Frank Quilici facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frank Quilici |
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| Second baseman / Manager | |||
| Born: May 11, 1939 Chicago, Illinois |
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| Died: May 14, 2018 (aged 79) Burnsville, Minnesota |
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| debut | |||
| July 18, 1965, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 29, 1970, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .214 | ||
| Home runs | 5 | ||
| Runs batted in | 53 | ||
| Managerial record | 280–287 | ||
| Winning % | .494 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
As manager
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Frank Quilici (born May 11, 1939 – died May 14, 2018) was an American professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the Minnesota Twins. Frank played as an infielder for five years. He then worked as a coach for one and a half years. After that, he managed the team for three and a half years. Later, he became a broadcaster for the Twins for six more years. He threw and batted with his right hand. He was 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed 170 pounds.
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Playing Baseball
Frank Quilici was born in Chicago, Illinois. He went to St. Mel High School and later attended college. In 1961, he signed with the Minnesota Twins. This was the team's first year in Minneapolis–Saint Paul.
Frank started in the Twins' farm system. This is where young players develop their skills. He moved up from the lowest levels to Triple-A. This is the highest level before the major leagues. In 1965, the Twins called him up to the big leagues. He was playing very well at the time. The team's regular second baseman was injured. So, Frank quickly became an important player. He started 39 games at second base that season.
Playing in the World Series
In the 1965 World Series, Frank Quilici played in all seven games. The Twins played against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Frank got four hits, including two doubles. He also had one run batted in. In Game 1, one of his doubles helped start a big rally. The Twins scored six runs in the third inning. Frank even got two hits in that one inning! This tied a special record. The Twins won that game 8–2.
Frank played every inning of all seven games. He made only two errors in 36 chances. This showed he was a good fielder. However, the Twins lost the series in Game 7. They were defeated by a famous pitcher named Sandy Koufax. Frank had a double in that final game.
Later Playing Years
The next year, 1966, was tough for Frank. He spent the whole season in Triple-A. Other players were playing second base for the Twins. When Frank returned to Minnesota in 1967, he became a utility infielder. This means he could play many different infield positions. A new star player, Rod Carew, became the main second baseman.
Frank stayed on the Twins' roster from 1968 to 1970. He played in about 109 games each year. He mostly played second base, third base, and shortstop. In 1968, he had his best batting average of .245. As a player, Frank Quilici batted .214 in 405 games. He had 146 hits, including 23 doubles, six triples, and five home runs. He also had 53 runs batted in.
Coach, Manager, and Broadcaster
After the 1970 season, a coaching spot opened up for the Twins. Frank, who was 31, was named the team's fifth coach. He never played again after that. He was a coach for all of 1971 and part of 1972.
Becoming a Manager
In July 1972, the Twins were not playing as well as their owner wanted. They were in third place. So, Frank Quilici was promoted to replace the manager. He was only 33 years old. This made him the youngest manager in Major League Baseball at that time.
Under Frank, the Twins finished in third place for three years in a row. In 1972, they went 41–43. In 1973, they had an 81–81 record. In 1974, they finished 82–80. In 1975, the team fell to fourth place. After the season, Frank was fired. His record as manager was 280 wins and 287 losses.
Life After Managing
Even after being fired, Frank stayed with the Twins. He became a radio commentator for the team's games. He did this in 1976–1977, 1980–1982, and 1987. Outside of baseball, he worked in business and helped with charity events. He lived in the Twin Cities area.
Frank Quilici passed away on May 14, 2018. He was 79 years old. He died in Burnsville, Minnesota, after dealing with kidney disease.
