Quilici was born in Chicago, where he graduated from St. Mel High School. He attended Loras College and Western Michigan University. In 1961, he signed with the Twins during their first year in Minneapolis–Saint Paul after they transferred from Washington. Upon entering the Twins\' farm system, he rose from Class D to Triple-A over the next 4​1⁄2 seasons and was batting .277 with the Denver Bears when the pennant-bound 1965 Twins called him to the majors in July. With veteran incumbent second baseman Jerry Kindall suffering from a chronic hamstring injury, Quilici quickly assumed a key role in the Minnesota lineup, starting 39 games at second base during the season\'s final ten weeks. \n', '

Then, in the 1965 World Series, Quilici started all seven games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and collected four hits (with two doubles) in 20 at bats and a run batted in. One of his doubles touched off a six-run, third inning rally against eventual Baseball Hall of Famer Don Drysdale in Game 1. When the Twins batted around in that frame, Quilici came to the plate again and chased Drysdale with a single. His two hits in one inning tied a record and sparked an 8–2 Minnesota victory. In the field, Quilici played every inning of all seven games, making two errors in 36 chances for a .944 fielding percentage. But the Twins succumbed to another future Hall of Famer, Sandy Koufax, in Game 7, 2–0, to lose the series. Quilici had a double in three at bats in that final contest against the Dodger southpaw.\n', '

The following year, 1966, was a setback for Quilici. He spent the entire season at Triple-A Denver, as the Twins alternated Bernie Allen and César Tovar as their regular second basemen. 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. Quilici spent all of 1968, 1969 and 1970 on the Twins\' roster, playing in an average of 109 games each year, mostly at second base, third base and shortstop, batting a career-high .245 in 1968.\n', '

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