Merv Rettenmund, who played 13 seasons in the Major Leagues before becoming a respected hitting coach after his playing days ended, passed away on Saturday at the age of 81.

Rettenmund made his MLB debut with the 1968 Orioles and was a member of Baltimore¡¯s pennant-winning teams from 1969-71. Rettenmund and the O¡¯s celebrated a World Series victory in 1970, and he homered in the Game 5 clincher versus the Reds.

Rettenmund hit .322 and had a .938 OPS with 18 home runs during the ¡®70 season, before earning a few down-ballot votes for American League MVP in ¡®71 as he produced a .318 average and a .422 on-base percentage.

After the 1973 campaign, Rettenmund was traded to Cincinnati and captured his second World Series ring with The Big Red Machine in ¡®75.

In the latter half of his career with the Padres (1976-77) and Angels (1978-80), Rettenmund became one of baseball¡¯s best pinch-hitters. His 22 pinch-hits for San Diego in 1977 remain a club record.

A right-handed-hitting outfielder, Rettenmund recorded a solid .271/.381/.406 slash line and a 123 OPS+ during his career, and soon took what he learned on the diamond into the coaching ranks. Beginning with the Rangers in 1983, Rettenmund served as a hitting coach for five clubs -- Rangers, A's, Padres, Braves and Tigers -- over a 25-year span.

He was the A¡¯s hitting coach when they bashed their way to a World Series championship in 1989 and an AL pennant in ¡®90. However, he spent the majority of his coaching years with San Diego, first from 1991-99 and then from 2006-07, which were his final seasons as a big league coach.

Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn won four of his eight batting titles under Rettenmund¡¯s tutelage, including Gwynn¡¯s 1994 season when he made a run at .400.