Rich Rollins, a two-time American League All-Star third baseman who helped the Minnesota Twins win their first pennant in 1965, died on May 13, 2025. He was 87.
Rollins’ death was confirmed by both the Twins and Cleveland Guardians organizations. The Guardians were informed of his passing by a family member, according to multiple sources.
Born on April 16, 1938, in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, Rollins grew up in the Cleveland suburb of Parma. He starred in baseball and basketball at Parma High School before attending Kent State University, where his athletic talents flourished.
At Kent State, Rollins became a three-time All-Mid-American Conference selection and led the team in batting average for three straight years, peaking with a remarkable .399 average in 1959. That same year, he was named team MVP. Despite his stellar college numbers, Rollins was overlooked in the amateur draft system of the time.
Scout Frank Lane recognized Rollins’ potential and signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1960 with the Washington Senators, who would soon become the Minnesota Twins. After attending a tryout camp and initially turning down an offer, Rollins received an improved proposal from the organization that included better pay and a higher minor league starting level.
Rollins quickly progressed through the Twins’ farm system. In 1960, he debuted with Wilson, North Carolina, in the Carolina League and hit .341 in 62 games. He started the 1961 season with Class AAA Syracuse but after just one at-bat in three weeks was sent to Charlotte, where he hit .270 in 36 games and was moved to third base.
The Twins recalled Rollins in mid-June 1961, and he made his Major League debut on June 16 during the franchise’s first season in Minnesota after relocating from Washington. He hit .294 in 13 games that year.
Rollins’ breakout season came in 1962, when he became the Twins’ everyday third baseman. He hit .298 with 16 home runs, 96 RBIs, and scored 96 runs in 159 games. His outstanding performance earned him the most votes of any American League player that year, and he was selected as the starting third baseman for both All-Star Games. Major League Baseball held two All-Star contests annually from 1959 to 1962.
In the first All-Star Game on July 10 at D.C. Stadium, Rollins was hit by a pitch from future Hall of Famer Don Drysdale in his first at-bat but later singled off Bob Purkey and scored the American League’s only run in a 3-1 loss. In the second All-Star Game on July 30 at Wrigley Field, he singled in his first at-bat and helped the AL to a 9-4 victory.
Following the 1962 season, Rollins was named the Twins’ Most Valuable Player by his teammates. He finished eighth in American League MVP voting that year. His best batting season came in 1963, when he hit .307 in 136 games and collected downballot MVP votes for the second consecutive year.
In 1964, Rollins led the American League with 10 triples. The following year, he played a key role as the starting third baseman when the Twins won their first American League pennant with a 102-60 record. During the 1965 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Rollins appeared in five of the seven games, making three pinch-hitting appearances but going hitless.
From 1966 to 1968, Rollins primarily served as a backup infielder for the Twins. Following the 1968 season, he was selected by the expansion Seattle Pilots in the expansion draft. He played 58 games for the Pilots in 1969, hitting .225 in their lone season of existence.
When the franchise relocated to Milwaukee and became the Brewers for the 1970 season, Rollins began the year with them but played only 14 games. He was released in May and signed with his hometown Cleveland Indians, where he finished his career with 42 games that season.
Over his 10-year MLB career, Rollins compiled a .269 batting average in 1,002 games, hitting 77 home runs with 399 RBIs and 125 doubles. He played more than 135 games in four of his eight seasons with the Twins.
After retiring as a player, Rollins remained involved in baseball by running camps and serving as a minor league instructor and scout for the Indians starting in 1972. He also worked in an administrative role for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers.
Rollins received numerous honors throughout his life. In 1976, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame alongside George Blanda and Arnold Palmer. He was inducted into Kent State University’s Varsity K Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.
The Twins organization expressed its condolences following news of his passing. “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former Twin, Rich Rollins,” the team stated on social media.