Rico Petrocelli — SS

Years with Boston: 13
Elected to Red Sox Hall of Fame: 1997

All-Star Selections with Boston (2)
1967, 1969

Batting Statistics for Rico Petrocelli with Boston

SEASON AB R H HR RBI BB SB AVG

1963 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 .250

1965 323 38 75 13 33 36 0 .232

1966 522 58 124 18 59 41 1 .238

1967 491 53 127 17 66 49 2 .259

1968 406 41 95 12 46 31 0 .234

1969 535 92 159 40 97 98 3 .297

1970 583 82 152 29 103 67 1 .261

1971 553 82 139 28 89 91 2 .251

1972 521 62 125 15 75 78 0 .240

1973 356 44 87 13 45 47 0 .244

1974 454 53 121 15 76 48 1 .267

1975 402 31 96 7 59 41 0 .239

1976 240 17 51 3 24 34 0 .213

TOTAL 5390 653 1352 210 773 661 10 .251

Biography for Rico Petrocelli

After a quick cup of coffee in 1963, Americo "Rico" Petrocelli debuted in 1965 and managed just a .232 average on a team that lost 100 games but also clocked 13 home runs and knocked in 33 runs while maintaining a slugging percentage better than the league average. He also showed solid play at short and, even with 18 errors and a .958 fielding percentage, the unusual combination of power and glove work normally uncommon among infielders made him a valuable commodity for the franchise. Two years later, as the Red Sox surprised baseball by winning the American League pennant for the first time since 1946, Petrocelli batted a respectable .259 average while hitting 17 home runs, driving in 66, and making the first of two All-Star appearances. He also managed a fielding percentage of .970 in 141 appearances and assisted in 73 double plays. Petrocelli continued to flex his impressive power at the plate; in 1969, he batted a career-high .297, amassed 40 home runs, best ever by a shortstop at that point, and drove in 97 runs while crossing the plate 92 times. He also improved defensively, too, committing just 14 errors, which tied another then-record at that position, and assisting in 103 double plays. Over the next two seasons, he would collect another 57 home runs and 192 RBI and transition from short to third; when the Red Sox signed future Hall of Fame player Luis Aparicio prior to the 1971 season, Petrocelli became the full-time third baseman in Boston and responded by making just 11 errors and leading the league in fielding percentage at his new position. Though he would continue to perform on the field after that, his numbers on offense would slowly decline over the last five years of his career as injuries began to cost him appearances; elbow problems surfaced in 1974 and he missed time not only at the start of the season but near the end as well. Calling it a career in 1976, Petrocelli finished with 210 home runs, 773 RBI, and a .251 batting average along with the recognition as one of the best power-hitting infielders in Red Sox history.

Memorable Moments for Rico Petrocelli

21 September 1963 - In the opener of a twin bill at Fenway Park, future Red Sox shortstop Rico Petrocelli makes his major league debut as Boston loses 13-4 to Minnesota.
26 March 1977 - Rico Petrocelli is released by the Red Sox after thirteen seasons with the club.