Former major leaguer and longtime hitting coach Merv Rettenmund He died on Saturday at the age of 81. Rettenmund played 13 seasons with the Orioles, Reds, Padres, and Angels from 1968-1980, and was the hitting coach for five different teams for parts of 19 seasons from 1983 to 2007.
Rettenmund was a two-sport star during his college days at Ball State, and even became the Dallas Cowboys’ 19th-round pick in the 1965 NFL Draft. Having signed with the Orioles, Rettenmund went on to make his major league debut in 1968 and soon established himself as a regular on Baltimore’s elite team. Rettenmund hit .284/.383/.436 in 2021 plate appearances during his six seasons with the O’s, bouncing between all three outfield spots.
This stretch of Rettenmund’s career was highlighted by a World Series title with the Orioles in 1970, and he went on to win another ring with the 1975 Reds. Although Rettenmund’s production declined during his two years in Cincinnati, the role of supporting one of the greatest teams in baseball history was no small feat. He worked mostly as a platoon player and pinch-hitter for the remainder of his career, and finished with a .271/.381/.406 slash line and 66 home runs in 3074 PA and 1023 games in the majors.
After retiring, Rettenmund entered the second long chapter of his baseball career by becoming a respected hitting coach. Rettenmund spent 11 seasons as the Padres’ hitting coach over two stints (1991-99, and 2006-07) in San Diego, and his coaching stints included stints with the Rangers, Athletics, Braves, and Tigers. Three of Rettenmund’s teams won the pennant, including the 1989 A’s that won the World Series.
We at MLB Trade Rumors send our condolences to Rettenmund’s family, friends and peers.
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