Frank Quilici

{{short description|American baseball player and manager (1939-2018)}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Frank Quilici

|image=Frank-quilici manager minnesota 08-31-1975.jpg

|image_size=250px

|position=Second baseman / Manager

|birth_date={{birth date|1939|05|11}}

|death_date={{death date and age|2018|05|14|1939|05|11}}

|birth_place=Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

|death_place=Burnsville, Minnesota, U.S.

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=July 18

|debutyear=1965

|debutteam=Minnesota Twins

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 29

|finalyear=1970

|finalteam=Minnesota Twins

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.214

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=5

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=53

|stat4label=Managerial record

|stat4value=280–287

|stat5label=Winning %

|stat5value={{winning percentage|280|287}}

|teams=

As player

Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|1965}}, {{mlby|1967}}–{{mlby|1970}})

As coach

Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|1971}}–{{mlby|1972}})

As manager

Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|1972}}–{{mlby|1975}})

}}

Francis Ralph Quilici (May 11, 1939 – May 14, 2018) was an American professional baseball player, coach and manager who spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the Minnesota Twins. Quilici served the team for all or part of five years as an infielder, 1{{fraction|1|2}} years as a coach, and 3{{fraction|1|2}} years as manager, then spent six more years as a broadcaster for them. He threw and batted right-handed, stood {{convert|6|ft|1|in}} tall and weighed {{convert|170|lb}}.

Playing career

Quilici was born in Chicago, where he graduated from St. Mel High School. He attended Loras College and Western Michigan University. In 1961, he signed with the Twins during their first year in Minneapolis–Saint Paul after they transferred from Washington. Upon entering the Twins' farm system, he rose from Class D to Triple-A over the next 4{{fraction|1|2}} seasons and was batting .277 with the Denver Bears when the pennant-bound 1965 Twins called him to the majors in July. With veteran incumbent second baseman Jerry Kindall suffering from a chronic hamstring injury,[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/5b57b87d Tomashek, Tom, Jerry Kindall]. Society for American Baseball Research Biography Project Quilici quickly assumed a key role in the Minnesota lineup, starting 39 games at second base during the season's final ten weeks.

Then, in the 1965 World Series, Quilici started all seven games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and collected four hits (with two doubles) in 20 at bats and a run batted in. One of his doubles touched off a six-run, third inning rally against eventual Baseball Hall of Famer Don Drysdale in Game 1. When the Twins batted around in that frame, Quilici came to the plate again and chased Drysdale with a single. His two hits in one inning tied a record and sparked an 8–2 Minnesota victory.Retrosheet [https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1965/B10060MIN1965.htm box score: Game 1, 1965 World Series] In the field, Quilici played every inning of all seven games, making two errors in 36 chances for a .944 fielding percentage. But the Twins succumbed to another future Hall of Famer, Sandy Koufax, in Game 7, 2–0, to lose the series. Quilici had a double in three at bats in that final contest against the Dodger southpaw.Retrosheet [https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1965/B10140MIN1965.htm box score: Game 7, 1965 World Series]

The following year, {{mlby|1966}}, was a setback for Quilici. He spent the entire season at Triple-A Denver, as the Twins alternated Bernie Allen and César Tovar as their regular second basemen. When Quilici returned to Minnesota in {{mlby|1967}} it was as a utility infielder: standout rookie Rod Carew, yet another future Hall of Famer, won the Twins' second base job and would hold it for the next eight seasons. Quilici spent all of {{mlby|1968}}, {{mlby|1969}} and {{mlby|1970}} on the Twins' roster, playing in an average of 109 games each year, mostly at second base, third base and shortstop, batting a career-high .245 in 1968. As a player, Quilici batted .214 in 405 games played; his 146 MLB hits included 23 doubles, six triples and with five home runs. He collected 53 runs batted in.

Coach, manager and broadcaster

During the 1970–1971 offseason, a vacancy opened on manager Bill Rigney's coaching staff when Sherry Robertson was killed in an automobile accident. Looking to save a roster spot, but retain Quilici as potential insurance in case one of their infielders were injured,[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/b241f036 King, Norm, Frank Quilici.] Society for American Baseball Research Biography Project the Twins named the 31-year-old to fill Robertson's slot as the club's fifth coach. While Quilici never returned to the active list, the coaching appointment lasted for all of {{mlby|1971}} and into {{mlby|1972}}.

On July 6, 1972, with team owner Calvin Griffith seeking to shake up his 36–34 Twins, then trailing the eventual World Series champion Oakland Athletics by 9{{fraction|1|2}} games in third place in the American League West, Quilici was promoted to replace Rigney as manager. Age 33 at the time of his appointment,[https://www.nytimes.com/1972/07/07/archives/quilici-is-named-twins-manager-rigney-is-dismissed-by-club-in-third.html "Quilici Is Named Twins' Manager," The Associated Press (AP), Thursday, July 6, 1972.] Retrieved June 9, 2020. he was the youngest pilot in the major leagues that season and throughout his managerial term. The Twins went 41–43 under Quilici in 1972 in the first of three straight third-place finishes, which included 81–81 in 1973 and 82–80 in 1974. When the club fell to fourth place with a 76–83 record in 1975, Quilici was fired after a season-ending 6–4 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Metropolitan Stadium on September 28.[https://www.nytimes.com/1975/09/29/archives/twins-aim-higher-than-third-twins-oust-quilici-after-3-years.html "Twins Aim Higher Than Third," The Associated Press (AP), Sunday, September 28, 1975.] Retrieved April 12, 2022. He was replaced by Gene Mauch two months later on November 24.[https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/25/archives/mauch-new-twins-manager.html "Mauch New Twins' Manager," The Associated Press (AP), Monday, November 24, 1975.] Retrieved April 12, 2022. His record as Minnesota's manager was 280–287 (.494).

He remained associated with the Twins, however, as a radio commentator on the team's broadcasts in 1976–1977, 1980–1982 and 1987. Outside of baseball he was active in business and charitable activities in the Twin Cities region.

Frank Quilici died on May 14, 2018, at the age of 79 in Burnsville, Minnesota, after suffering from kidney disease.[http://www.1500espn.com/twins-2/2018/05/frank-quilici-former-twins-player-manager-broadcaster-passes-away-79/ Frank Quilici, former Twins player, manager and broadcaster, passes away at 79] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516103107/http://www.1500espn.com/twins-2/2018/05/frank-quilici-former-twins-player-manager-broadcaster-passes-away-79/ |date=2018-05-16 }} ESPN Radio, May 14, 2018

References

External links

• [https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/p17208coll5/id/65498/rec/1 Interview with Frank Quilici] about the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association programs benefitting children, All About Kids! TV Series #212 (1995){{Baseball-reference manager|quilifr01}}

Category:1939 births

Category:2018 deaths

Category:All-American college baseball players

Category:Baseball players from Chicago

Category:Charlotte Hornets (baseball) players

Category:Deaths from kidney disease

Category:Denver Bears players

Category:Erie Sailors players

Category:Major League Baseball bench coaches

Category:Major League Baseball broadcasters

Category:Major League Baseball infielders

Category:Major League Baseball second basemen