Rich Dauer, a beloved figure in Baltimore Orioles history and member of their Hall of Fame, has died at 72. The team shared the news of his passing on social media.
Dauer was more than just another ballplayer. He spent his entire 10-year playing career with the Orioles, becoming one of those rare players who stuck with one team through thick and thin.
He wasn’t the flashiest player – hitting .257 with 43 homers over his career – but he was exactly what the Orioles needed during their glory years. His steady presence helped Baltimore reach two World Series, including their championship run in 1983 when they took down the Philadelphia Phillies.
Here’s something pretty amazing: Dauer was part of an exclusive club of players who’ve won both a Major League World Series and a College World Series. He actually won the college title twice while playing for Southern Cal.
After hanging up his cleats, he found his second calling as a coach. Over the years, he worked with five different teams, making his biggest mark as the Houston Astros’ first-base coach from 2015 to 2017.
His life nearly ended during what should’ve been one of his happiest moments. Right after the Astros won the 2017 World Series, Dauer suffered a devastating brain hemorrhage during the championship parade. He needed emergency surgery, but somehow pulled through.
Two years ago, he faced another serious health challenge when he suffered a massive stroke.
Baseball wasn’t his only time in the spotlight – he even made it to Hollywood, appearing as a coach in the 1988 film “Stealing Home” alongside stars like Jodie Foster and Mark Harmon.
His passing marks the end of an era for Orioles fans who remember those championship days when Dauer was a fixture at second base, making all the plays that needed to be made.
