| Jeff Torborg | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Torborg with the Yankees in 1982 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born:(1941-11-26)November 26, 1941 Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| Died: January 19, 2025(2025-01-19) (aged 83) Port Orange, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 10, 1964, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 29, 1973, for the California Angels | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .214 |
| Home runs | 8 |
| Runs batted in | 101 |
| Managerial record | 634–718 |
| Winning % | .469 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Managerial record at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Jeffrey Allen Torborg (November 26, 1941 – January 19, 2025) was an American professionalbaseballcatcher andmanager. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theLos Angeles Dodgers andCalifornia Angels from 1964 to 1973. He managed theCleveland Indians,Chicago White Sox,New York Mets,Montreal Expos, andFlorida Marlins.
Torborg grew up inWestfield, New Jersey, where he was the catcher on theWestfield High School baseball team.[1] He attendedRutgers University and playedcollege baseball for theRutgers Scarlet Knights from 1961 to 1963. In 1963, Torborg had a .537batting average and was named anAll-American.[2]
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TheLos Angeles Dodgers signed Torborg as an amateur free agent in 1963. After playing in the minor leagues in 1963, Torborg made the Dodgers' roster as their third-stringcatcher in 1964 behindJohn Roseboro andDoug Camilli. On September 9, 1965, Torborg caughtSandy Koufax's perfect game.[2] On July 20, 1970, he was the catcher receivingBill Singer's no-hitter.[3][4]
On March 13, 1971, the Dodgers sold Torborg's contract to theCalifornia Angels. On May 15, 1973, Torborg also caught the first ofNolan Ryan's sevenno-hitters, making Torborg only the second catcher to catch a no hitter in both leagues.Gus Triandos was the first having caughtHoyt Wilhelm no hitter with the AL's Orioles in 1958 and was behind the plate forJim Bunning's perfect game with the NL's Phillies in 1964.[2] He was traded from theAngels to theSt. Louis Cardinals forJohn Andrews at theWinter Meetings on December 6, 1973.[5] On March 25, 1974, he was released by the Cardinals.[2]
In 1977, Torborg became the bullpen coach of theCleveland Indians. On June 19th, the Indians fired managerFrank Robinson and Torborg assumed the position.[6] Torborg's first two games as a major league manager came that day in a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers, with Cleveland defeating the Tigers in both games, 4-2 and 4-0. Torborg's Indians proceeded to win his first seven games as Cleveland manager, which also extended an Indians win streak to nine games before the team lost to Detroit 6-4 at Tiger Stadium on June 25th. Torborg held the position as Indians manager for three years, compiling a 157-201 record.
He was a coach on theNew York Yankees from1979 to1988. In 1989, Torborg left the Yankees to become the manager of theChicago White Sox.[7] A year after he took the helm, the White Sox won 94 games, which was a 25-game improvement from the team's1989 season. For his efforts with the1990 White Sox, Torborg won theAmerican LeagueManager of the Year Award. Torborg stayed with the White Sox forone more year before moving to theNew York Mets on a four-year deal of $1.7 million that dwarfed his previous deal of $250,000 a year.[8]
A year after leading the White Sox to an 87–75 (.537) win-loss record, Torborg's1992 New York Mets posted a 70–92 (.432) record. After starting the1993 season with a 13–25 (.342) record, the Mets fired Torborg and replaced him withDallas Green.[9]
For the rest of the 1990s, Torborg worked as a sportscaster for the likes ofCBS Radio andFox. At CBS Radio, Torborg served as a color commentator for three World Series (1995–1997) alongsideVin Scully.[10] While at Fox, Torborg served as a color commentator from 1996–2000.[2]
Torborg returned to managing in May of2001 to replaceMontreal Expos managerFelipe Alou, on a three-year deal.[11] WhenJeffrey Loria, who had owned the Expos, sold the team and bought theFlorida Marlins in2002, he brought Torborg to Florida with him to serve as manager. The team went 79–83 (.488) that year. After starting the 2003 season with a 16–22 (.421) record, the Marlins fired Torborg.[12]Jack McKeon was hired to replace him and led the team to a2003 World Series victory. Torborg held no ill will for the firing; months later, Torborg was at his summer home in New Jersey painting his dock and noticed a child had fell off into the water and raced to rescue him.[13]
Torborg returned to broadcasting for Fox. He served as the color commentator forAtlanta Braves games onFSN South andTurner South in2006, where he was partnered withBob Rathbun. Neither Torborg nor Rathbun was retained for the2007 season.[14]
Torborg was of Danish descent. His son,Dale, is a former professional wrestler and his daughter-in-law,Christi Wolf, is a bodybuilder and former professional wrestler.[15]
Torborg married Suzie Barber on June 6, 1963.[2] For more than 25 years, Torborg lived with his family in a home inMountainside, New Jersey.[16]
Torborg later developedParkinson's disease.[17] He died inPort Orange, Florida on January 19, 2025, at the age of 83.[18]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| CLE | 1977 | 104 | 45 | 59 | .433 | 5th in AL East | – | – | – | – |
| CLE | 1978 | 159 | 69 | 90 | .434 | 6th in AL East | – | – | – | – |
| CLE | 1979 | 95 | 43 | 52 | .453 | fired | – | – | – | – |
| CLE total | 358 | 157 | 201 | .439 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| CWS | 1989 | 161 | 69 | 92 | .429 | 7th in AL West | – | – | – | – |
| CWS | 1990 | 162 | 94 | 68 | .580 | 2nd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
| CWS | 1991 | 162 | 87 | 75 | .537 | 2nd in AL West | – | – | – | – |
| CWS total | 485 | 250 | 235 | .515 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| NYM | 1992 | 162 | 72 | 90 | .444 | 5th in NL East | – | – | – | – |
| NYM | 1993 | 38 | 13 | 25 | .342 | fired | – | – | – | – |
| NYM total | 200 | 85 | 115 | .425 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| MON | 2001 | 109 | 47 | 62 | .431 | 5th in NL East | – | – | – | – |
| MON total | 109 | 47 | 62 | .431 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| FLA | 2002 | 162 | 79 | 83 | .488 | 4th in NL East | – | – | – | – |
| FLA | 2003 | 38 | 16 | 22 | .421 | fired | – | – | – | – |
| FLA total | 200 | 95 | 105 | .475 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| Total[19] | 1352 | 634 | 718 | .469 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
| Preceded by | World Series network radio color commentator 1995–1997 | Succeeded by |