The Yankees have announced that Gil McDougald has passed away. Below is the press release:
The New York Yankees mourn the passing of former player Gil McDougald, who died of prostate cancer at age 82 on Sunday at his home in Wall Township, N.J.
McDougald played his entire 10-year Major League career (1951-60) with the Yankees and was a member of eight Yankees pennant-winning teams (1951-53, ’55-58 and ’60) and five World Championship clubs (1951-53, ’56 and ’58). In 1,336 career games as a versatile infielder, he batted .276 (1,291-for-4,676) with 112 home runs and 576 RBI, while logging 599 games as a second baseman, 508 games as a third baseman and 284 games at shortstop.
In 1951, he became the first Yankee to win the American League “Rookie of the Year” Award, batting .306 (123-for-402) with 72 runs scored, 14 home runs, 63 RBI and a .396 on-base percentage. On three occasions, he finished in the Top 10 in AL MVP voting (ninth in 1951, seventh in 1956, and fifth in 1957).
A native of San Francisco, Calif., McDougald was an All-Star in five different seasons (1952, ’56-’59), including two All-Star Games in 1959. In the 1958 contest at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, he drove home the game-winning run with a sixth-inning single in a 4-3 American League win.
McDougald batted over .300 twice – .306 in 1951 and a career-high .311 in 1956 – and set a personal best with 83 RBI in 1953.
McDougald is survived by his wife, Lucille, their seven children (Christine, Gilbert Jr., Tod, Denise, Courtney Ann, John and Matthew), 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Private funeral services will be held on Friday, December 3, in New Jersey.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name toward charities that assist with cochlear implants, those that work toward finding a cure for prostate cancer or to the charity of the donor’s choosing.
STATEMENTS FROM FORMER YANKEES:
“Gil was a great guy, well-liked by the team and a helluva ballplayer. He was a good fielder and was always a fierce competitor,” Whitey Ford said.
“Before I was traded to the Yankees, Gil and I played against each other in the minors in the Texas League," Bob Turley said. "He was always one of the most serious guys out there, and he loved to win. But Gil was also a person who got along well with everyone. He was always in good spirits.”