Dick McAuliffe

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Dick McAuliffe

Second Baseman/Shortstop

Born: November 29, 1939 (1939-11-29) (age 68) Hartford, Connecticut
Batted: Left	Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 17, 1960 for the Detroit Tigers
Final game
September 1, 1975 for the Boston Red Sox
Career statistics
Batting average	.247
Home runs	197
Runs batted in	697
Teams
Detroit Tigers (1960-1973) Boston Red Sox (1974-1975)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion: 1968 American League pennant: 1975 3-time American League All-Star

Richard John McAuliffe (born November 29, 1939, in Hartford, Connecticut) is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and second baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1960-1973 and for the Boston Red Sox from 1974-1975. He was a part of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship.

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 original Sally League in runs (109), triples (21), and shortstop assists (430) while playing for the Knoxville Smokies in 1960. 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.

In the 1961 and 1962 seasons, McAuliffe shifted between shortstop and second base before replacing Chico Fernandez as the Tigers starting shortstop from 1963-1966. Known for his wide-open batting stance and leg kick, McAuliffe never hit higher than .264 but was a significant contributor to the Tigers’ offensive output in the 1960s. He hit 197 home runs, 231 doubles, and 71 triples in his career. He was also among the American League leaders in triples eight times. And his ability to draw walks also increased his offensive output. In 1965, he was the American League’s starting shortstop in the All Star game, and he went 2-for-3 with a home run and 2 RBIs. In 1966, his .373 on base percentage was 4th best in the American League.

After making the American League All Star team in 1965 and 1966 at the shortstop position, McAuliffe agreed to move to the second base position in 1967 to make room for Ray Oyler to take over at shortstop. Even with the move, McAuliffe was selected for his third consecutive All Star team in 1967. In 1967, McAuliffe was among the American League leaders in walks with 105 (3rd), 245 times on base (3rd), 7 triples (3rd), 92 runs (5th), 118 strikeouts (5th), 22 home runs (8th), and a .364 on base percentage (9th).

In the Tigers’ 1968 World Championship season, McAuliffe played a key role. He had a .344 on base percentage, led the American League with 95 runs scored, and showed power with 50 extra base hits. He also tied a major league record by going the entire 1968 season without grounding into a double play. McAuliffe also improved defensively in 1968, reducing his error total from 28 in 1967 to nine in 1968. He finished No. 7 in the 1968 American League Most Valuable player voting, behind teammates Denny McLain, Bill Freehan, and Willie Horton.

On August 22, 1968, McAuliffe was involved in a brawl with White Sox pitcher, Tommy John. After one pitched barely missed McAuliffe’s head, and another was thrown behind him, McAuliffe charged the mound, drove his knee into John’s shoulder and separated it. John was out for the season, and McAuliffe was suspended for five games. Interviewed 30 years later, McAuliffe was still convinced John was throwing at his head: “"[T]he first pitch at me was right at my head, and I mean right at my head. The catcher never laid any leather on it, and it hit the backstop.... the next pitch, he spun me down, threw it behind me.” [1]

In the 1968 World Series, McAuliffe played all seven games at second base, scored 5 runs, and had 6 hits, 4 walks, 3 RBIs, and a home run. His steadying influence in the middle infield 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.

McAuliffe continued as the Tigers’ starting second baseman through the 1973 season. In October 1973, the Tigers traded him to the Boston Red Sox for Ben Oglivie. McAuliffe hit only .210 in 100 games for the Red Sox in 1974 and was released after playing 7 games in 1975. His career ended on September 1 in a Yankees-Red Sox game. McAuliffe dropped an easy popup for an error. Later in the inning, McAuliffe’s throw pulled Carl Yastrzemski off the bag. Though it was scored a single, the Boston fans booed McAuliffe. McAuliffe was left of Boston’s post-season roster, and his major league career was over.

After retiring from baseball, McAuliffe owned a business that repaired and installed coin-operated washers and driers for ten years, and also ran baseball schools.

Bill James ranked McAuliffe 22nd all-time among second baseman in his Historical Baseball Abstract. [2]

[edit] Trivia

McAuliffe had an unusual batting stance. A left-handed hitter, he held his hands very high with a stance that faced the pitcher. As the pitcher delivered to the plate, McAuliffe moved his forward (right) foot to a more conventional position for his swing.^{[citation needed]}