Dick McAuliffe | |||
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Second baseman / Shortstop | |||
Born: Hartford, Connecticut |
November 29, 1939|||
Died: May 13, 2016 Farmington, Connecticut |
(aged 76)|||
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MLB debut | |||
September 17, 1960, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
September 1, 1975, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Batting average | .247 | ||
Home runs | 197 | ||
Runs batted in | 697 | ||
Teams | |||
Career highlights and awards | |||
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Richard John "Dick" McAuliffe (November 29, 1939 – May 13, 2016) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and second baseman for the Detroit Tigers from 1960 to 1973 and for the Boston Red Sox from 1974 to 1975. He was a part of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship, and was known for his unusual batting stance. A left-handed hitter, he held his hands very high with an open stance that faced the pitcher. As the pitcher delivered to home plate, McAuliffe moved his forward (right) foot to a more conventional position for his swing.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, McAuliffe graduated from Farmington High School in Farmington, Connecticut, where he was coached by Leo Pinsky and won the state championship in 1957. McAuliffe signed with the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent out of high school and spent three seasons in the Tigers' farm system. In 1960, he led the Southern League in runs (109), triples (21), and shortstop assists (430) while playing for the Knoxville Smokies. He was called up to the big leagues at the end of the 1960 season and made his major league debut on September 17, 1960.