PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – So many of us know him as the voice from the Pitt basketball games or if you got to meet him, this incredibly nice, unassuming man that you know played pro ball. What most of us forgot or didn't realize is how good of an athlete Dick Groat was.
Jeff Capel played in the same arena, or stadium, as Groat at Duke. As a freshman he saw his jersey hanging from the rafters and investigated who he was. Capel said he was blown away with what he found, at an age before the internet. Then put him in the company with two men who Groat should be compared with more often.
"There have been very few people that have done it at a high level and he's one of them," Capel said Thursday. "That I can remember off the top of my head, you had Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders. That's it that I can remember that played both at a professional level, at a high level, both major leagues."
"He was the first retired number at Duke, I do know that basketball program's history and you have to be pretty dog-done good to have your jersey retired there. To know that he did it at such a high level is pretty cool."
The third overall pick in the NBA, Groat would play games on the weekend or whenever he didn't have classes at Duke. He wanted to finish school, so the Pistons decided he was that important, back in 1952 they would send a private plane for him to play whenever he could. He averaged 11.9 points a game over 26 games, with little if any practice with the team. He would eventually give up his NBA career as he was forced by the Pirates to choose and baseball paid better.
Let's just look at his last year at Duke, he was named the National Player of the Year in basketball in the winter. In the spring, hit .375 and led Duke baseball to its first ever College World Series appearance. When that concluded he played 95 games for the Pirates hitting .284 his rookie year and then the NBA.
He did not play baseball in 1953 or 1954 due to military service, returned to the Pirates in 1955 and had 139 hits in 151 games. In 1960, Groat hit .325, named the National League MVP and helped the Pirates win the World Series. He would win another championship in St. Louis, hitting .286 over his 14-year career.
"I was fascinated with him," Capel said. "I'm fascinated with people in general, but especially people that are great at something. I think great is the most overused word especially in sports, but he was truly one of the greats. (Wanted) to try to figure out what made him great. How did he become great, the mindset?"
He had Groat attend a Pitt practice. Even though he only knew him for one year as a Panthers broadcaster, he quickly understood that while he went to Duke, Groat also loved Pitt. Capel said Groat was 'incredibly proud' of his association with the Panthers and his connection with the City of Pittsburgh.
"I was always blown away at how humble and friendly he was," Capel said. "When you've accomplished so much, to still be humble, friendly, accommodating, welcoming. (He) showed the grace he had as a human being."
Capel noted Groat was around the Panthers program during the glory days and was glad he was able to see Pitt get back in the NCAA Tournament this year.
"Even though he never wore a jersey at the University of Pittsburgh, he was incredibly proud of this place," Capel said. "He was an unbelievable man. One of the nicest men I ever met. He was always welcoming and friendly."
He was also one of the greatest multi-sport athletes of all-time.
