The Cleveland Guardians announced some sad news when it was revealed that former coach Joe Nossek passed away at the age of 85. The Cleveland native spent five seasons with the franchise, from 1977 through 1981.
He served under managers Frank Robinson, Jeff Torborg and Dave Garcia. He also was a coach for the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox.
Bob DiBiasio, the Guardians’ senior vice president of public affairs, announced Nossek’s passing on social media.
Heartbroken by the passing of dear friend and one of CLE’s great baseball men-Joe Nossek. Euclid HS & OU. 30+ yrs in MLB-6 as player/28 as coach-5yrs w/us(1977-81). Highly respected strategist; renowned for his ability to steal signs. A 2005 Greater CLE Sports HOF inductee. RIP🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/5QSTWXKDdz
— Bob DiBiasio (@BDbaseball6) February 13, 2026
As part of a six-year MLB playing career, Nossek was the starting center fielder in the 1965 World Series for the Twins. That series is remembered for Dodgers ace Sandy Koufax pitching a shutout in Game 7 on just two days’ rest.
Nossek also played for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics before finishing his career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1970. He appeared in 295 major league games and had a .228 batting average with three home runs.
As a coach, Nossek was well known for his knowledge of the game. Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa praised his White Sox colleague for his “baseball mind.”
While with the Royals, Nossek had a role in one of the most memorable plays of all time. After George Brett was ejected from a game against the New York Yankees for having too much pine tar on his bat, manager Dick Howser was thrown out of the game as well. Nossek may have taken over in Howser’s place when the game was resumed at a later date after a successful protest by the Royals, who then won the game.
Nossek is the third former member of the Cleveland franchise to pass away this offseason. Pitchers Tom Timmerman and Steve Hargan both died in November.
Timmerman, who was 85, had a long career in the minors and played in the majors for six years. He debuted with the Detroit Tigers in 1969, and joined Cleveland during the 1973 season.
Hargan, who was 83, played from 1965 to 1977 for Cleveland, the Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves.
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