Rich Dauer

Orioles infielder and coach, World Series champion in 1983 and 2017.

via Wikipedia: Rich Dauer · see source

Richard Fremont Dauer (July 27, 1952 – February 3, 2025) was an American professional baseball infielder and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent his entire 10-year MLB playing career with the Baltimore Orioles, winning the 1983 World Series. He was primarily a second baseman and also played third base. Following his career as a player, he spent 19 seasons as an MLB coach for numerous teams, winning the World Series as the first base coach for the Houston Astros. He was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 2012.

Quick Facts

Position

Second baseman
Third baseman
Coach

Bats

Right

Born

27 July 1952

Birthplace

San Bernardino, California, U.S.

Died

3 February 2025

Place of death

Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.

Debut league

MLB

Debut date

September 11

Lore & Background

Dauer was given the nickname 'Wacko' by Elrod Hendricks because of his sense of humor. During the Orioles' pursuit of the Milwaukee Brewers for the 1982 American League East title, he inspired his teammates with the rallying cry 'Let's win one for the Duck,' which was based on 'Win one for the Gipper' and referred to himself, not to Earl Weaver's lame duck status. Dauer's best postseason performance was in the 5–0 Game 4 win when he went 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI, including the one which accounted for the margin of victory. Dauer holds an American League single-season fielding record for a second baseman, with 86 consecutive errorless games and 425 straight errorless chances (the same streak), both set in 1978.

Reader's Guide

Dauer was the 24th overall pick in the 1974 MLB draft and began his pro career with the Asheville Tourists in Double A. He won the International League batting title with a .336 average and the International League Rookie of the Year in 1976, and shared Most Valuable Player honors with Mickey Klutts and Joe Lis. He played in the World Series in 1979 (lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates) and 1983 (beat the Philadelphia Phillies). In 1983, Dauer, Todd Cruz, and Rick Dempsey were known as 'The Three Stooges,' with Dauer as 'Larry.' He ended his coaching career as first base coach for the Houston Astros, winning a second World Series in 2017.

Did You Know?

Dauer is one of the few players to have won a College World Series (twice) and an MLB World Series.
He acted in the 1988 motion picture Stealing Home, playing the coach of the San Bernardino Spirit.
At the 2017 World Series parade, Dauer suffered a subdural hematoma from a head injury that required emergency brain surgery.