Rico Petrocelli

Rico Petrocelli

Born:	June 27, 1943
Birthplace:	Brooklyn, New York
Hometown:	Nashua, New Hampshire
Height:	6'0"
Weight:	185 lbs
Bats:	Right
Throws:	Right
Drafted:	Undrafted Free Agent (1961) Red Sox
College:	none
High School:	Sheepshead Bay (Brooklyn,NY)
Other Teams:	none
Years with Boston:	1963-1976

Americo Peter "Rico" Petrocelli was born June 27, 1943 in Brooklyn, NY. He currently lives in southern New Hampshire with his wife, and has an office in Nashua, where he runs his own business, working at baseball clinics and in radio.

Overall Career

Americo Peter "Rico" Petrocelli joined the Red Sox as an undrafted free agent in 1961. He saw significant playing time starting in the 1963 season at short stop. Petrocelli was moved to third base in 1971 after Boston acquired Luis Aparicio. Rico was know for his power as well as his defensive skills hitting 40 HR's in 1969 and committing only 11 errors in 463 total chances for a fielding percentage of .976 in his first season at 3rd (1971).

After a series of injuries, Petrocelli retired at the end of the 1976 season. Following his playing career, he has been involved with baseball as a minor league manager-coach and also in broadcasting. In 1992 Petrocelli managed the Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA), leading the club to the International League playoffs.

In his career, Petrocelli hit 210 home runs with 773 RBI and 653 runs in 1553 games. He was inducted to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997.

Moments in the Sun

• Petrocelli’s catch of Rich Rollins’ pop-up for the final out against Minnesota clinched the “Impossible Dream” pennant on October 1, 1967.
• In Game 6 of the 1967 World Series, Rico hit two home runs against the St. Louis Cardinals.
• May 28, 1971 -- In a game at Fenway Park that more than lived up to its billing (Sonny Siebert 8-0 vs. Vida Blue 10-1), Rico belted 2 HRs as the Sox nipped the Oakland A's 4-3.

Trivia

• Rico began his rookie year (1965) as a switch hitter.
• Petrocelli spent a year (1982-1983) hosting the TV game show Candlepins for Cash on WXNE Channel 25 in Boston, Massachusetts.
• NESN's Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA) color analyst.
• Rico currently (2010) co-hosts a Saturday morning talk show called, "Remember When" with Mitch Williams on Sirius/XM MLB Network Radio.

Awards

• In 1969, Petrocelli set the American League record for home runs by a shortstop (40 - a record that stood nearly 30 years until broken by Alex Rodriguez in 1998), and tied the record for fewest errors by a shortstop (14).
• Inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997.
• Started the 1967 and 1969 All-Star Games
• In Game Six of the 1967 World Series, Petrocelli, Carl Yastrzemski, and Reggie Smith set a WS record by hitting three HR in an inning (the fourth).

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
• Rico Petrocelli @ ESPN