Known for his remarkable composure and stern gaze during games, former Montreal Expos manager Bill Virdon passed away at the age of 90 on Tuesday. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.
Virdon led the Expos at the very end of his career, in 1983 and 1984. He was 146-147-1 at the helm of the Montreal team, but failed to lead them to the playoffs. He was fired before the end of his second campaign, a few days after announcing his intention to leave his post to then-president John McHale.
“When he arrived in Montreal, he no longer tempted to be a manager,” recalled the analyst of the TVA Sports channel Rodger Brulotte.
No smile
Older baseball fans remember a man who showed little emotion and hardly ever smiled in his managerial role. But he was not a bad teacher, far from it.
Before coming to Montreal, he had played 1583 games with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates in center field, between 1955 and 1968. He then led the Pirates (1972-1973), the New Yankees. York (1974-1975) and the Houston Astros (1975-1982). He also ranks first among the Astros all-time with 544 wins.
“He was a severe trainer,” explained Brulotte. He knew his baseball well, but he had no enthusiasm. He’s a great baseball manager, but he’s not a guy who showed his enthusiasm. No emotion. Not at all.”
To illustrate his point, the one who acts as an analyst during the reports for the baseball games recalled an anecdote that occurred on July 15, 1983, a few minutes after a bitter loss of 9-3 against the Braves in Atlanta.
«[Warren] Cromartie knocked over the food table after the loss, Brulotte recalled. Virdon stood up and said to him, ‘Listen well, there is no one spilling food here. There is no one having fits. This is food, we are eating.’ “
The manager then made the decision to suspend the offending player for three games.
One of the best
Before making his mark as manager, Virdon also excelled in the field. Named National League Rookie of the Year in 1955, he maintained an excellent batting average of .316 throughout his career in addition to securing a Golden Glove in 1962.
He notably won the World Series with the Pennsylvania club in 1960.
“He was an excellent outfielder. One of the best center fielder in baseball, ”concluded Brulotte.
