Former Orioles Catcher Gus Triandos Dies At 82
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Gus Triandos, a major league catcher who spent the majority of his 14-year career with the Baltimore Orioles, died at his San Jose home, his sister said.
Triandos's daughter, Tracey Hook, said her father died Thursday. He was 82. She said Triandos was suffering from congestive heart failure and had been in and out of the hospital.
Triandos played from 1953-1965. He broke into the majors with the Yankees and played in 20 games over two years in New York before becoming a starter with the Orioles in 1955. He played eight seasons for Baltimore before finishing with Detroit, Philadelphia and Houston.
His lifetime batting average was .244. The four-time All Star hit 167 home runs.
His best season was 1956, when he batted .279 with 21 homers and 88 RBIs. He also hit 30 home runs in 1958. In that same season, Triandos also caught a no-hitter by knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm.
Triandos's other daughter, Lori Luna, says her father still received fan mail and was amazed people still thought about him.
"He always felt very grateful he got the opportunity to play," she said. "He would never say he was great. We just always knew he was great."
According to the family, he is also survived by a son, Gary, 59, and his wife, Evelyn, 84.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
