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Obituary: Benny J. Fiori / Pirates scout, Point Park coach

Obituary: Benny J. Fiori / Pirates scout, Point Park coach

The Fiori family never strayed too far from Carnegie -- or from baseball.

"Baseball was a very big part of our lives," Joe Fiori said Thursday.

Joe's father, Benny J. Fiori, played minor league ball in the Pirates organization and later became a scout for the team. He coached at the youth level and at Point Park College.

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Mr. Fiori died Wednesday of pulmonary disease at his home in Robinson, although he had lived most of his life in Carnegie. He was 81.

Joe Fiori, of Jefferson Hills, and his brother, James, of Carnegie, played for their father in the Carnegie Youth Baseball Association, and Joe later played for him at Point Park College. Like their father, both sons also played minor league ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Mr. Fiori played shortstop during a three-year stint in the Army in World War II, including on a championship team that beat the Coast Guard in a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

After his discharge in 1946, he signed with the Pirates as a right-handed pitcher but never made it to the major leagues. He ended his playing career in 1951.

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He then attended the Business Training School, now Point Park University, before finishing his education at Duquesne University and starting an accounting firm in Carnegie.

In 1970, he was hired as a scout by the Cincinnati Reds. Two years later, he took a similar job with the Pirates. From 1972 to 1977, he also was assistant manager of the Little Pirates, a successful team of high school all-stars.

Mr. Fiori took the Point Park job in 1979. In five seasons, he led the Pioneers to the playoffs every year and twice went to the NAIA World Series, finishing third in 1979 -- tied for the school's highest finish -- and eighth in 1980.

Joe Fiori was a senior middle infielder when his father became the coach.

"My Dad had as good a knowledge of the fundamentals of the game of anybody I have known," Fiori said. "He had a real eye for talent, and a keen sense of how to teach kids."

With Mr. Fiori and his two sons so involved with baseball, the family of seven spent a lot of time at ball fields.

"Our whole family followed us everywhere," Fiori said. "We had a big crew at Nashville for the [NAIA] World Series when I was a senior."

Mr. Fiori's six grandsons played baseball, too.

"Through his youth days and scouting, he touched a lot of kids here," Fiori said. "He would do clinics for whoever would ask, Butler or whatever community would call. It could be pitching or whatever topic they gave him. Parents would call and ask him if he would help kids on their batting or whatever."

Mr. Fiori continued to scout after retiring from coaching. He also operated his accounting and tax preparation firm throughout and beyond his baseball career.

"That enabled him to scout and coach and still maintain his business," his son said. "He couldn't work for anybody else anyway. He was his own man. And he had a great sense of humor."

In addition to his two sons, Mr. Fiori is survived by his wife, Lily; daughters, Jean McGarvey, and Carol Wheeler, both of Upper St. Clair; and Darlene Yeager, of Scott; a sister, Mary Stiles, of Carnegie; 14 grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

A Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. today at Holy Souls Church of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Carnegie.

First Published: August 28, 2004, 4:00 a.m.

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