Red Sox All Star Frank Malzone Dies At 85

Frank Malzone, the Boston Red Sox's all-time leader
among third baseman with homers and RBIs, has died, the team said
Tuesday. He was 85.

Malzone died at home in Needham, Massachusetts, of natural causes,
the team said.

A member of the Red Sox hall of fame since 1995, he played in
Boston for 11 seasons from 1955-65. He hit 131 homers with 716 RBIs
during that stretch, the most of any third baseman in club history.
The six-time All-Star finished his career in 1966 with the
California Angels.

''We mourn the loss of a man we all came to know as `Malzie,' who
was venerated by Red Sox fans not only for his great glove at third
base, but for his blue-collar dedication to his craft,'' Red Sox
chairman Tom Werner said in a statement.

He was often seen in spring training, many times riding a golf cart
along with former Boston pitcher Luis Tiant, pausing to take
pictures and chatting with fans at the club's complex in Fort
Myers, Florida. He visited Fenway Park often after he retired from
his work as a scout, instructor and in the team's front office.

''Frank was always there to give me a smile and a great word of
encouragement every time I ran into him in my five years with the
Red Sox,'' Boston's 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell said in the
statement. ''He was always a symbol to me of what a professional
and standup member of the organization should be. My heart goes out
to his family and may he rest in peace. He will be missed.''

Malzone played 150 or more games in seven straight seasons after
missing just two games in his initial four with the Red Sox. He
made it to the big leagues in 1955 after serving two years in the
Army (1952-53) during the Korean War.

Malzone won the Gold Glove three consecutive seasons (1957-59) and
played in every game in two straight seasons from 1958-59. His
consecutive-game streak of 475 remains the longest in team history
since 1920.  (Associated Press)