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Bill Virdon’s first taste of big league baseball with the Cardinals in 1955 culminated in his selection as the National League Rookie of the Year. Seven months after winning the award, a trade to Pittsburgh changed his life. Virdon found a home in the Steel City and played the remainder of his 12-year career with the Pirates.

The center fielder averaged more than 140 games played in his first 10 years in Pittsburgh. A defensive difference-maker in the 1960 Pirates’ World Series triumph, Virdon also earned a Gold Glove Award in 1962.

After more than a decade in the bigs Virdon hung up his spikes when the Pirates released him in November of ’65 . He stayed in the game as a minor league manager in the Pittsburgh farm system. In ’68 he returned to the majors as a coach under Pirates skipper Larry Shepard.

When Freddie Patek went on the disabled list on July 15th Virdon was pressed into service on the active roster. He appeared in six games, half as a pinch hitter. Twenty-eight months removed from his playing days, he hit a two-run homer in his penultimate big league at bat.

When he left the game as a player for good, his lifetime stats included 1,596 hits, 735 runs, and 502 runs batted in.

Virdon remained on the Pirates coaching staff through the ’71 season before being named manager for ’72. He piloted the Bucs to the Eastern Division championship in his first season. Virdon was fired 136 games into the ’73 season despite his team being just three games out of first place.

The New York Yankees hired him in ’74. Piloting the Yanks was a tall task for Virdon. He inherited a club that finished in fourth-place, 17 games out of first in ’73.

Under Virdon, New York finished second, just two games behind division-winning Baltimore. The performance earned him the American League Manager of the Year Award.

In ’75 he lasted just 104 games before being fired by the third-place New York team in August. The respected baseball man wasn’t out of a job long; the Astros hired him later the same month.

Virdon lasted eight seasons in Houston, earning his second Manger of the Year Award in 1980. He pushed the Astros to the postseason twice and finished second or third in three other campaigns.

His final two years as manager came in Montreal in ’83 and ’84 with the Expos. In 13 years as a skipper, Virdon managed a .519 winning percentage and 995 wins.

From 1985 through 2001 Virdon served as a bench for the Pirates and Astros. After leaving the big leagues he coached in the minors for the Houston and St. Louis. All told, the baseball lifer witnessed 62 spring trainings.

Virdon lived a long and productive life until passing away at age 90 on November 23, 2021.

In the image above are three Topps baseball cards autographed by the career baseball man. The first depicts the Rookie of the Year Award and features the autographs of five winners, Al Dark (1948), Roy Sievers (1949), Walt Dropo (1950), Herb Score (1955), and Virdon (1955). The other two autographed Topps examples are from ’57 and ’58.

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The 1960 World Series was a David and Goliath matchup. The American League champion New York Yankees were coming off a decade in which they won six Fall Classic titles. Their roster included five men men who claimed MVP awards during their careers – Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, and Bobby Shantz.

The underdog Pirates’ top-four WAR leaders that year were Dick Groat, Don Hoak, Bob Friend and Vern Law. Pittsburgh appeared to be overmatched.

In the first inning of Game One, the Pirates jumped out to a 3-1 lead. In the top of the fourth, Mantle and Maris reached base to start the inning. The next batter Berra drove a Vern Law offering to deep center. It had “double” written all over it. A two-base hit would clear the bases and tie the game.

Instead, Pirates center fielder Bill Virdon flagged it down to preserve the lead. Pittsburgh held on for a 6-4 victory.

After New York won the next two games 16-3 and 10-0, Vidron continued his defensive heroics in Game Four. With one out in the 7th and the Pirates clinging to a 3-2 advantage, the Yankees put two runners on first and second.

Left fielder Bob Cerv’s chance at a two-RBI double ended as Virdon made one of the most memorable catches in World Series history. His acrobatic grab preserved the Pirates lead and helped tie the Series at two games apiece.

The teams split the next two games with the Pirates winning Game Five 3-2 and the Yankees blasting through Game Six 12-0. Game Seven would be a winner-take-all affair.

Behind Bill Mazeroski’s dramatic Game Seven walk-off homer, the Pirates were crowned the improbable champions of baseball. In the 7-game Series New York outscored Pittsburgh 55-27. Pittsburgh’s timely hitting and Virdon’s stellar defense delivered the World Series title.

Shown here are two two baseball cards commemorating Virdon’s defense. The Pirates centerfielder has autographed both Topps offerings.

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A life-size statue of Bill Virdon was erected in 1995 at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. The bronze scupture depicts Virdon making his famous catch in Game 1 of the 1960 World Series. The design was taken from the 1960 Topps Baseball Card “Virdon Saves the Game” shown in the previous image.

At the ceremony, Jerald Andrews the President & Executive Director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame said, “Today, we are blessed to pause and to celebrate a lifetime career of one of the greatest baseball players in Missouri history. This day represents his legacy as one of the best players, coaches, managers and a true baseball man.”

Shown here is a picture of the induction featuring Virdon and his statue.