CRANBERRY TWP — Colleen Hroncich never knew her grandfather — but thousands did.

Countless others know his name: Danny Murtaugh, the legendary manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A Cranberry Township resident for nine years, Hroncich was 2 years old when Murtaugh died from health problems in 1976. He was 59.

"All I've had all these years are the stories family members told me about him," Hroncich said. "But I didn't know him. I had no memories of him. I did feel cheated. ... I didn't have him in my life."

All of that changed Dec. 3, 2007. Hroncich learned that Murtaugh was up for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame through the Veterans Committee. Even though he fell short of enshrinement — receiving six out of the 16 necessary votes — she was proud he was even on the ballot.

She was so proud, in fact, that she wrote a letter to the editor proclaiming that pride to a Pittsburgh newspaper on that December day.

"I've been a letter-to-the- editor writer for a long time," she said. "That was one I felt like I had to write."

Her e-mail address was included with the published letter, and Hroncich received numerous responses from Pirates fans, including three suggesting she write a book about her grandfather.

So she did. That's how she got to know him.

The 293-page book, titled "The Whistling Irishman, Danny Murtaugh Remembered," chronicles every phase of Murtaugh's life and consists of more than 50 interviews with family members, friends, Murtaugh's former teammates and players.

"One of the first things I learned about him was he was a big tobacco chewer and used to spit tobacco juice on the white shoes of reporters talking to him," Hroncich said. "I thought, 'How did people like this guy?'

"As I learned more about his personality, zest for life, sense of humor — so many people in this area still remember him so fondly. He had a way of connecting with people," she added.

While Murtaugh hasn't reached the Hall of Fame, Hroncich doubts it would matter to him all that much if he did.

"He'd get a kick out of it, but knowing he was loved so much would mean more," she said.

It certainly meant more to the book's author. The yearlong project created many a tear.

"I cried buckets," Hroncich admitted. "I got to know him so well while I was doing this. The experience has been bittersweet," the author added. "Now that I know what I missed out on growing up, it kinda hurts."

In terms of the Hall of Fame, Murtaugh's numbers do stack up. He won 1,115 games as a manager and his .540 career winning percentage is better than seven managers already in the Hall.

Murtaugh managed the Pirates to World Series titles in 1960 and 1971, more world championships than four managers who have been enshrined.

A three-time Associated Press Manager of the Year, Murtaugh helped establish the role of the closer by his use of ElRoy Face as a late-inning reliever. He also fielded the first all-minority lineup in baseball history on Sept. 1, 1971.

"My grandfather was never afraid of any backlash or repercussions. All he wanted to do was win," Hroncich said.

Drafted into the Army while playing with the Philadelphia Phillies, Murtaugh was offered an opportunity to play for the Army baseball team and avoid combat.

He volunteered for combat instead, "because he wanted to be more helpful to the war effort," Hroncich said.

She also learned her grandfather was a better baseball player than she ever knew.

"I grew up learning about the Pirates' success with him as manager," Hroncich said. "But he batted .294 one year, .290 in another, led the league in turning double plays. ... Injuries beat him down a bit after that.

"Speed was a big part of his game, and two winters of marching across Europe during the war cost him a step or two."

A mother of four children, Hroncich's oldest son, 8-year-old Sean, plays for the Pirates in the Cranberry Township Athletic Association.

"My grandfather is still helping me as a parent," Hroncich said. "I'm teaching Sean and my other kids to go about sports like he did: Bust your butt and don't get a big head when you do well."