The Orioles announced this afternoon that longtime infielder and coach has pa sed away. He was 72. A native of San Bernardino, Dauer attended the University of Southern California. He starred on the Trojans back-to-back College World Series teams in 1973 and Christian Harrison Jersey 74. The Orioles drafted him with the 24th overall pick in 1974. The righty-swinging infielder hit .336 in Triple-A during the 76 season to earn a cup of coffee in the big leagues. He opened the following season as Baltimores second baseman, hitting .243 over 96 games as a rookie. That was the first of nine straight seasons in which Dauer was in Baltimores Opening Day lineup (eight of them at second base). While he was never a huge power threat, he carved out a lengthy career behind his sure-handed defense and elite contact skills. After his rookie year, Dauer never struck out in more than 7% of his plate appearances in a season. He ranked among the American Leagues top four second basemen in fielding percentage each year between 1980-83. Dauer set his career high with nine home runs in 1979. Baltimore won the pennant that season. Dauer hit .294 over six games in that years Fall Cla sic, but the Os dropped the series to the Pirates. They made it back to the World Series four years later. Baltimore knocked off the Phillies in five games. Dauer appeared in all five contests to earn his first ring. Over a playing career that spanned parts of 10 seasons, Dauer hit .257/.310/.343. He hit 43 homers and connected on 193 doubles, including a career-high 32 doubles in a 1980 campaign in which he hit .284. He spent his entire playing career with the Orioles, who honored him with induction into the franchises Hall of Fame in 2012. Dauers involvement in the sport extended well beyond his playing days. He spent more than three decades in the coaching ranks. He was on major league staffs for the Cleveland, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Colorado and Houston organizations and spent some time as a manager in the San Diego farm system. He earned a second World Series ring with the 2017 Astros, for whom he coached first base. Dauer slipped and injured his head the night before Houstons championship parade that year. While the severity of the injury initially wasnt clear, his condition worsened during the parade. Dauer was taken to the emergency room, where doctors identified a significant brain bleed. He required emergency surgery that came with a grim prognosis but overcame what doctors eventually revealed was around a 3% survival chance. covered the story at the time. Dauer had already decided to retire from coaching before the head injury, but he returned to Minute Maid Park the following April for an emotional . MLBTR joins others throughout the game in sending our condolences to Dauers family, loved ones, friends and former teammates/players. Austin Kirksey Jersey