Obituary: Chuck Tanner / manager who led Pirates' 'Family' to 1979 championship
Post-Gazette Saturday 12th February, 2011
Chuck Tanner, the popular manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates' most recent championship in 1979, died Friday, just days before his beloved team was about to open spring training, which he often excitedly called "the best time of the year!" Mr. Tanner was a lifelong resident of New Castle, where he died at his home in hospice care after a long illness. He was 82. He will be best remembered for overseeing the Pirates' World Series triumph against the Baltimore Orioles, taking the final three games after trailing the best-of-seven series, 3-1. That group adopted the Sister Sledge song, "We are Family," and, while first baseman Willie Stargell was the clubhouse leader, Mr. Tanner was its father figure. Mr. Tanner's mother died in New Castle before Game 5, just as that series looked darkest, a...
Comments
No comments yet for this story