Springfieldian and Former Major Leaguer Bill Virdon Has Died

Former Major League Baseball player and manager Bill Virdon died Tuesday at the age of 90.

Virdon grew up in West Plains and retired to Springfield when his career ended.

He won the Rookie of the Year in 1955 playing center field with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Virdon later helped the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Yankees in the 1960 World Series.

He later went on to manage four Major League teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and Montreal Expos.

He led the Astros to three postseason appearances and was named Manager of the Year in 1980.

Virdon and his wife, Shirley, just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Sunday.