Honoring Veterans: Army Veteran Dick Groat

Richard “Dick” Groat was born in November 1930 in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. While attending Duke University on a basketball scholarship, Groat played both college basketball and baseball. He was named a two-time All-American for both sports and was even inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Groat went straight from college baseball to Major League Baseball. In June 1952, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was also drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons during the 1952 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. 

However, his season was cut short following the onset of the Korean War. In 1953, Groat was drafted into the Army. He served for two years at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. 

After completing his two years of service, Groat committed to just baseball, even though he always claimed to prefer basketball. After two years of playing with the Pirates, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1962. As a shortstop, Groat played for 14 years. He eventually retired due to an injury to his right ankle.

Groat played in eight All-Star games throughout his career, and was named the National League Most Valuable Player in 1960. He was the first athlete to be inducted into both the Basketball and Baseball Hall of Fame, and continues to be the second-leading scorer in Duke history. Groat won two World Series, first in 1960 with the Pirates and again in 1964 with the Cardinals.

In April 2023, Groat died due to complications from a stroke. His children and grandchildren carry on his legacy.

We honor his service.

Nominate a Veteran for Honoring Veterans

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s Honoring Veterans social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Writer: Eden Goddard

Editors: Lillian Williams, Ethan Oleson

Researchers: Charmonie Baugh, Jacoryn Whatley

Graphic Designer: William Vega