Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Doug Camilli has died at the age of 89.
Born in Philadelphia, Camilli spent nine seasons in MLB and won the World Series with the Dodgers in 1963.
The son of former Brooklyn Dodgers standout Dolph Camilli, he is survived by wife Marilyn, their four children, 10 grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
During his illustrious career, Camilli played 313 major league games as a catcher. He finished his career with a batting average of .199 and scored 18 home runs and 80 RBIs.
Camilli spent four years with the Dodgers between 1960 and 1964 and then spent the same amount of time with the Washington Senators from 1965 to 1969.
After deciding to walk away from baseball at the end of the 1969 season, Camilli joined the Boston Red Sox as a bullpen coach between 1970 and 1973.Â
Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Doug Camilli (pictured right) has died at the age of 89
He eventually returned in 1981 as a minor league coach for the team, a role he occupied in Boston’s minor league system until 1992.
His death comes just days before the Dodgers start the new season against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Shohei Ohtani and his teammates will be looking to win a third-straight World Series.Â
Another of Camilli’s former teams, the Spokane Indians, paid tribute to him on social media.Â
They wrote: ‘We are deeply saddened by the recent passing of former Spokane Indians player Doug Camilli.Â
‘A nine-year MLB veteran and 1963 World Series champion with the Dodgers, Camilli appeared in 42 games with the Indians in 1961. Our thoughts are with his family and friends in this difficult time.’
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Los Angeles Dodgers hero and World Series winner Doug Camilli dies just days before new season starts