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Bob Skinner, Marine-Veteran, Two-Time Champion, Dies 94

5/6/2026

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Summary

Bob Skinner Dies

Bob Skinner died on May 4, 2026, at age 94 in the San Diego area.
He won World Series titles with Pittsburgh (1960) and St. Louis (1964), earned three All-Star nods, and served as Pittsburgh’s hitting coach for the 1979 championship.
Skinner served in the U.S. Marines (1951-53), attaining corporal rank and the National Defense Service Medal, then scouted for the Houston Astros for two decades before retiring in 2009.

Summary

Bob Skinner Legacy

He managed one game for the San Diego Padres in 1977, ending his MLB managerial record at 93-123.
He coached the Padres (1970-73, 1977), California Angels (1978) and Atlanta Braves (1986-88).
He served as a hitting coach for five MLB clubs, shaping hitters beyond his Pirates titles.
His son Joel Skinner, a former catcher, was interim manager of the Cleveland Indians for 76 games in 2002.

History

Historical Context

Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color line on April 15 1947, debuting for the Brooklyn Dodgers before 26,623 fans and posting a .311 average that earned Rookie of the Year honors. His entry ended a 63-year segregation that had barred Black players since the 1880s. The barrier’s removal opened pathways for later figures like former Pirate champion Bob Skinner to coach diverse hitters across multiple MLB clubs.

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Bob Skinner Dies

Bob Skinner died on May 4, 2026, at age 94 in the San Diego area.
He won World Series titles with Pittsburgh (1960) and St. Louis (1964), earned three All-Star nods, and served as Pittsburgh’s hitting coach for the 1979 championship.
Skinner served in the U.S. Marines (1951-53), attaining corporal rank and the National Defense Service Medal, then scouted for the Houston Astros for two decades before retiring in 2009.

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