Tanner’s ring missing during stay at hospital

The ring was a one-of-a-kind gift.

STAFF REPORT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A one-of-a-kind $30,000 ring that went missing at Jameson Hospital earlier this month still has not turned up.

Police have been keeping an eye out at pawn shops and have been questioning hospital personnel over the disappearance of the ring, which belongs to Chuck Tanner, New Castle area resident and former Pittsburgh Pirates manager. Tanner stayed at Jameson for surgery on Dec. 2.

Police Chief Tom Sansone said earlier this week that the investigation is ongoing, with more hospital employees likely to be questioned.

That Tanner wore the ring to the hospital is not in question. A police report said nursing staff confirmed he was wearing the distinctive ring — gold with black opal in the center and figures of a batter on one side and a pitcher on the other.

It was a gift, Tanner said, from Chicago White Sox owner John Allyn in 1972.

Allyn was grateful, Tanner said, because Tanner had turned the team into a fan draw.

The White Sox had 56 wins and 106 losses when he came on as manager, he said.

“In two years, we were fighting for the [American League] pennant,” he said — and fans were filling the seats again.

He managed the Pirates from 1977 to 1985, winning the World Series in 1979.

Tanner said he believes someone took the ring off his finger while he was asleep in his room.

He said that before he went to surgery at about 1 p.m., he was told to hand over his watch, glasses and any jewelry he had on. It was then that he realized the ring was no longer there.

It did not turn up at the hospital, said the police report.

“Whoever has it — they have to answer to somebody,” Tanner said.

He is putting the situation in perspective, saying he’s just grateful that the surgery revealed he doesn’t have cancer.