Merv Rettenmund, Two-Time World Series Champion and Respected MLB Hitting Coach, Dies at 81

The former Orioles and Reds outfielder passed away from cancer at his San Diego home after a distinguished 13-year playing career and decades as a coach.

• Merv Rettenmund, a two-time World Series champion with the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds, died on Saturday at the age of 81 due to cancer.
• Rettenmund was a key player for the Orioles during their 1970 World Series victory, hitting .322 that season and homering in the series-clinching Game 5 against the Reds.
• He earned a second championship ring with the Reds' 'Big Red Machine' during their 1975 World Series triumph over the Boston Red Sox.
• After retiring as a player in 1980, Rettenmund became a highly regarded MLB hitting coach, helping guide the Oakland Athletics to a 1989 World Series title and mentoring players like Tony Gwynn to multiple batting titles.
• Rettenmund's career included stints with four MLB teams as a player and five organizations as a coach, leaving a lasting impact on the game across generations.

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