Connecticut Native, World Series Champion Dick McAuliffe Dies

FARMINGTON, CT - Dick McAuliffe, a Farmington High School graduate who went on to become one of the best middle infielders in major league baseball in the 1960s, passed away Friday. He was 76.

McAuliffe signed with the Detroit Tigers upon his graduation from Farmington in 1957. He spent three seasons in the minor leagues before making his major league debut on Sept. 17, 1960.

Originally a shortstop, McAuliffe played in the 1965 and 1966 All-Star Games, belting a two-run home run off Cincinnati's Jim Maloney in his first midsummer classic. In 1967, he switched to second base and played in his third straight All-Star Game.

Detroit won the American League pennant in 1968, as McAuliffe led the league with 95 runs scored and finished seventh in the A.L. Most Valuable Player voting. In the World Series, the Tigers came back from a 3 games-to-1 deficit to upset defending champion St. Louis and win their first world championship since 1945. McAuliffe smacked a home run and drove in three runs in the series.

His only other postseason appearance was the 1972 American League Championship Series, which Detroit lost in five games to eventual world champion Oakland. McAuliffe homered off future Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter in the third inning of Game 4.

After 14 years with the Tigers, he was traded following the 1973 season to the Boston Red Sox for young outfield prospect Ben Oglivie, who later became a star with the Milwaukee Brewers. McAuliffe played in 107 games with the Red Sox over parts of two seasons, and retired after being released following the 1975 campaign.

He finished his career with 1,530 hits, including 197 home runs.

McAuliffe briefly managed in the Red Sox minor league system; he later owned a business that repaired and installed coin-operated washers and driers for 10 years, and also ran baseball schools.

He and his wife Joanne eventually retired back to his hometown of Farmington, and he remained an active golfer until the onset of Alzheimer's several years ago.

The Tigers held a moment of silence in McAuliffe's memory prior to Monday night's game against the Minnesota Twins.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Photo courtesy of Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame; YouTube video clip from MLB