Ex-Yanks exec Connors dies at 76

Billy Connors, the former Yankees executive and pitching coach — who also pitched for the Mets — died Monday. He was 76.

Connors had three stints as Yankees pitching coach (1989-90, 1994-95 and 2000), but he made his most significant impact with the organization as vice president, player personnel, from 19962012.

In his most recent role, Connors was based at the team’s minor league headquarters in Tampa and worked with pitchers throughout the organization.

The Yankees held a moment of silence before Wednesday’s game against the Mariners at the Stadium.

In a statement, principal owner Hal Steinbrenner called Connors “a close and trusted friend of my family for many years. Since joining the Yankees at the conclusion of the 1988 season, Billy contributed to the organization in countless ways over his long career as a pitching coach, executive and advisor. ’’

Born in Schenectady, N.Y., Connors was on the team that won the 1954 Little League World Series and played a season as a guard on the Syracuse basketball team.

Connors pitched with the Cubs and Mets from 1966-68. He later became a minor league pitching instructor for the Mets and also worked for the Royals, Cubs, Mariners and Phillies.

“He helped me with my cutter when I got here and I know he got Andy [Pettitte] to throw it,’’ CC Sabathia said. “But mostly, when you saw him, you just wanted to hear his stories.”

Connors was the pitching coach when David Cone arrived in The Bronx in 1995.

“He was one of the great characters of the game,’’ Cone said. “His sense of humor resonated with a lot of the players he touched.”

In addition to helping Pettitte with his cutter, Connors also played a key part in the development of Mariano Rivera and Orlando Hernandez, along with many others.