Ray Fosse, the two-time All-Star who won back-to-back World Series with the Oakland Athletics in 1973 and 1974, died Wednesday, the A’s announced. Fosse’s wife, Carol, first announced her husband’s death on rayfosse.com, saying he battled cancer for 16 years.
Fosse, 74, announced in August he had to step away from his duties as a color commentator for the A’s on NBC Sports California. Fosse served as an analyst for A’s baseball on radio or television since 1986.
“The Oakland A’s are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Ray Fosse,” the A’s said in a statement Wednesday. “Few people epitomize what it means to be an Athletic more than Ray. He was the type of franchise icon who always made sure every player, coach, colleague and fan knew that they were part of the Oakland A’s family.”
Fosse was a two-time Gold Glove winner at catcher across 12 MLB seasons primarily with Cleveland and Oakland. While representing the Indians in the 1970 All-Star Game, Fosse was a part of one of the most famous plays in the Midsummer Classic’s history when Cincinnati’s Pete Rose ran into him on a play at the plate to score the winning run for the National League in the bottom of the 12th inning. Fosse separated his shoulder and suffered a fracture on the play, injuries that were not discovered until the following season.
Fosse batted .256 with 61 home runs and 324 RBIs in 924 career games.
This story will be updated.
(Photo: Michael Zagaris / Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
