Journeyman player-turned-coach Hiller dies at 70

NEW YORK -- Chuck Hiller, who hit the National League's first grand slam in the World Series, has died. He was 70.

Hiller worked in the New York Mets organization for the past 24 seasons as a major league coach and a minor league manager and adviser. He was the adviser to the minor league director this past season.

The former second baseman died Wednesday in St. Pete Beach, Fla., after a lengthy illness, the Mets announced.

Hiller played for four teams in eight seasons and batted .243 with 20 home runs and 152 RBI. His grand slam in Game 4 of the 1962 World Series off New York Yankees pitcher Marshall Bridges snapped a seventh-inning tie and helped the San Francisco Giants to a 7-3 victory.

Hiller served as a coach with Texas for one season, Kansas City for four, St. Louis for three -- including the Cardinals' world championship season of 1982 -- and San Francisco for one.

With the Mets, Hiller was the third-base coach in 1990 and Darryl Strawberry's first minor league manager a decade earlier.

"I've never met a better communicator and teacher," said Jim Duquette, the Mets' senior vice president of baseball operations. "He just loved to instruct young players. Even in retirement he always came down to spring training and had such a passion for working with our young players."

Hiller played in the major leagues from 1961-68, including three seasons with the Mets from 1965-67. He also had stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies.

Hiller, who turned 70 earlier this month, is survived by his wife, Pamela, two sons, a daughter, a brother and sister and three grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.