PHILADELPHIA – Mike Goliat, the second baseman on the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies' pennant-winning " Whiz Kids " team, has died at age 82. Goliat died of heart failure Tuesday 13 January 2004 at his home in Seven Hills, Ohio, the Phillies announced Wednesday.

Goliat broke in with the Phillies in 1949. He earned the starting second baseman's job the next year and had four hits in the season opener. In 145 games that season, he hit .234 with 13 doubles, 13 home runs and 64 RBIs. The Phillies lost the 1950 World Series to the New York Yankees. That was Philadelphia's last NL pennant until 1980, when they went on to win their only World Series title. Goliat started the season with the Phillies in 1951 but returned to the minor leagues and was sold late in the season to the St. Louis Browns. His major league career ended with the Browns in 1952.

He returned to Toronto, where he was named the International League's most valuable player in 1956, then served as a player-coach in four pennant winning seasons.

SPECIAL TO CANADIAN BASEBALL NEWS – 14 JANUARY 2004