Frank Malzone, a longtime Red Sox third baseman who spent 68 years in the organization, died Tuesday morning of natural causes at his home in Needham, Mass., the team announced. He was 85.
Malzone was part of the first class inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995. He played for Boston from 1955-65, and after finishing his career with the Angels in 1966, Malzone returned to the Red Sox as a scout and instructor. He later worked in the front office, and became a player development consultant in 2008.
"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.