It’s a sad day in baseball as Jeff Torborg, the former manager of the Chicago White Sox, passed away on January 19. He was 83. The White Sox shared a post on their X account that Jeff died in Westfield, New Jersey, which was his hometown. He was suffering from Parkinson’s disease for a long time; however, the exact cause of death isn’t disclosed yet.

Jeff Torborg left the White Sox’s fans, players, and managers heartbroken. However, he also made a long-lasting impact on the MLB community both as a manager and as a player. His career spanned from 1964 to 1973, where he transitioned from a player to a manager, managing several teams and helping them to achieve success.

Jeff Torborg’s career as a player and manager

During his MLB career that spanned over a decade, Jeff Torborg started as a catcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was even part of the 1965 team that won the World Series Championship. Torborg completed 10 seasons as a starting catcher for a minimum of three no-hitters, and his first one had been considered one of the best pitching performances in MLB history. 

Torborg even helped the right-hander Bill Singer to be a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1970, and it was his final game with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After that, he joined the Los Angeles Angels and achieved Nolan Ryan’s seven-no-hitter record. By 1977, the.214 career hitter gradually started to coach the teams, until getting new responsibilities as a manager of the Cleveland. He then coached the NY Yankees; however, he achieved the most success as a manager with the Chicago White Sox. 

Jeff’s contribution to the Chicago White Sox is immense, as he guided the club to win 94 games, which was 25 more than what the team achieved in 1989. But he later became the manager of the New York Mets in 1992, although he had to leave with a poor 85-115 record. Despite that, Torborg had a long managerial stint with the Expos in 2001 and from 2002 to 2003 with the Marlins. Torborg’s MLB career ultimately has come to an end, with the fans and sports fraternities saddened by his demise.

Fans share their reactions after Jeff Torborg’s passing

Jeff Torborg’s death marks the end of an era for baseball fans all over the country. Everyone remembers his great coaching skills, defensive skills, and leadership abilities that he showed on the field. Following Torborg’s passing, the Chicago White Sox offered condolences in an X post, to which a user commented, “A true baseball legend. Jeff Torborg’s 1990 season with the White Sox was a masterclass in leadership and skills. Rest in peace, manager.”

The fan remembers how Jeff’s managerial skill helped the White Sox win 94 games in 1990. The team was underperforming, and his guidance and support helped the club increase their 1989 winnings by a huge margin—25 wins.

Bob Rathbun, an American sportscaster and motivational speaker, shared his memories of spending time with him while being with the Atlanta Braves. He even mentioned how he learnt a lot from him.

He said, “RIP, partner. As kind a gentleman as you would ever meet. It was an honour to share the Braves booth with him. I learnt from him daily. Very sad day.” He expresses his sadness, as they used to share the same Braves booth and have long conversations.

On a video clip from Last Comiskey, where the players can be seen talking about Torborg, another user said, “Torborg caught Sandy Koufax’s perfect game.” Torborg was the one responsible for the three no-hitters, and the first was with Koufax, which still remains a perfect game against the Cubs in 1965.

The New York Mets also offered their condolences, sharing a post of his passing away on the social media platform. However, one quirky fan made a rather unpleasing comment, saying, “A gentleman who was stuck with a couple of bad Mets teams, unfortunately.” Torborg’s stint with the Mets was short lived. He managed to compile an 85-115 record, and that might be the reason for which he was terminated in 1993.

A saddened user commented, “Sorry to see this. Jeff Torborg was a real baseball guy.” Torborg was a the kind of guy who not only left a mark as a player but also as a coach and a manager. His legacy would be carried on through the immense contributions he made in sports. Do you have any moments from the veteran’s memorable career to share?