Richard Anthony Drago was born in Toledo, Ohio, on June 25, 1945. Of Italian-German descent, he had a typical middle-class upbringing in the medium-sized industrial city. He graduated from the same High School as Dave DeBusschere, eight-time All-Star in the NBA (and pitcher in the White Sox organization).

Though drafted by the Detroit Tigers, he was exposed and selected by the brand-new Kansas City Royals. Drago became the workhorse. During his five years in Kansas City, he averaged 32 starts, 10 complete games, and well over 200 innings pitched. His best year, and the only one in which he had a winning record with the Royals, was 1971 when he posted a 17-11 record, completed 15 of 34 starts, had an ERA under 3.00, and was selected as the Royals’ Pitcher of the Year. He also received Cy Young votes in 1971.

After being traded to Boston, and as a reliever in the 1975 ALCS against Oakland, Drago proved his worth, pitching 4 scoreless innings in Games Two and Game Three, earning saves in both. In the '75 World Series, he got the loss in Game 2, then pitched three scoreless innings in the 9th, 10th and 11th inning of Game 6 against the Big Red Machine in what many consider to be one of the most exciting World Series games ever.

On July 20, 1976, while with the Angels, Drago gave up the last of Hank Aaron's then-major league record 755 career home runs - the last homer of the legitimate Home Run king.

In his Letters from Home Plate response, Dick lists Al Kaline as his favorite player growing up, Tony Oliva as the toughest hitter he ever faced, and Fenway Park as his favorite park to play in.

(excerpted from Wikipedia, BR Bullpen, and SABR)