Legendary Pitt Broadcasters Added to Hall of Fame

Bill Hillgrove and Dick Groat will be Pitt Panthers Hall of Famers.

March 25, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; FILE PHOTO; Former Pittsburg Pirate and MLB MVP in 1960 Dick / Indianapolis Star -USA TODAY NETWORK

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers will add two new members to their Hall of Fame this year with long-time broadcasting duo Dick Groat and Bill Hillgrove set to be added to the 2024 class later this year. Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke delivered the news personally.

The Panthers will honor them at the night before the 2024 Backyard Brawl on September 13.

“This is really humbling,” Hillgrove said. “I’ve been privileged to be around various awards, but this is right at the top. I’m bowled over. I can’t thank you enough, Heather, this is really indeed a great honor.”

Hillgrove, a Central Catholic High School alumnus and Western Pennsylvania native, attended Duquense University before taking jobs with various radio stations around the city during the 1960s and 70s.

He became Pitt's basketball announcer in 1969 and took on the role of color commentator on Panthers football broadcasts the following year. Hillgrove has remained a fixture of those broadcasts ever since.

Hillgrove has helped call a number of great moments in Pitt history, like the 1976 national championship, Tony Dorrsett's Heisman Trophy season, Dan Marino's entire career in Pittsburgh, landmark wins over Notre Dame, Penn State, West Virginia, Clemson and Miami in football and the heyday of Pitt basketball in the Big East. Most recently, he provided the soundtrack to Pitt's 2021 ACC Championship season and the Panthers' return to the NCAA Tournament in 2023. 

Groat, who passed away a year ago, ended his athletic career as one of the most accomplished two-sport athletes in American history. He was a college All-American in both baseball and basketball at his alma mater, Duke, before he was picked with the No. 3 overall selection by the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1952. 

His career in basketball - the sport he truly loved the most - was interrupted by his decision to join the United States Army. Upon his discharge two years later, Groat decided to exchange his sneakers for cleats, a glove and a bat because there was more money in baseball. He was also warned of the health risks a two-sport career poses. 

Groat played  15 seasons with the Pirates, Cardinals, Phillies and Giants. He was an eight-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion. He won the 1960 MVP and helped bring a world title to Pittsburgh in the same year. 

He shared the sideline with Bill Hillgrove for four decades calling Pitt basketball games at the Fitzgerald Field House and Petersen Events Center before retiring in 2019.  

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