleman and a credit to the game! Please RIP Mr. Clines.
Al Hirschen
A true Mets great
vanswanson
He played 82 games for the Mets and hit 227
Bill M
Right. Which is what makes him a true Mets great.
Seriously, I was excited to see him come to the Mets because the Pirates and Mets were division rivals and those Pirate teams used to beat up on the Mets. Sad to see Duffy Dyer go in that trade. Dyer was a fan favorite, a long time Met backup catcher who played hard. Unfortunately, Clines was not so good with the Mets and they flipped him after one year. Still, fun to watch with the Pirates
msqboxer
One of the best fungo bat coaches ever….had warning track power!
thisredsoxfan
I remember that he was traded to the Mets before the 1975 season in exchange for Duffy Dyer,
Please, Hammer. Don't hurt 'em.
I was unaware of Cline until now but he seems like a definite throwback player. Solid batting average, good at stealing bases and hitting triples. Homer once every couple of seasons. I wonder if any of his home runs were actually intentional. I’d be willing to bet they were all accidental and he never tried to hit a homer his entire career.
wvpirate
A very vital part of the 1971 World Series team. Could play all 3 outfield positions. He could hit for average and steal a base. R.I.P
Gene
Monkey’s Uncle
You had to be able to play to get at-bats on those early 70s Pirates teams. Gene rotated between all 3 outfield positions there wasn’t much if any drop-off from whoever he was filling in for. And his post-playing career as a hitting instructor was to me even more impressive. RIP
User 2079935927
RIP MR. Clines
Can I get a amen
Robertowannabe
Amen!!!
Robertowannabe
RIP Gene……yet another player that I grew up watching has passed…..sucks getting old…..
retire21
Lil Angry
RIP
chrisjaybecker
I met Clines at a Mariners clinic in the Kingdome in about 1995. What I remember most is him demonstrating a level swing by telling his players to practice swinging at an angle that was about a bat’s width higher then level, that way, in the heat of the game when the hitter naturally drops the barrel, the swing would wind up being level. Simple, but ingenious.
luca brasi
Willie McGee and I went to high school together in Richmond California. Not exactly a Glamour town. Gene Clines was also from Richmond. I think everyone in our school looked up to Gene because he made it out of Richmond and had a good life.
Cleon Jones
The type of player any championship level roster needs to have. He was a solid, dependable, clutch baller for his era. RIP.
texasbug
R.I.P. Gene Clines glad to see played with the late Roberto Clemente and the Houston Astros.
yamsi1912
RIP. See you in Cooperstown.
dlw0906
RIP. I remember as a kid how excited I was about him on the Mets (yeah I know but I was 8) because he had some speed and hit over.300 a couple years earlier. 1975 didn’t go so well for him and off he went to Texas for Joe Lovitto (Grant or McDonald sure had a thing for Texas players: Lovitto, Randle, Grieve, Henderson…). Clines had some decent seasons after departing Flushing.
gotigers68
He looked like the new mayor, in Blazing Saddles….
groundhog5150
I’m sure someone will try to blast you for this comment, but when you’re right, you’re right.
Bill M
Sheriff
MortDingle
The gold Pirate hat photo of Gene has the Classic Clemente pose the I remember.