Former Italian / American Brooklyn Born Player: Rico Petrocelli ( 1965-1976)

Americo Peter Petrocelli was born on June 27, 1943 in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Sheepshead Bay High School & in 1961 at age 19, he was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent.

He was brought up in 1965 and became the Red Sox everyday shortstop right away, making the Topps All Star Rookie team. Rico hit for power which was rare for shortstops of his era, drove in runs but didn’t hit for high averages.

He hit 13 HRs in his rookie year, then 18 the following season. He hit .259 with 17 HRs 24 doubles & 66 RBIs in 1967 the Red Sox Pennant season of “The Impossible Dream”, making his first of four All Star teams.

After hitting poorly in the World Series, he hit 2 HRs in Game #6 (Yastremski & Reggie Smith also homered) with the Sox backs against the wall, forcing a Game seven. Over the next two seasons he led shortstops in fielding percentage, and set a single season record for most HRs by a shortstop with 40 (4th in the AL) He would be among the top ten in HRs over the next two seasons as well as in Rbis. In 1970 he set a career high in RBIs with 103 (6th in the AL).

Petrocelli played shortstop until 1971, then moved over to third base, when the Sox acquired Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio. At his new position he once again led the league in fielding percentage (.976) making only 11 errors in 463 total chances. After 1973 his numbers tailed off a bit as injuries began to plague him.

In 1975 he enjoyed his last full time season, winning another pennant , hitting 7 HRs with 15 doubles 59 RBIs & a .239 average. He hit a HR in the ALCS off Oakland’s Rollie Fingers in Game #2, but only hit .167 overall. In the World Series he hit .308 (8-26) with three walks, driving in four runs against the Big Red Machine. He retired after the 1976 season.

In his 13 year career, Petrocelli hit 210 HRs 237 doubles 22 triples with 773 RBI and 653 runs scored in 1553 games. He posted a .969 fielding percentage at short & a .970 percentage at third base. He was inducted to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997.

Retirement: After his playing days, Rico was a Red Sox radio broadcaster (1979) a TV game show host for Candlepin Bowling (1980-1983) & a manager for the Red Sox minor league Pawtucket team, leading them to the playoffs.