Walt Dropo, former rookie of the year with Red Sox, dies at 87

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Walt Dropo, who played 13 seasons in the majors and won the 1950 American League Rookie of the Year award with the Boston Red Sox, has died. He was 87.

Dropo died of natural causes Friday, the University of Connecticut said in a statement Saturday. Dropo, who lived in Peabody, Mass., was a three-sport star at UConn in the 1940s.

In 1950, Dropo beat out New York Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford to win AL Rookie of the Year honors after batting .322 with 34 home runs and a league-best 144 RBIs. A first baseman, he also made his only All-Star team that season.

Dropo was born Jan. 30, 1923, in Moosup, Conn. He also played for Detroit, Cincinnati, Baltimore and the Chicago White Sox. His last season was 1961 with the Orioles.

-- Associated Press