Major League Baseball Player. For sixteen seasons (1960 to 1975), he played at the second base, shortstop and third base positions with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. Born Richard John McAuliffe, he attended Farmington High School in Connecticut, where he made his initial impression on the baseball diamond. Signed by Detroit as an amateur free agent in 1960, he made his Major League debut with the Tigers as a late season call up, on September 17, 1960 and played in eight games that year. In 1962, he secured the starting shortstop position and remained there until moving over to second base at the start of the 1967 season. He achieved All-Star status three consecutive years (1965 to 1967) and was a contributor to Detroit's capturing of the world championship in 1968, as he formed a highly-productive lineup which included Al Kaline, Norm Cash and Willie Horton. During the 1968 campaign, he produced a career-high 142 hits and led the American League with 95 runs scored. He had a reputation for toughness and was involved in a memorable brawl with Chicago White Sox pitcher Tommy John during the 1968 season. He was dealt to the Red Sox prior to the 1974 season and briefly played with the 1975 Boston team which captured the American League Pennant. In 1,763 career regular season games, he compiled 1,530 hits, with lifetime .247 batting average. After retiring as a player, he operated a baseball academy and later bought a business which repaired and installed coin operated washers and dryers. He died of complications from Alzheimer's disease.
Major League Baseball Player. For sixteen seasons (1960 to 1975), he played at the second base, shortstop and third base positions with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. Born Richard John McAuliffe, he attended Farmington High School in Connecticut, where he made his initial impression on the baseball diamond. Signed by Detroit as an amateur free agent in 1960, he made his Major League debut with the Tigers as a late season call up, on September 17, 1960 and played in eight games that year. In 1962, he secured the starting shortstop position and remained there until moving over to second base at the start of the 1967 season. He achieved All-Star status three consecutive years (1965 to 1967) and was a contributor to Detroit's capturing of the world championship in 1968, as he formed a highly-productive lineup which included Al Kaline, Norm Cash and Willie Horton. During the 1968 campaign, he produced a career-high 142 hits and led the American League with 95 runs scored. He had a reputation for toughness and was involved in a memorable brawl with Chicago White Sox pitcher Tommy John during the 1968 season. He was dealt to the Red Sox prior to the 1974 season and briefly played with the 1975 Boston team which captured the American League Pennant. In 1,763 career regular season games, he compiled 1,530 hits, with lifetime .247 batting average. After retiring as a player, he operated a baseball academy and later bought a business which repaired and installed coin operated washers and dryers. He died of complications from Alzheimer's disease.
Bio by: C.S.
Gravesite Details
At the very back of the cemetery
Family Members
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