EASTON, Mass. (AP) – Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Dick Radatz, a feared reliever in 1960s, died Wednesday when he fell down a flight of stairs in his home, police said. He was 67.

Radatz, who at 6-foot-5 was nicknamed “The Monster,” lost his balance and suffered a severe head injury in the fall Wednesday afternoon, police Chief Thomas Kominsky said.

“It is believed that as Radatz tumbled down the stairs, he struck his head on the carpet-covered concrete floor,” Kominsky said in a statement. “Paramedics were unable to revive Radatz, due to the severity of his injuries – severe head trauma.”

The cause of death is believed to be accidental, Kominsky said. He said the offices of the state medical examiner and Bristol County district attorney were investigating.

Radatz pitched seven seasons in the majors for Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, the Chicago Cubs and Montreal. His career totals were 52-43 with 122 saves and a 3.13 ERA.

His best years were in Boston, where he broke into the big leagues in 1962. He was an all-star in 1963 and 1964. In four-plus seasons for the Red Sox, he was 49-34 with 104 saves – applied under modern rules because saves weren’t recorded as a statistic in those days.

Radatz regularly pitched multiple innings per game in relief, long before relief pitchers evolved into one-inning specialists.

“He was a set-up man, closer, finisher all in one,” said Bill Lee, a former Red Sox pitcher and good friend of Radatz. “He was the best reliever of all time, for a short period of time.”

Radatz, who was godfather to Lee’s daughter, has a picture of himself in his basement signed by Mickey Mantle. The Yankees legend signed it “The greatest I ever faced,” said Lee, noting that Radatz struck out Mantle 54 times in 67 attempts.

Lee said he knew of no health problems with Radatz, but noted that Radatz has weighed as much as 400 pounds and was a heavy smoker.

Radatz holds the Major League record for strikeouts in a season by a relief pitcher, 181 in 1964.

Boston signed Radatz, a Detroit native who graduated from Michigan State University, before the 1959 season as an amateur free agent.

A Red Sox spokesman did not immediately return calls Wednesday night.

Radatz in recent years provided baseball commentary during frequent appearances on Boston sports talk radio and television stations.

Radatz has a son and a daughter, Lee said. Dick Radatz Jr. is co-founder and president of the Northwoods League in Minnesota.