Legendary Orioles second baseman Rich Dauer died at the age of 72, the ballclub announced on Monday. 

No cause of death was announced. 

Dauer’s entire 10-year MLB career was spent in Baltimore, where he played a crucial role in the 1983 World Series team. During Game 4 against the Phillies, Dauer had an outstanding performance with three hits, becoming a beloved player among Orioles fans.

He was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 2012 and has also been enshrined in the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021. 

During his playing career, Dauer hit .257/.310/.343 while adding 43 home runs and six stolen bases. 

He made two appearances in the World Series with the Orioles in 1979 and 1983 and helped Southern Cal win two College World Series. 

After retiring as a player, Dauer transitioned to coaching and had stints in Cleveland, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Colorado. He notably served as the first base coach for the Astros during their victorious World Series campaign in 2017.

Jim Palmer, a Hall of Fame pitcher, fondly remembers Dauer as an essential teammate. Palmer emphasized Dauer’s vibrant personality and the valuable contributions he made to the Orioles, highlighting the significance of players like him in achieving team success and memorable moments like World Series appearances.

Dauer was beloved by his teammates not just for his play on the field, but also for the personality he had in the locker room. 

He had been nicknamed “Wacko” during his playing days in “Charm City.” 

“If you just kind of look at the stats, it doesn’t tell the whole story,” Palmer said. “He was such a good guy. Such a great presence.” 

Dauer did suffer a medical scare in recent years when nearly died during the Astros’ World Series parade when he suffered an acute subdural hematoma.