Merv Rettenmund, who played 13 seasons in the Major Leagues before becoming a respected hitting coach after his playing days ended, passed away on Saturday at the age of 81.
Rettenmund made his MLB debut with the 1968 Orioles and was a member of Baltimore’s pennant-winning teams from 1969-71. Rettenmund and the O’s celebrated a World Series victory in 1970, and he homered in the Game 5 clincher versus the Reds.
Rettenmund hit .322 and had a .938 OPS with 18 home runs during the ‘70 season, before earning a few down-ballot votes for American League MVP in ‘71 as he produced a .318 average and a .422 on-base percentage.
After the 1973 campaign, Rettenmund was traded to Cincinnati and captured his second World Series ring with The Big Red Machine in ‘75.
In the latter half of his career with the Padres (1976-77) and Angels (1978-80), Rettenmund became one of baseball’s best pinch-hitters. His 22 pinch-hits for San Diego in 1977 remain a club record.
A right-handed-hitting outfielder, Rettenmund recorded a solid .271/.381/.406 slash line and a 123 OPS+ during his career, and soon took what he learned on the diamond into the coaching ranks. Beginning with the Rangers in 1983, Rettenmund served as a hitting coach for five clubs -- Rangers, A's, Padres, Braves and Tigers -- over a 25-year span.
He was the A’s hitting coach when they bashed their way to a World Series championship in 1989 and an AL pennant in ‘90. However, he spent the majority of his coaching years with San Diego, first from 1991-99 and then from 2006-07, which were his final seasons as a big league coach.
Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn won four of his eight batting titles under Rettenmund’s tutelage, including Gwynn’s 1994 season when he made a run at .400.