Dick McAuliffe

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Richard John McAuliffe (born November 29, 1939, in Hartford, Connecticut) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers in the 1960s. He was a part of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship.

Dick McAuliffe graduated from Farmington High School in Farmington, Connecticut, where he was coached by Leo Pinsky and won the state championship in 1957.

McAuliffe was a solid fielder, a potent hitter, and a quiet clubhouse leader. His steadying influence helped make it possible for manager Mayo Smith to take the radical step of playing center fielder Mickey Stanley at shortstop in the World Series in order to get a better bat in the lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals, led by Bob Gibson.

At the end of the 2005 season, McAuliffe's 197 career home runs placed him at 267 on the all-time list.

[edit] Trivia

McAuliffe led the original Sally League in runs (109), triples (21), and shortstop assists (430) while playing for the Knoxville Smokies in 1960.
He finished in the American League TOP TEN eight times for triples.
He was the first strikeout victim of Washington Senators left-hander Dick Lines. {D.C. Stadium -- April 24, 1966}
Had a batting stance that rivaled the Great Mel Ott