'Humble, hard-working and loyal as can be:' Former Pirates 1B coach Tommy Sandt dies

A baseball lifer with a distinctive bushy mustache and an easygoing personality, Tommy Sandt coached for 21 years in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and was the first base coach for their three consecutive NL East Division championships from 1990-92.

Sandt died Tuesday. He was 69.

Lost a great friend & mentor today. Former @Athletics infielder @Pirates @Marlins @Rockies coach @BuffaloBisons @TripleABaseball #PCL Mgr of Yr, Tommy Sandt passed away at age 69. He was a brilliant baseball man & as humble as they come. Love u,Tommy. #RIP pic.twitter.com/AKRxeEpW7e

— Greg Brown (@gbrowniepoints) December 1, 2020

“He was a brilliant baseball man & as humble as they come,” said Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown, who tweeted the news.

A 1969 second-round draft pick by the Oakland A’s out of Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, Calif., Sandt joined the defending World Series champions for one game in 1975. Sandt spent the ’76 season with the A’s, playing second base, third base and shortstop and batting .209 (14 for 67) with one double, seven walks, three RBIs and six runs scored in 41 games. He signed with St. Louis the following year, and then was traded to the Pirates for pitcher John Stuper before the 1979 season.

After batting .322 for Triple-A Portland, Sandt served as player-manager for two years. He also coached for the Pirates in the minors at Double-A Buffalo and Lynn (Mass.) and Triple-A Honolulu, where he had a .553 winning percentage in three seasons (239-193), won two division titles and was named Pacific Coast League manager of the year in 1984. Sandt also coached three winters in Venezuela.

“I’ve been everywhere,” Sandt told the Los Angeles Times in 1990. “But it’s not like it was a hard thing for me to do. All that time in the minors makes me appreciate the big leagues.

“I think some of the guys who come in (to the majors) quickly miss out on what it’s like. Like getting the envelope with meal money in it, the fun and the travel.”

Sandt made it back to the majors when he joined Jim Leyland’s staff in 1987 and was the first base and infield coach for the three-time NL East Division champions.

Tommy Sandt was 1 of the greatest men I knew. Taught me so much from ball to the importance of family as he always talked with pride about his-even at 1B. Once he was asked on the tron to name a song that fit him-said Sinatra's My Way. He def lived by it. RIP, Friend. I love u. pic.twitter.com/KbNSMB41hI

— Jason Kendall (@jasondkendall18) December 2, 2020

“He had a good rapport with all the players,” Leyland said. “He was one of those special coaches who was a buffer for the manager. If a player had a problem, he knew how to smooth it out. He had this knack for knowing which button to push for every player. He understood people really well. He was a terrific coach.”

Sandt coached All-Stars and Gold Glove winners in Pirates shortstop Jay Bell and second baseman Jose Lind. Pirates broadcaster John Wehner worked closely with Sandt after moving around the infield, from third base to second and then to first, with the Pirates and Marlins.

“I got to know him very well. He was a great guy, a great human being,” Wehner said. “He was humble, hard-working and as loyal as can be. That’s why he stuck around so long.”

Sandt followed Leyland to the Florida Marlins, where he was the first base coach when they beat the Cleveland Indians on Edgar Renteria’s bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 11th inning for a 3-2 win in Game 7 to clinch the World Series title in 1997.

“I can still see it now, with Renteria getting the hit and throwing his hat off and Tommy is right there jumping in his arms,” Leyland said. “It worked out pretty good for us.”

Sandt followed Leyland to the Colorado Rockies in ’99 before returning to the Pirates as a special instructor on Gene Lamont’s staff in 2000. Sandt was the first base coach under Lloyd McClendon on June 26, 2001, when the Pirates manager stole first base after arguing an out call on a bang-bang play involving Jason Kendall.

Sandt initially challenged the call with first base umpire Rick Reed, then watched as McClendon intervened, finally pulling the bag out of the dirt in frustration and carrying it into the dugout after he was ejected. Sandt stood there looking stunned, not knowing whether to laugh or get angry.

“I think we all fell into that category,” Wehner said. “I was on the bench in the dugout, laughing. I thought it was the funniest thing. I can’t remember exactly what Tommy’s reaction was, but you didn’t see him mad, all those years. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve see him mad. He was an easygoing guy who was serious about his work, but he was light-hearted and liked to have fun. He was friendly with everybody but made sure you got your work in and got your job done.”

Leyland spent Tuesday talking with former members of his coaching staff — from Gene Lamont to Rich Donnelly to Ray Miller — and reminiscing about their years on the staff with Sandt.

“We really lost a great guy, a very close friend and a great coach,” Leyland said. “It’s heartbreaking, really.”