Tom Nieto, Former MLB Player and Coach, Passes Away at 65

Tom Nieto, who won the World Series with the Minnesota Twins and had coaching stints with the New York Yankees and Mets, has passed away at the age of 65 due to a heart attack.

His sister shared the news on Facebook on March 27, stating that he died at his home in Florida. The Twins later confirmed his passing through a social media post.

“On March 27th, my brother Tom passed away from a heart attack, leaving behind cherished memories for his family in Florida. His strength and resilience will always inspire us,” wrote Dennis Nieto-Jackson.

Nieto had a seven-year playing career as a catcher in Major League Baseball. He made his debut in 1984 after being selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 1981 amateur draft. He played with the Cardinals for the 1984 and 1985 seasons, moved to the Expos in 1986, and then spent two seasons with the Twins before finishing his career in Philadelphia.

During his career, Nieto reached the World Series twice. His first appearance was in 1985 with the Cardinals, where they lost to the Kansas City Royals in seven games. He later won the World Series in 1987 with the Twins.

In a statement, the Twins organization expressed their condolences: “The Twins organization mourns the loss of 1987 World Series Champion Tom Nieto. Our thoughts are with the Nieto family at this difficult time.”

After retiring as a player, Nieto transitioned into coaching, working within the systems of the Twins, Yankees, and Cardinals. He coached with the Yankees from 1995 to 2002, serving as the major league catching coach from 2000 to 2001.

In 2005, he joined the Mets, serving under manager Willie Randolph. Nieto began as the catching instructor before moving to a first base coaching role.

However, he was let go, along with Randolph, during the 2008 season.