2-time MLB World Series champ dies

SAN DIEGO — Merv Rettenmund, a 13-year Major League Baseball outfielder who won two World Series titles with the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds, has died. He was 81.

Rettenmund died Saturday at his home in San Diego, according to MLB.com. His cause of death was cancer, a diagnosis he received in August and was deemed terminal, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

“I’m going to pass away soon,” Rettenmund said by phone on Nov. 29, per the Union-Tribune. “The doctors told me, ‘Just forget it. You’re in trouble.’”

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Born June 6, 1943, in Flint, Michigan, Rettenmund made his MLB debut for the Orioles at age 24 in 1968. He helped lead Baltimore to winning three consecutive American League pennants from 1969-71, including winning the 1970 World Series over the Reds, 4-1. During that season, Rettenmund hit .322 with 18 homers, 58 RBI and a .938 OPS.

After six seasons in Baltimore, Rettenmund was traded to the Reds in December 1973. He played two seasons for Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” in 1974 and 1975, the latter of which was capped by the Reds winning the World Series over the Boston Red Sox, 4-3.

Rettenmund also played two seasons for the San Diego Padres from 1976-77 and three seasons with the California Angels before retiring after the 1980 season.

After 13 seasons as an MLB player, Rettenmund served as a hitting coach for the Texas Rangers (1983-85), Oakland Athletics (1989-1990), Padres (1991-99; 2006-07), Atlanta Braves (2000-01) and Detroit Tigers (2002). He was the Athletics’ hitting coach during the team’s World Series title win in 1989, and coached Padres Hall of Fame outfielder Tony Gwynn to four of his eight National League batting titles.

“I got to watch T. Gwynn,” Rettenmund told the Union-Tribune. “It’s been a great ride. Really and truly, I feel really good. I’m not in any pain. Everything is hunky dory.”