Duke Legend Dick Groat Dies At 92
For years, until Mike Kryzyzewski took over, the only retired jersey in Cameron Indoor Stadium was #10, which was worn by Dick Groat, who graduated in 1952.
He was a superb athlete, to say the least. Groat was also a brilliant shortstop who was a five-time All-Star. He also had two World Series rings.
Sadly, Groat suffered a stroke recently and passed away Thursday. He had a major impact at Duke and an even bigger one in Pennsylvania.
Groat came to Duke in 1948, lured, he said, by Cameron, which was then still new and a colossal arena by the standards of that day.
He led the nation in points (26.0) and assists (7.6) in 1950-51 and we’re not sure if anyone else has ever done that. He did as much as anyone to help make Cameron what it ultimately became.
He was drafted #3 by the Pistons, then in Fort Wayne, but the NBA was only five years old at the time and was no sure thing to make it. Salaries were quite low too. George Mikan’s first NBA contract was for just $12,000 and Bill Russell’s, in 1957, was for roughly double that. It was a lot more money then than it is now, but baseball paid more, so Groat pragmatically picked his second favorite sport and achieved greatness there too.
Several years after his MLB career ended, Pitt offered him a job with its basketball radio team and he spent decades working as the color man for the Panthers. In fact, if we’re not mistaken, one of his very early games was quite memorable as Pitt came to Cameron in 1979, Groat’s first season on air and he got to see 6-7, 288 lb. Sam Clancy just beat Mike Gminski senseless in the post. It was one of the greatest performances ever by a visitor to Cameron.
Groat stayed on air with the Panthers until 2019, giving him a third spectacular career.
Aside from his obvious talents, Groat had another special quality: from all accounts, he was deeply humble and unpretentious. As you browse the links below, you’ll see the love people had for the man. His athletic accomplishments would have earned him a significant send off when this day came, but his character meant that he was not just appreciated for his superb athletic talents but for his kindness and innate decency.
Dick Groat, dead at 92. Godspeed.
- Pirates legend Dick Groat, a staple of Pittsburgh sports culture, dies at 92
- Former Pirates great Dick Groat dead at 92
- Pirates legend Dick Groat dead at 92
- Pirates legend and Swissvale native Dick Groat dies at age 92
- Legendary Pitt Panthers Broadcaster Dick Groat Passes at 92
- Dick Groat Passes Away at 92 Years Old
- Dick Groat dies age 92, leaving behind one of the most accomplished legacies in American Sports
- Dick Groat dies age 92, leaving behind one of the most accomplished legacies in American Sports
- Pirates Legend Dick Groat, 1960 National League MVP, Dies at 92