- Ott died in the central Pennsylvania town of Danville, according to the Pirates.
- The former major league catcher helped Pittsburgh win the World Series in 1979.
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Ed Ott, a former major league catcher and coach who helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1979 World Series, died Sunday at the age of 72, his former team announced.
Ott died in the central Pennsylvania town of Danville, according to the Pirates. The team did not provide further details.
“We are saddened by the loss of such a beloved member of the Pirates family,” Pirates president Travis Williams said in a statement.
‘Ed spent seven of his eight years in the major leagues with the Pirates and was a valuable member of our 1979 World Series championship team.
“It was great to see him last summer when he was in Pittsburgh to support his former teammate Kent Tekulve at our Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Former Pirates catcher Ed Ott (No. 14) has died at the age of 72, his former team announced
Ott, who helped the Pirates win the 1979 World Series, died in Danville, Pennsylvania.
“Our deepest condolences to his wife Sue, daughter Michelle and the entire Ott family.”
Ott, a Muncy native, was drafted by Pittsburgh in the 23rd round of the 1970 amateur draft out of high school. He batted .259 with 33 home runs and 195 RBIs in 567 major league games.
Ott and Steve Nicosia were the primary catchers when the Pirates won it all in 1979. Ott hit .273 with seven home runs and a career-best 51 RBIs in 117 regular-season games that year.
He played in three World Series games against Baltimore, going 4-for-12 and driving in three runs.
Ott appeared in his last major league game with the Angels in 1981. After finishing his playing career, he coached in the minor leagues with the Angels, Pirates and Reds before working on the major league staff with the Astros and the Tigers.
