Former Pirates Outfielder Vic Davalillo Dies Following Surgery

Vic Davalillo, an outfielder on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ World Series-winning team in 1971, has died. He was 84 or 87, depending on conflicting sources.

Davilillo died last Wednesday in his native Venezuela following surgery for an intestinal obstruction and renal insufficiency.

Davalillo played in the major leagues for 16 seasons between 1963 and 1980. He was with the Pirates for three years from 1971-73, hitting .290/.327/.381 with six home runs and 24 stolen bases in 275 games.

In the Pirates’ victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the 1971 World Series, Davalillo made three pinch-hitting appearances and went 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Davalillo began his major-league career with the Cleveland Indians from 1963-68. He also played for the California Angels (1968-69), St. Louis Cardinals (1969-70), Pirates, Oakland Athletics (1973-74) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1977-80).

Davalillo won a second World Series ring with the Athletics in 1973. He made his lone All-Star Game appearance in 1965.

Baseball Reference lists Davalillo’s birthdate as July 30, 1939. However, Davalillo considered July 31 his birthday and Asdrubal Fuenmayor wrote in a 2006 biography that Davalillo was born in 1936.