Bobby Del Greco

“All (Bobby) Del Greco has to do is hit a little better, and he’ll be one of the greatest. There isn’t a better fielder anywhere.” 1 – Gene Mauch. Philadelphia Phillies manager (1960-68)

An outstanding center fielder, Bobby Del Greco’s inability to consistently hit big-league pitching (.229 lifetime) prevented him from playing more regularly in the major leagues. Although he saw action for the Pirates, Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, Yankees, and Athletics in his nine years in the majors, Del Greco only played in as many as 99 games with at least 315 plate appearances in six of those seasons. He also frequently had to fight his way back from the minors.

Robert George Del Greco, the youngest of 10 siblings, was born April 7, 1933, in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up a Pirates fan and attended now-defunct Peabody High School where he was a classmate of comedian Frank Gorshin. A jovial and good-natured guy, Del Greco was known as “The Greek” owing to the Italian translation of his name. Nicola, Bobby’s father, was a first-generation Italian immigrant and the owner of a window-washing business in the Hill District. His mother was Catherine Bracarelli, whose parents hailed from Italy.

After the death of his father in 1947, Del Greco quit high school and played semipro ball in Oakmont to support his mother. That was when former Buc third baseman Pie Traynor signed him to a Pirate contract for $500 in 1950. “I just hope I can play a lot of baseball and make some money for my mother,” Del Greco beamed. “I’m going to build a new house for her. You can bet on that!”2

The Pirates immediately sent Del Greco to the Salisbury Pirates of the Class-D North Carolina State League, where he hit .251 with three homers and three triples in 64 games.3

Promoted to Hutchinson, Kansas in the Class-C Western Association for 1951, Del Greco played in 123 games and hit a team-high .302 in 453 at-bats. He also impressed Branch Rickey Jr., Pittsburgh’s vice president in charge of minor-league clubs and player production. This earned him a trip to the Pirates’ 1952 spring training camp in San Bernardino, California. With the team coming off a seventh-place, 64-90 season in 1951, management was eager to try out new players.

“Del Greco is the best center field candidate in the Pittsburgh organization, and I’m including the Pirates, too,” Rickey Junior praised.4 Del Greco was right-handed, stood 5-feet-9, and weighed 185 pounds.

In spring training, the enthusiastic 19-year-old’s defensive expertise also caught the eye of future Hall of Famer Branch Rickey, then Pittsburgh’s general manager. “Del Greco is one of the finest instinctive outfielders I’ve seen since Terry Moore,” Rickey gushed. “I don’t know how a boy that young could be so good.”5 Another factor in Del Greco’s bid to stay with the Pirates as a teenager was his favorable draft status. With the Korean War raging, Del Greco was considered immune to the draft because his brother, George, had been killed at Iwo Jima in World War II, and Bobby was the sole provider for his mother.6

Stay with the Pirates he did, but despite going 3-for-4 with a triple and two singles for his hometown team in his major-league debut April 16, he hit only .222 in his first 29 games. The Pirates also lost 28 of their first 33 contests enroute to a last-place 42-112-1 mark.7

Del Greco, whose youthful fearlessness included routinely colliding with outfield fences, badly bruised his right shoulder while crashing into the Wrigley Field wall July 2 trying to catch a triple by pitcher Paul Minner. The Greek returned to action on July 15.8 He and Tony Bartirome, a rookie teammate, boyhood friend, and ex-Pittsburgh City Baseball League teammate, were honored by their Hill District neighbors on August 11 before a game at Forbes Field. Each player received $4,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds.

Ironically, Del Greco was optioned to Toronto of the Triple-A International League only twenty-four hours later. He had been benched earlier for not hitting and was batting .208 at the time of his departure. Del Greco returned five weeks later to finish the season with the Pirates.9 Although rated an outstanding outfielder, Del Greco apparently was taking too many pitches as he tried to become a better major-league hitter.10 As a Pirate, he finished at .219 with one homer and 20 RBIs in 341 at-bats. Conversely, Del Greco hit .311 in 61 at-bats over 27 games with Toronto. “I thought I was ready for the Pirates at 19,” he said looking back later. “But I guess I wasn’t, although my glove work was adequate.”11

Del Greco, while spending the entire 1953 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, married Catherine Thomas, his hometown sweetheart, on June 17.12 When Toronto manager Burleigh Grimes moved Del Greco to third base to give another player a rest, he amassed 13 hits in 35 at-bats, including his first two homers of the year, and was named Maple Leaf Player of the Week for the week of July 26.13 In 129 games (109 as an outfielder), Del Greco hit .237 with six homers and 48 RBIs. In that offseason, the defensive whiz began regularly playing in benefit basketball games with current and former major leaguers living in the Pittsburgh area.14

Invited to his third consecutive Pirates spring training in 1954, Del Greco failed to make the team and instead was sent to Pittsburgh’s minor-league camp in Huntsville, Texas for reassignment.15 The trek to Huntsville was the first of many transfers covering many miles for the outfielder that season. Starting the year with the New Orleans Pelicans of the Double-A Southern Association, Del Greco was promoted to the Triple-A Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League in June despite hitting just .214.16 After being demoted from Hollywood to the Single-A Williamsport (Pennsylvania) Grays of the Eastern League, he was recalled by the Stars the week of August 18 to replace outfielder Carlos Bernier, who had assaulted an umpire and was suspended for the rest of the season.17 Del Greco played in 40 games for Hollywood and hit .240 with one homer and 10 RBIs in 86 at-bats. In 16 games for Williamsport, he hit .308 with one homer and nine RBIs in 52 at-bats.

At the start of the 1955 season, Hollywood manager Bobby Bragan fined Del Greco and teammate Paul Pettit $10 each for “stupid baserunning” when both were doubled off base on a liner to left against Sacramento.18 Del Greco atoned for his baserunning blunder by hitting .370 through May 11 and won $100 for being named the PCL’s co-Most Improved Player of the Month for April with Portland third baseman Don Eggert.19 The center fielder, whose offensive heroics included batting .442 during a 22-game hitting streak, credited his success on no longer lunging at the ball and using a stance suggested by Williamsport manager Larry Shepard. “I’m swinging the bat like I never swung it before,” Del Greco said. “For example, when I used to have a 2-and-0 count, I’d prefer to wait the pitcher out for a walk. Now, I’m going for the first good pitch that comes along.”20

Del Greco went two-for-three with a double and single and also drove in two runs and scored twice to help the PCL All-Stars rally past the defending champion San Diego Padres, 7-4, on June 13 in San Diego.21 Despite suffering a sore hand when hit by a pitch from Bob Hall, Del Greco ended up hitting .287 in 586 plate appearances with 13 homers and 73 RBIs.22 He also stole 21 bases and was chosen as the center fielder on the postseason PCL All-Star team.23 In the winter, Del Greco played for Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican League.24

Del Greco opened the 1956 season in Pittsburgh’s starting lineup and new Pirate manager Bobby Bragan ranked the player behind only Willie Mays and Duke Snider as an NL center fielder.25 Despite Del Greco’s defensive ability, the Pirates sent him and his .200 batting average and pitcher Dick Littlefield to the Cardinals May 17 for lefthanded-hitting outfielder Bill Virdon, the 1955 NL Rookie of the Year. St. Louis general manager Frank Lane, whose proclivity for trading had earned him the nickname “Trader Frank,” later said it was the worst deal he ever made.26

Batting .219 as a late-inning defensive substitute for St. Louis through June 16, Del Greco became the Cardinal starting center fielder when first baseman Whitey Lockman moved to the outfield to join either Rip Repulski, Wally Moon or Hank Sauer alongside the former Pirate. Del Greco was the only one of the group renowned for his defensive skills. “There’s no doubt we’re a sounder, better balanced club when the kid is in there,” St. Louis manager Fred Hutchinson said of Del Greco.27

Del Greco’s defensive prowess helped decide the 1956 NL pennant race in the next-to-last game of the season. He made two circus catches in the ninth inning against the contending Braves in St. Louis to prevent Milwaukee from breaking a 1-1 tie. First he held on to Eddie Mathews’ long drive despite crashing into the center field wall, and then made a running one-handed grab of a shot off the bat of Jack Dittmer.28 The Braves had entered the game tied for first with Brooklyn; but when the Cards scored in the 12th to win, 2-1, Milwaukee fell a game behind the Dodgers and finished in second place. Del Greco ended the season batting .214 overall (.215 for St. Louis) in 116 games and 290 at bats with seven homers and 21 RBIs. The Cardinals finished fourth at 76-78. Following the season, Del Greco played winter ball for Havana in the Cuban League, hitting .206 and fanning a league-high 55 times.29

Before the next season (1957), Del Greco was declared by The Sporting News to have St. Louis’ best outfield arm.30 He competed for the starting center field spot in spring training with newcomers Bobby Gene Smith and Chuck Harmon. But he hit only .101 in Grapefruit League action and was beaten out by Smith.31 On April 20, the Cardinals swapped Del Greco and pitcher Ed Mayer for outfielder Jim King of the Chicago Cubs. Hitting .200 about a month later, the Cubs optioned Del Greco to the Montreal Royals of the Triple-A International League so they could bring up minor league outfielder Frank Ernaga.32

Del Greco initially exceled at Montreal, hitting .386 in his first 20 games through June 11, and had a team-high .316 batting average through July 24.33 He also singled and scored the International League All-Stars’ only run in a 2-1 loss to Brooklyn, the two-time defending NL champions, April 19 in Montreal.34 Del Greco finished hitting .276 for the Royals in 1957 with eight homers and 49 RBIs in 520 plate appearances. In the Toronto Star’s third annual Scouting Report Poll, the eight International League managers chose him as the loop’s best defensive outfielder with the best throwing arm.35 On September 10, with outfielders Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle and Hank Bauer out with injuries, the soon-to-be American League champion Yankees bought Del Greco from the Cubs. Del Greco saw action in eight games for New York, going three-for-seven with three runs scored, and came away quite impressed.36

“You just seem to do things differently and better with the Yankees,” he observed. “They call it the Yankee way. You’re never out of a ballgame. You keep pecking away, never let up. Everything they do, they do big. Why, I was with them only about three weeks before the season ended and wasn’t eligible for the World Series, yet they voted me a quarter share ($1,400).”37 Del Greco’s stay with the Yankees ended on May 14 of 1958 when he was optioned to the Richmond Virginians, New York’s Triple-A minor league team in the International League.38 He played 100 games for Richmond and hit .267 in 388 plate appearances with nine homers and 45 RBIs. For the second consecutive year, Del Greco was honored by International League managers in the poll conducted by the Toronto Star – this time for being the league’s best hustler and its smartest player.39 The outfielder pocketed an extra $2,189.77 when the World Series champion Yankees again generously voted him a quarter share of World Series loot.40

In April of 1959, the Yankees sold Del Greco for $20,000 to the Phillies’ International Affiliate at Buffalo, where he smacked 18 hits, including seven doubles, in his first 45 at-bats.41 Ranking third in the league with a .333 average through June 2, Del Greco credited a tip from Buffalo manager Kerby Farrell for his offensive success. “Keep the defense honest by hitting often to right center,” Farrell suggested. “It will add 30 points to your average.”42 Del Greco upped his mark to .350 through June 17 including nine homers and 35 RBIs.43 He also was starring defensively with 23 assists through August 18.44 As in 1955 and 1957, Del Greco was named to the International League All-Star team. He went three-for-four as the Stars demolished the Pittsburgh Pirates, 14-5, August 27 in Columbus.45 Del Greco ended up hitting .286 in 667 plate appearances with a career-high 21 homers and 109 runs scored. He also had 72 RBIs. Managers again voted Del Greco the league’s top defensive outfielder and the outfielder with the best arm.46 On August 31, in a night in his honor put on by Italian-Americans in Buffalo, the popular performer celebrated his fine season by receiving gifts worth about $1,500, including a $1,000 Savings Bond.47

Kerby Farrell suggested Del Greco could be of help to a lot of major league clubs. “You have to stay on him a little bit, remind him about certain things to do at the plate from time to time, but (Del Greco) played great ball for me,” the skipper praised. “In the outfield, he can really go get that ball, and I don’t know how many games he won for me with his arm, but it was quite a few. “He’s really got a rifle.”48

Del Greco opened the 1960 season as the Phillies’ starting center fielder, but his playing time diminished when the team acquired rookie Tony Gonzalez from Cincinnati June 15.49 Through May 31, Del Greco held his own at the plate by hitting .269 with five homers, 31 RBIs and averaging two or more bases per hit.50 Starting in place of the injured Gonzalez July 8-10, Del Greco made two unbelievable catches to save Philadelphia from defeat in two of four games with the league-leading Pirates at Connie Mack Stadium. In a catch that he said after that series was the best of his career, Del Greco dashed into right center and dived full speed to his left to snag a line drive off the bat of Bill Mazeroski with one out in the eighth inning of the opener. With a runner on second and the score tied, the go-ahead run for Pittsburgh would have crossed the plate. Instead, the Phillies won the game in the 10th. In the third contest, with the scored tied 1-1 with two out in the seventh and the bases loaded, Pirate pitcher Vernon Law belted a liner to center. Del Greco sprinted back and, while racing full speed, jumped into the air and caught the drive, despite colliding with the bleacher wall. While tumbling to the ground, the player somehow held on to the ball, and the Phillies ended up winning the game in the ninth inning.51

“Before the game, (Del Greco) told us he was rooting for us because he would be so happy to see the World Series in his home town,” Pittsburgh manager Danny Murtaugh remembered. “By the eighth inning, Del Greco had made three hits and had climbed the walls twice for great catches and was beating us single-handed. We yelled at him to quit rooting for us before he rooted us out of the league.”52

Del Greco, who saw action in 100 games for the last-place Phillies, hit .237 with 10 homers and 26 RBIs in 363 plate appearances. In the off season, he stayed busy driving a delivery truck for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper.53

Hitting .259 in 41 games through June of 1961 as a back-up to Gonzalez, Del Greco was traded to Kansas City for Wes Covington on July 2 and became the A’s starting center fielder and best defensive outfielder.54 He wound up batting .230 for K.C. with five homers and 21 RBIs in 276 plate appearances. Overall, Del Greco played in 115 games and hit .239 with seven homers and 32 RBIs. The Athletics finished 61-100 and tied for ninth place with the Washington Senators, one of the two new American League expansion teams.

Del Greco, acquired for his defensive prowess, surprised the A’s in 1962 by leading the AL with nine doubles while batting .304 through April 24.55 He finished hitting .254 with nine homers while setting big-league personal highs in games (132), hits (86), runs (61), RBIs (38) and OBP (.370). Del Greco also was hit by a pitch 13 times in 403 plate appearances to tie Norm Cash of the Detroit Tigers, who had 629 plate appearances, for the league lead. The A’s moved up to ninth place with a 72-90 record.

Platooning in center field with Jose Tartabull for the A’s in 1963, Del Greco slumped to .212 with eight homers and 29 RBIs and was assigned following the season to the Portland Beavers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.56 His 1963 season’s highlight was a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the top of the ninth off Don Rudolph in a 12-10, 13-inning triumph over the Washington Senators April 26 in the first game of a doubleheader.57

Prior to the 1964 season, Del Greco was transferred to the Milwaukee Braves, who optioned him to Triple-A Toronto managed by Sparky Anderson. As in previous seasons, Del Greco was chosen by managers as the top defensive outfielder and the one with the best arm.58 He played in 134 games with the Maple Leafs and batted .255 with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs.

In the offseason, Del Greco found himself with the Arkansas Travelers, Philadelphia’s top minor league affiliate, and made the Phillies in 1965 as a non-roster player.59 He was back in Little Rock, by May, having failed to get a hit in what became his last four at-bats as a major leaguer. For the 1965 season, he batted .264 for the Travelers in 500 plate appearances with 16 homers and 68 RBIs.60

Back in the PCL for his last year as a player in 1966, Del Greco hit a combined .248 in 138 games and 474 plate appearances with San Diego, a Philadelphia farm club, and Indianapolis, a White Sox affiliate. He also clouted seven homers and had 46 RBIs.

After his playing career, Del Greco continued working as a full-time newspaper delivery truck driver for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette until he retired in May of 1993. He also occasionally pitched batting practice for the Pirates, who awarded him $3,150 of postseason earnings when they placed second in the NL East in 1977, having won the division in 1970, 1972 and 1975 and capturing the 1971 World Series.61

“(Bobby) was just a solid guy and was always there if I had a question,” said former Pirate hurler and broadcaster Steve Blass. “He was just there, and I think a hometown guy playing for his hometown team, I don’t know if there’s anything better than that, and I don’t know if anyone appreciated that more than Bobby.”62

Del Greco and his wife, Catherine, had five sons (Robert Jr., John, George, Jim, and Bill) and three daughters (Terese, Denise, and Rita). The former player died of severe dementia at the age of 86 on October 13, 2019, at the Fair Oaks Personal Care Home in the Beechview section of Pittsburgh. He was buried at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery in McMurray, Pennsylvania.

Acknowledgments

This biography was reviewed by Bill Nowlin and Joe DeSantis and fact-checked by Paul Proia.

Sources

In addition to the sources listed in the notes, the author relied on information from baseballreference.com. Baseball Almanac, statscrew.com, the 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates yearbook, and a conversation with Robert Del Greco Jr., Bobby Del Greco’s eldest son.

Notes

1 Gene Mauch, “Bobby Del Greco,” Daily Times (Swarthmore, Pennsylvania), August 25, 1960: 22.

2 A 19-Year-Old Pirate Rookie Off to a Good Start in Majors,” Kansas City Star, April 20, 1952: 78.

3 Joshua Axelrod, “Obituary: Bobby Del Greco – Former Pirate and homegrown talent,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 15, 2019: 2 and Les Biederman, “Del Greco Covers Center Like Tent,” The Sporting News, March 26, 1952: 11.

4 Les Biederman, “Uncle Sam Bags Fourth Buc Prize,” The Sporting News, December 26, 1951: 6.

4 Les Biederman, “Rickey Trims Bucco Rookie Crew to 17,” The Sporting News, March 12, 1952: 7.

6 Biederman, “Rickey Trims Bucco Rookie Crew to 17” and “George Del Greco Dies at Iwo Jima,” Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, May 19, 1945: 16

7 Jerry Olnick, “N.L. Averages including games of May 21,” The Sporting News, May 28, 1952: 22.

8 Les Biederman, “Buc Woes Mount as Kiner’s Plate Mark Hits Chute,” The Sporting News, July 16, 1952: 11.

9 “Del Greco Given ‘Night’, Sent to Minors Day Later,” The Sporting News, August 20, 1952: 7, and “Third Ward Club Contender in City Loop Race,” Pittsburgh Press, July 25, 1948: 27.

10 Jack Hernon, “Bragan Planning to Add Hollywood Touch to Pirates,” The Sporting News, November 16, 1955: 17.

11 Frank Finch, “It’s Block-Buster Del Greco on New Swing, .370 Mark,” The Sporting News, May 18, 1955: 25.

12 “Toronto,” The Sporting News, June 24, 1953: 28, 29.

13 “Toronto,” The Sporting News, August 5, 1953: 32.

14 “Bucs Team Up as Cage Squad,” The Sporting News, November 11, 1953: 24.

15 Jack Hernon, “Pirates Cut Necciai, Raydon and Del Greco from Roster,” The Sporting News, January 6. 1954: 23.

16 John B. Old, “Pacific Coast League, Loop Brass Hails Success of Seals,” The Sporting News, June 30, 1954: 25.

17 John B. Old, “Pacific Coast League, Rhubarbs, Deal Put Stars in Headlines,” The Sporting News, August 25, 1954: 23.

18 “Hollywood,” The Sporting News, April 20, 1955: 32.

19 Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, May 06, 1955: B6.

20 Frank Finch, “It’s Block-Buster Del Greco on New Swing, .370 Mark,” The Sporting News, May 18: 25 and John McDonald, “Rainiers Cop PCL’s First $1,500 Team Hustle Award,” The Sporting News, May 18: 26.

21 “Coast All-Stars Beat Padres with Four Runs in 9th,” The Sporting News, June 22, 1955: 28.

22 Jack Hernon, “Bragan Planning to Add Hollywood Touch to Pirates,” The Sporting News, November 16, 1955: 17.

23 “Hollywood,” The Sporting News, August 17, 1955: 38, 44:

24 Felix Acosta Nunez, “Escogido Credits Dominican Title to O.B. Talent,” The Sporting News, February 15, 1956: 33.

25 Jack Hernon, “Mate Rates Del Greco as ‘.300 Player’,” The Sporting News, April 18, 1956: 14.

26 Jack Hernon, “Mate Rates Del Greco as ‘.300 Player’.”

27 Bob Broeg, “Del Greco Gets Shot at Center as Hutch Juggles for Defense,” The Sporting News, June 27, 1956: 11.

28 “The Payoff, Game of Saturday, September 29,” The Sporting News, October 10, 1956: 25.

29 “Minoso Copped Cuban Bat Title With .312 Mark,” The Sporting News, February 20, 1957: 30.

30 “N.L. Pace-Setters Spotlighted in Poll,” The Sporting News, March 6, 1957: 2.

31 Red Byrd, “Hutch Sees Sunny Side of Problems Still Facing Cards,” The Sporting News, March 13, 1957: 20 and Bob Broeg, “Rookie Bobby Gene Makes Stout Bid as Card Regular,” The Sporting News, May 1, 1957: 11.

32 Ed Prell, “Holland Puts Cub Broom Away, But Big Polishing Job Remains,” The Sporting News, May 29, 1957: 17, 18.

34 “Montreal,” The Sporting News, June 19, 1957: 34 and “Montreal,” The Sporting News, July 31, 1957: 38.

34 Lloyd McGowan, “Brooks 2-1 winners over Int. All-Stars,” The Sporting News, August 28, 1957: 29.

35 Neil MacCarl, “Richmond’s Coates 3-Way Top Pitcher, Say Int. League Managers,” The Sporting News, September 11, 1957: 35.

36 Joe King, “Stengel’s Cripples Finding Comfort in Top-Place Cushion,” The Sporting News, September 18, 1957: 5.

37 Lester J. Biederman, “Yankee Life ‘New World’ to Del Greco,” The Sporting News, February 26, 1958: 27.

38 Bill Fleischman, “Von McDaniel, Gray, McDevitt Included in Majors’ Cut-down,” The Sporting News, May 21, 1958: 7

39 Neil MacCarl, “International League,” The Sporting News, September 10, 1958: 29.

40 Clifford Kachline “Record 368 Share Series Melon; Each Yank Gets $8.759,” “Series $$$ Breakdown,” The Sporting News, October 22. 1958: 9.

41 Cy Kritzer, “Flag-Hungry Bisons Go High, pay $20,000 for Del Greco,” The Sporting News, April 22, 1959: 28 and Cy Kritzer, “Morgan, Del Greco Eye New Major Trial After Hot Start,” The Sporting News, May 6, 1959: 27.

42 Elias Baseball Bureau, “Int. Averages,” The Sporting News, June 10, 1959: 42 and “Buffalo,” The Sporting News, June 10, 1959: 42.

43 Elias Baseball Bureau, “Int. Averages,” The Sporting News, June 24, 1959: 29

44 “Buffalo,” The Sporting News, August 26, 1959: 38.

45 Cy Kritzer, “International League,” “All-Stars Pummel Pirates, 14-5,” The Sporting News, September 9, 1959: 31.

46 Neil MacCarl, “Champ Bisons Mop Up in Poll on Int’s Outstanding Players,” The Sporting News, September 16, 1959: 29.

47 Cy Kritzer, “Herd Fans Honor Del Greco, Give Bobby $1,500 in Gifts,” The Sporting News, September 9, 1959: 31.

48 Allen Lewis, “Speedy Del Greco Phils’ Choice to Fill Vet Richie’s Shoes,” The Sporting News, October 14, 1959: 15.

49 Allen Lewis, “Hit-Hungry Phils Tailor-Made for New Pilot Mauch,” The Sporting News, April 20, 1960: 15, 26 and Allen Lewis, “Anxious Phils Cast Worried Look at Cuba,” The Sporting News, January 18, 1961: 21.

50 Pat McDonough, “Boyer Tops in Extra Bases: Bags 42 on 31 Hits,” The Sporting News, June 8, 1960: 32 and Chris Roewe, “N.L. Averages,” The Sporting News, June 8, 1960: 32.

51 Allen Lewis, “Del Greco’s Glove Twice Robs Pirates,” The Sporting News, July 20, 1960: 24.

52 Joe King, ‘Clouting Them”, “Del Greco Pirate Booster—Except on Field,” The Sporting News, May 9, 1964: 7.

53 Allen Lewis, “Winter Jobs Helping Phil Bread-Winners Pick Up Extra Cash,” The Sporting News, November 2, 1960: 28.

54 Ernest Mehl, “Kansas City Scribe Raps Owner of A’s for Big Bust,” The Sporting News, August 23, 1961: 23, 38.

55 “Del Greco on Two-Base Binge,” The Sporting News, May 2, 1962: 27 and Chris Roewe, “A.L. Averages,” The Sporting News, May 2, 1962: 28.

56 Joe McGruff, “Kid Hurlers Hold Key to A’s Trading,” The Sporting News, October 19, 1963: 11.

57 “Less Muscle Last Season—Fewer Pinch-Hit Homers,” The Sporting News, November 23, 1963: 16.

58 Neil MacCarl, “Oyler repeat Champ in Int’s Skipper Poll,” The Sporting News, September 26, 1964: 30.

59 “Del Greco Likely to Don Phil Togs Again in 1965,” The Sporting News, January 9, 1965: 8 and “Wagner and Del Greco Win Berths on Quakers’ Roster,” The Sporting News, April 24, 1965: 17.

60 “Deals of the Week”, “Major Leagues,” The Sporting News, May 22, 1965: 34.

61 “Saga of Series Swag…$1,182 to 27,758,” The Sporting News, December 3, 1977: 57, “Near Record Series Payoff for Orioles, Reds,” The Sporting News, November 14, 1970: 61, “World Series Loot Filters Down to $280,” The Sporting News, December 2, 1972: 42, “World Champ Reds Collect $19.060 Apiece,” The Sporting News, December 6, 1975: 55 and “It’s Great to Be an Oriole for World Series Loot,” The Sporting News, December 4, 1971: 38.

62 Joshua Axelrod, “Obituary: Bobby Del Greco—Former Pirate and homegrown talent.” “A 19-Year-Old Pirate Rookie Off to a Good Start in Majors,” Kansas City Star, April 20, 1952: 78.