Former Pirates Manager Tanner Passes At 82

Chuck Tanner, who managed the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1977-1985 and led the "We Are Family" Pirates to a World Series victory over the Baltimore Orioles in 1979, has passed away. Tanner, who also managed the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics and Atlanta Braves, was 82.

Born in New Castle, Pa., Tanner played eight seasons in the major leagues from 1955-1962. He began his playing career with the Milwaukee Braves in 1955 and hit a home run in his first career at bat (the only player to do so in a Braves uniform while they were in Milwaukee). After two-and-a-half years in the Braves organization he went on to play with the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Angels.

His managerial career began in 1970 with the Chicago White Sox and he would manage the South Siders through the 1975 season before taking the helm of the Oakland Athletics for the 1976 campaign.

Returning to his home state to manage, Tanner went on to post winning seasons in each of his first four years as the skipper of the Pirates, bringing the World Series title back to Pittsburgh in his third season. He remained with the Pirates through the 1985 season before ending his managerial career with three seasons as the manager of the Braves.

Tanner rejoined the Pirates family as a Senior Advisor to Pirates General Manager Neil Huntington in 2007. Bruce, one of Tanner's four sons, served as the pitching coach for the Curve during the 2000 season.