Whitey Herzog, the shrewd and tough Hall of Fame manager who led the St. Louis Cardinals to three National League pennants and a World Series championship in the 1980s, has died. He was 92.

Herzog, born Dorrel Norman Elvert Herzog, was a prominent figure in Major League Baseball, best known for his innovative managerial style that left a lasting impact on the game. Often referred to by his nickname, “Whitey,” Herzog carved out a distinguished career as a manager for several teams, including the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals.

“On behalf of the entire St. Louis Cardinals organization, I would like to offer our condolences to the family and many friends of Whitey Herzog,” Cardinals' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill DeWitt, Jr. stated. “Whitey and his teams played a big part in changing the direction of the Cardinals franchise in the early 1980s with an exciting style of play that would become known as “Whitey Ball” throughout baseball. Whitey loved the Cardinals, their fans, and St. Louis. He will be sorely missed.”

His tenure with the Cardinals during the 1980s is particularly notable; he led the team to three National League pennants in 1982, 1985, and 1987, and to a World Series victory in 1982. Herzog was celebrated for developing a strategic approach to baseball known as “Whitey Ball,” which stressed speed, defense, and smart base running to exploit the strengths of his teams, particularly in the spacious Busch Stadium.

The approach proved highly effective and influential, showcasing Herzog’s ability to adapt tactics to his players' strengths. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010, securing his legacy as one of the game's great strategists and leaders.

“Whitey spent his last few days surrounded by his family. We have so appreciated all of the prayers and support from friends who knew he was very ill. Although it is hard for us to say goodbye, his peaceful passing was a blessing for him,” the Herzog family said in a statement.

He is third on the franchise's all-time managerial wins list with 822 victories. Herzog is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Lou Herzog, their three children, Debra, David, and Jim, their spouses, nine grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

According to the Cardinals, Herzog was the second-oldest living National Baseball Hall of Famer. Willie Mays, also 92, was born in May 1931, six months before Herzog, who was born Nov. 9, 1931. Herzog’s family is planning a private celebration of life service following a period of mourning and requests that donations be made to Shriner's Hospital for Children.