With veteran incumbent second baseman Jerry Kindall suffering from a chronic hamstring injury,[1] Quilici quickly assumed a key role in the Minnesota lineup, starting 39 games at second base during the season's final ten weeks.

When Quilici returned to Minnesota in 1967 it was as a utility infielder: standout rookie Rod Carew, yet another future Hall of Famer, won the Twins' second base job and would hold it for the next eight seasons.

During the 1970–1971 offseason, a vacancy opened on manager Bill Rigney's coaching staff when Sherry Robertson was killed in an automobile accident.

Looking to save a roster spot, but retain Quilici as potential insurance in case one of their infielders were injured,[4] the Twins named the 31-year-old to fill Robertson's slot as the club's fifth coach.

On July 6, 1972, with team owner Calvin Griffith seeking to shake up his 36–34 Twins, then trailing the eventual World Series champion Oakland Athletics by 91⁄2 games in third place in the American League West, Quilici was promoted to replace Rigney as manager.

When the club fell to fourth place with a 76–83 record in 1975, Quilici was fired after a season-ending 6–4 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Metropolitan Stadium on September 28.

[8] • Interview with Frank Quilici about the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association programs benefitting children, All About Kids!