Brian Dayett, who rose from the small town of Deep River to play in the major leagues with the Yankees and Cubs, and then to a long coaching career in baseball, died Sunday at his home in Tennessee.

Dayett, who had been battling Parkinson’s Disease for nearly 25 years, was 68. News of his passing was posted on Facebook by former Cubs teammate Jody Davis, who had been working to raise money to help Dayett with his expenses.

After graduating from Valley Regional High in 1975, Dayett played at Saint Leo College in Florida. The Yankees selected him in the 16th round of the 1978 MLB Draft, and he began a long journey to the majors. The Yankees often traded their productive minor leaguers for experienced players, but held on to Dayett, who played for their Double-A affiliate at West Haven in 1979, then hit 34 home runs when the franchise moved to Nashville in 1982, and 35 homers at Triple-A Columbus in ’83. The Yankees finally summoned him to the majors that September.

Dom Amore’s Sunday Read: After 50 years, ’75 Series still thrills, stings; Memory of Maya, and more

 

When Lou Piniella retired early in the 1984 season, the Yankees called up Dayett and he shared left field with Steve Kemp the rest of that season, hitting .244 with four homers and 23 RBI in 64 games for manager Yogi Berra.

He was sent to the Cubs in a six-player trade. He played 143 games for the Cubs over the next three seasons, hitting .270 with 10 homers in a part-time role, including a pinch-hit grand slam against the Reds on May 23, 1985. Then Dayett played four seasons in Japan with the Nippon Ham Fighters, finishing his career with 176 professional home runs. In 183 games in the outfield with the Yankees and Cubs, Dayett made only one error.

His playing days over, Dayett became a minor league manager and hitting coach, working 14 years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. In 2014, he returned to the majors with the Rangers, filling a vacancy on their coaching staff. He retired after that season and settled in Winchester, Tenn., with his wife, Christine, and sons Garrett and Chase.

The Little League program in his hometown of Deep River was named for Dayett in 2011.

Dom Amore’s Sunday Read: Farewell to a CT baseball legend; Madness comes early for UConn and more