Bill Robinson Dead at 64

[Skywalker]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07302007...64_sports_.htm

BILL ROBINSON DEAD AT 64

July 30, 2007 -- Bill Robinson, who played three seasons with the Yankees and was the Mets' hitting coach when they won the World Series in 1986, died yesterday in Las Vegas. He was 64.

Robinson was working as the Dodgers' minor league hitting coordinator and was found dead in his hotel room. He was hitting coach for the Mets from 1984-89 and was in his second season with the Dodgers after spending four years on the Marlins' coaching staff, where he served as hitting coach for the 2003 world champions.

"On behalf of the entire Mets organization, we send our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to Bill's wife, Mary, and the Robinson family," Mets COO Jeff Wilpon said in a statement. "As hitting coach, he played an integral role in the 1986 Mets world championship. More importantly, he was a devoted family man, a consummate professional and one of the classiest men in our sport."

Robinson came to the Yankees from Atlanta after the 1966 season in a trade for Clete Boyer. He played in the majors from 1966-83, with 1,127 hits, 166 home runs and 641 RBIs as an outfielder for the Braves, Yankees, Phillies and Pirates. In 1979, he played left field for the Pirates' World Series championship team.