Rich Rollins, a two-time American League All-Star who helped the Minnesota Twins win their first pennant, and later played for the expansion Seattle Pilots/Milwaukee Brewers franchise, has died. He was 87.
Bob DiBiasio, the senior vice president of public affairs for the Cleveland Guardians, announced Rollins’ passing Tuesday on Twitter/X.
Am deeply saddened by the passing of dear friend, former colleague and one of CLE’s greatest sandlot players, Rich Rollins. Proud grad of Parma HS (‘56) & KSU (‘60). Enjoyed 10yr MLB career, final season w/Indians (1961-70). 2X All-Star. A 1989 @GCLESPORTSHOF inductee pic.twitter.com/s5eAlZnVx6
— Bob DiBiasio (@BDbaseball6) May 13, 2025
“Am deeply saddened by the passing of dear friend, former colleague and one of CLE’s greatest sandlot players, Rich Rollins,” DiBiasio wrote. “Proud grad of Parma HS (’56) & KSU (’60). Enjoyed 10yr MLB career, final season w/Indians (1961-70). 2X All-Star.”
RIP Rich Rollins. Popular member of the 1965 AL Champion @Twins. https://t.co/Jx6j5y20Hl
— Dave St. Peter (@DaveStPeter) May 13, 2025
“RIP Rich Rollins,” Dave St. Peter, the Twins’ president and CEO, wrote on Twitter/X Tuesday. “Popular member of the 1965 AL Champion @Twins.”
Rollins debuted with the Twins in 1961, the franchise’s first year in Minnesota after relocating from Washington, D.C. He appeared in 13 games that season, slashing .294/.400/.353.
The following year, Rollins played 159 games as the Twins’ primary third baseman. He slashed .298/.374/.428 and appeared in both major league All-Star games, during the brief period when two summer contests between the American League and National League were staged.
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Rollins collected enough American League MVP votes to finish eighth that season. The following year, in 1963, was his best at the plate. Rollins slashed .307/.359/.444 (122 OPS+) in 136 games and collected downballot MVP votes for the second consecutive year.
In 1964, Rollins led the AL with 10 triples. In 1965 he helped the team win its first pennant in Minnesota, going 102-60. In his only career postseason appearances, Rollins went hitless in three pinch-hitting appearances against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1965 World Series.
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From 1966-68, Rollins mostly served as a backup on the Twins’ infield. In Oct. 1968, he was drafted by the expansion Pilots, and played 58 games in the first year of MLB baseball in Seattle.
Rollins played another 14 games with the franchise when it relocated to Milwaukee for the 1970 season and became the Brewers. After being released in May, Rollins signed with his hometown club and finished his major league career with 42 games in Cleveland that season.
A native of Mount Pleasant, Penn., Rollins stayed involved in baseball by running camps, and in 1972 by pitching batting practice along with Rocky Colavito for the Indians. Later that year, the Indians hired him as a minor league instructor and scout.
In 1976, Rollins was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame along with George Blanda and Arnold Palmer. In 1989, he was inducted to the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. He also worked with the NBA‘s Cleveland Cavaliers in an administrative role.
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