Jeff Torborg, former Mets manager and MLB veteran, dies at 83

Jeff Torborg managed the Mets and gained recognition throughout his MLB career.

Jeff Torborg, a former Major League catcher turned manager and coach, passed away on Sunday at the age of 83, as confirmed by the White Sox. His cause of death was not immediately disclosed, though he had been struggling with Parkinson's disease in recent years.

Born in Westfield, New Jersey, Torborg managed the Mets for less than two seasons and later had a long coaching career with the Yankees in multiple roles. His most notable managerial achievement came with the White Sox, where he led the team to 94 victories in 1990, earning him American League Manager of the Year honors.

Torborg’s time with the Mets was marked by struggles. After finishing 70-92 in 1992, a season famously described as “The Worst Team Money Could Buy,” Torborg was fired 38 games into the following season with a 13-25 record, replaced by Dallas Green.

He went on to manage the Expos and Marlins, though his tenure with the Marlins ended early in 2003 before the team went on to win the World Series under Jack McKeon.

Torborg’s coaching career began after his first managerial role with Cleveland from 1977-79. He then joined the Yankees as a coach, where he spent nearly a decade in various roles, including bullpen coach and pitching coach, during a time of turbulence under owner George Steinbrenner.

His time with the Mets coincided with a huge payroll increase to $45 million, thanks to the acquisition of players like Bobby Bonilla, Bret Saberhagen, and Vince Coleman. Despite high expectations, the Mets finished fifth in the NL East after falling out of contention, and Torborg was fired in May of the following year with the team underperforming.