Jeff Torborg, the former catcher who caught Sandy Koufax’s perfect game and was the 1990 American League manager of the year with the Chicago White Sox, died Sunday. He was 83.
The White Sox said on social media that Torborg died in his hometown of Westfield, New Jersey. A cause of death wasn’t given.
“Jeff was a tremendous baseball man with great character,” White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “He was a leader. Jeff managed a young, coming-of-age White Sox team that featured Jack McDowell, Alex Fernandez, Ozzie Guillen, Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura among others. That core nucleus, led early on by Jeff, really turned the fortunes of the franchise around on the field with that exciting 1990 season.”
“I am heartbroken,” Guillen, the former White Sox player and manager, posted on social media. “My mentor and my friend has passed away. Someone who truly understood me and gave me a chance to lead, to be a captain. So much of my way of managing and being in a clubhouse came from him.”
Torborg was behind the plate for three no-hitters, the first with Koufax and the Los Angeles Dodgers for the perfect game against the Chicago Cubs in 1965. Torborg had the second in 1970 with Bill Singer for the Dodgers against Philadelphia, then in 1973 with the Angels caught the first of Nolan Ryan’s record seven no-hitters in a game against Kansas City.
After starring at Westfield High School and Rutgers University, Torborg spent 10 seasons in the majors as a player — the first seven with the Dodgers and the last three with the Angels. He hit .214 with eight homers and 101 RBIs in 574 games.
He began his managing career with Cleveland (1977-79), was with the White Sox from 1989-91 and also had stints with the New York Mets (1992-93), Montreal (2000) and Florida (2002-03).
Torborg had gone 157-201 as Cleveland’s manager, then joined the New York Yankees’ coaching staff before being hired by the Sox.
“The strength of the 24-man roster is those 10 guys who step on the mound,” Sox general manager Larry Himes said in a March 5, 1989, Tribune story. “They’ll listen to him. They know they’re talking to a guy with a good background who’s caught some of the best pitchers in baseball.”
Torborg went 250-235 during his three seasons as the Sox skipper, leading the team to second place in AL West in 1990 and 1991.
After finishing 69-92 in 1989, the Sox made a 25-game improvement by going 94-68 the following season, and Torborg was recognized with the manager of the year honors.
“It is rewarding personally, and I’m very pleased, without a doubt,” Torborg said in an Oct. 31, 1990, Tribune article. “Anybody wants to be recognized for personal achievement, but I like to look at it as an organizational victory.”
Dale Torborg, one of Jeff Torborg’s sons, was a roving White Sox strength and conditioning coordinator from 2004-22.
“It’s a sad day to lose a great man with such high character,” said Robin Ventura, who played for Jeff Torborg from 1989-91. “He was a family man who ran his team like a family. I smile as I think of him in the dugout wearing his soccer cleats as he managed his team.”
Torborg also spent time as a broadcaster.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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