Ex-Philly Del Wilber Dies at 83

.c The Associated Press

07/19/02 05:09 EDT

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Delbert ``Del'' Quentin Wilber, who once hit three homers in a game for the Philadelphia Phillies and coached under Ted Williams, has died. He was 83.

The former player, coach and scout died of cancer Thursday at a nursing home in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he moved last summer.

His biggest game was Aug. 27, 1951, the night his daughter Cynthia was brought home from the hospital. Wilber hit three home runs in three at-bats in the Phillies' 3-0 victory over Cincinnati.

Wilber signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1941 before serving in the Army Air Force from 1942-45.

He joined the Cardinals' farm club at Columbus, Ohio, in 1946, eventually playing four games in the majors at the end of that season. Wilber played 80 games with the Cardinals over the next three seasons before signing with the Phillies in 1950.

Wilber also caught for the Boston Red Sox before retiring in 1954.

He later coached for three years under Chicago White Sox manager Marty Marion, before serving as a Baltimore Orioles scout. In 1970, he was a coach with the Washington Senators while Williams, his former Red Sox teammate, managed the club.

Wilber was the manager of the Senators' Triple-A Denver team for two years before leading Spokane in the Pacific Coast League in 1973. He later scouted for the Minnesota Twins for more than 15 years.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Taffy; three sons, Del Wilber Jr. of McLean, Va., Bob Wilber of St. Paul, Minn., and Rick Wilber of St. Petersburg; two daughters, Cynthia Wilber of Palo Alto, Calif., and Mary Lynn Smith of Orlando, Fla.; a brother and 10 grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are pending.