Rob Picciolo, backup infielder on Brewers' 1982 World Series team, dies at age 64

Former major-league infielder Rob Picciolo, who was traded from Oakland to Milwaukee in May 1982, just in time to be part of the Brewers' surge to their only World Series, died Wednesday at age 64. His family did not announce the cause of death.

Picciolo played nine years in the majors for the Athletics, Brewers and Angels but spent many more years as a minor-league manager and coach, and later a big-league coach. He saw action in only 22 games for the Brewers in '82, batting .286, and played in 14 games for them in '83 before moving on to the Angels. 

Picciolo ended his playing career in Oakland after hitting .275 in 71 games in 1985.

Picciolo spent 20 years in the San Diego system as a minor-league and major-league coach before finishing his coaching career with the Angels. He was a roving infield instructor in the minors from 2006-'10 and served as bench coach for Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia the next three years.

Picciolo made enough of an impact with the Angels for club vice president Tim Mead to post this tweet about him:

The Brewers also paid tribute to Picciolo in a tweet Thursday morning: