Books and articles about Dick McAuliffe

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Known for his wide-open batting stance and Mel Ott-style leg kick, McAuliffe was a rarity in the 1960s, a middle infielder with power, three times topping 20 homers. One of the best leadoff men of his era, he tied a ML record by going the entire 1968 season without grounding into a double play. The Tigers' catalyst in their 1968 World Championship year, leading the AL with 95 runs scored, the gritty McAuliffe was suspended for five days during the stretch drive for charging Chicago's Tommy John during a brushback war. He showed his fortitude again the following season, hitting a pinch homer in his last at-bat before being forced onto the disabled list with a knee injury. He was the AL's starting shortstop in the 1965 and 1966 All-Star games, and was an All-Star second baseman in 1967. He retired among Detroit's all-time top ten in five offensive categories. (CC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 19, 1960: Chicago's pennant hopes are damaged with a nitecap 7–6 loss to the Tigers, after they win the opener, 8–4. Pinch hitter Norm Cash scores the decisive run in game 2. Cash thus ends his year by grounding into no double plays, the 1st ALer since league records on this were started in 1940. Teammate Dick McAuliffe and Roger Repoz will duplicate this in 1968. » May 24, 1962: The Tigers score their first four runs on homers, then score the winner on a passed ball in the 11th to beat the Orioles, 5–4. Charlie Lau misses a Hoyt Wilhelm knuckler to allow Dick McAuliffe to score. Jim Bunning pitches the first nine innings for Detroit and is accused by O's manager Billy Hitchcock of notching the ball with his belt buckle. » August 20, 1965: Detroit All-Star SS Dick McAuliffe is lost for the season with a broken bone in his left hand suffered diving into 1B, as the 3rd-place Tigers sweep a doubleheader at Boston. The Tigers win, 2–0 and 3–2. » March 13, 1969: In addition to this year's lower mound and tightened strike zone, the majors try an experiment ball with 10% more resiliency for a spring training game between the Mets and Tigers in Lakeland. It has an all-rubber center instead of a cork and rubber core, and the seams are higher than the regular ball. The Mets' Don Cardwell surrenders three homers in the 4th to Dick McAuliffe, Norm Cash, and Gates Brown in the Tigers' 7-4 win. Tomorrow, in Phoenix, the same ball is used in the Giants 13–1 win over the Angels, with Bobby Bonds hitting the only two homers (off George Brunet). The players agree the ball is definitely livelier and sounded louder coming off the bat. » September 16, 1972: Joe Coleman wins his 17th game and Dick McAuliffe clouts two home runs and drives in four to lead Detroit to a 6–2 win in Milwaukee. This is Detroit's 5th win in a row and keeps them a percentage point behind Boston. » October 23, 1973: The Tigers trade 2B Dick McAuliffe to the Red Sox for OF Ben Oglivie. » September 29, 1997: The Pirates trip the playoff-bound Astros, 5–4 in 11 innings. Jose Guillen is the star, hitting a home run, driving in three and scoring the winning run. Craig Biggio, playing in his National League-best 381st straight game, is lifted for a pinch runner in the 4th. He ends the season of 162 games without grounding into a DP, tying Dick McAuliffe's major-league record set in 1968.