Rocky Colavito, a nine-time MLB All-Star and beloved outfielder, has passed away at the age of 91. His impact on Cleveland sports is undeniable, especially given his role in one of the most controversial trades in the city’s history.
Colavito died peacefully at his home in Bernville, Pennsylvania, surrounded by family on Tuesday. Bob DiBiasio, a spokesperson for the Cleveland Guardians, confirmed the news, expressing the profound sense of loss felt by fans and players alike.
“Our collective hearts ache at the passing of Rocky,” DiBiasio stated, emphasizing Colavito’s status as a generational icon in the franchise’s history. His unique on-deck routine, which included kneeling and stretching his bat, became a rite of passage for young athletes throughout Northeast Ohio.
During his eight seasons with the Indians, Colavito achieved remarkable feats, hitting 190 home runs and driving in 574 runs. He ranks 12th on the franchise’s all-time home run list and earned a place in the team’s Hall of Fame in 2006.
Born in the Bronx, New York, on August 10, 1933, Colavito signed with the Cleveland Indians at the young age of 17 after showcasing his talent during a tryout at Yankee Stadium in 1951.
Colavito quickly progressed through the minor leagues, making his major league debut in 1955. He joined an impressive outfield alongside future Hall of Famers Ralph Kiner and Larry Doby, marking the beginning of a stellar career.
Rocky Colavito had two stints with Cleveland in the 1950s and ’60s. (Photo by Herb Scharfman /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
In 1958, Colavito had a standout season, batting .303 with 41 home runs, leading the majors in slugging percentage, and finishing third in AL MVP voting.
The following year, he earned his first All-Star selection and led the American League with 42 home runs. However, in 1960, a controversial trade sent him to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for pitcher Harvey Kuenn, a decision that drew significant backlash from fans.
Colavito spent four seasons with the Tigers before moving to the Kansas City Athletics in 1964. He was welcomed back to Cleveland before the 1965 season, where he played for two-and-a-half more seasons before being traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1967.
He concluded his playing career with brief stints at the Los Angeles Dodgers and his hometown Yankees, retiring at the end of the 1968 season.
Over a 14-year career, Colavito recorded 374 home runs and was a top-five finisher in MVP voting three times. He remains the only player in Cleveland history to hit four home runs in a single game and shares the MLB record for the highest fielding percentage by an outfielder in a season (1.000).
After hanging up his cleats, Colavito transitioned into television and coaching, serving on the Cleveland coaching staff from 1976 to 1978, and later coaching in Kansas City.
