[5][6][7] Selected in the first round of the 1974 MLB draft in early June, Dauer was the 24th overall pick and began his pro career in the Single-A South Atlantic League with the Asheville Tourists.

The following season with the Red Wings, he won the league batting title with a .336 average, was named Rookie of the Year and shared Most Valuable Player honors with Mickey Klutts and Joe Lis.

The Orioles defeated the California Angels in four games in the best-of-five 1979 American League Championship Series to secure the pennant, Baltimore's first since 1971.

He, along with Todd Cruz and Rick Dempsey, were regularly in the bottom third of the batting order and were affectionately known as "The Three Stooges", a moniker coined by Ken Singleton.

[14] Dauer's best postseason performance was in the 5–4 Game 4 win when he went 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI, including the one which accounted for the margin of victory.

[17] Dauer worked as a minor league coach for five organizations and managed the Seattle Mariners Class A San Bernardino Spirit affiliate in 1987.

[19] At the major league level, he coached for the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies.

[23] At the 2017 World Series parade Dauer suffered a subdural hematoma as a result of a head injury that required emergency brain surgery.