Richard Morrow Groat was an American professional baseball and basketball player best known as one of the most accomplished two-sport athletes in American sports history. He was also an eight-time All-Star shortstop and two-time World Series champion in Major League Baseball. Groat was a prominent athlete who excelled in both professional baseball and basketball. Groat played college basketball at Duke University, where he was a two-time All-American and led the Blue Devils to the NCAA champions... moreRichard Morrow Groat was an American professional baseball and basketball player best known as one of the most accomplished two-sport athletes in American sports history. He was also an eight-time All-Star shortstop and two-time World Series champion in Major League Baseball. Groat was a prominent athlete who excelled in both professional baseball and basketball. Groat played college basketball at Duke University, where he was a two-time All-American and led the Blue Devils to the NCAA championship game in 1952. He then played for ten seasons in the NBA, earning All-Star honors twice and helping the Syracuse Nationals win the NBA championship in 1955. In addition to basketball, Groat also played professional baseball for 15 seasons, primarily as a shortstop. He was a two-time All-Star and won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1960 while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. That same year, he helped lead the Pirates to a World Series championship. After retiring from sports, Groat went on to become a successful broadcaster and commentator for both basketball and baseball games. He was also inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. His talents and achievements will be remembered by fans of both sports for years to come.
