Legendary Popular Pirates Manager Chuck Tanner

[El Supremo]

Chuck Tanner, the popular manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates' most recent championship in 1979, died today, just days before his beloved team was about to open spring training, which he often excitedly called "the best time of the year!"

Mr. Tanner was a lifelong resident of New Castle, where he died at his home in hospice care after a long illness. He was 82.

He will be best remembered for overseeing the Pirates' World Series triumph against the Baltimore Orioles, taking the final three games after trailing the best-of-seven series, 3-1. That group adopted the Sister Sledge song, "We are Family," and, while first baseman Willie Stargell was the clubhouse leader, Mr. Tanner was its father figure.

Mr. Tanner's mother died in New Castle before Game 5, just as that series looked darkest, and Mr. Tanner told his players: "My mother is a great Pirates fan. She knows we're in trouble, so she went upstairs to get some help."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11042/1124762-100.stm#ixzz1Dln1IBCM

[madinmaryland]

1. Thanks for this post, El.

My dad used to go down to Chuck Tanner's restaurant and would occasionally see Chuck. He was quite the legend in New Castle!

Chuck's wife had died several years ago, and he had sold the restaurant within the last couple of years. I knew he was not in the best of health, but didn't realize he was that ill.