KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan Athletics Hall of Famer and former Bronco baseball player Frank Quilici died on Monday at the age of 79 after a lengthy illness.

Quilici was a two-time All-American at Western Michigan and led the Brown & Gold to two Mid-American Conference titles, as well as two College World Series appearances, where the Broncos finished fifth in 1959 and 1961.

In 1961, Quilici was a First Team All-MAC selection after batting .327 with three home runs and 22 RBIs. The year prior, he led the Broncos with a .381 batting average and was named Second Team All-America and Second Team All-MAC.

He went on to play five professional seasons with the Minnesota Twins, followed by a four-year managerial career in the Twin Cities. Quilici was a member of WMU's inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame class in 1973.

Quilici played all seven games of the 1965 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers which the Twins lost four games to three. Quilici set a World Series record in game one, collecting two hits in one inning off of Dodgers starter Don Drysdale.

Moving from the field to the broadcast booth, Quilici served as a radio commentator on Twins games from 1976-77, 1980-82 and 1987.

Quilici leaves behind his second wife, and four children. Funeral arrangements are pending.