DiLauro started his professional baseball career by signing with the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent on January 1, 1963.[1][2] He never played in the Major Leagues for the Tigers.[1] On December 4, 1968, he was traded to the New York Mets in exchange for Hector Valle.[1]
In 1969, DiLauro pitched 4 games for the Mets AAA minor league affiliate, the Tidewater Tides.[3] He was then promoted to the Mets and made his major league debut for the Mets on May 15, 1969, against the Atlanta Braves.[1][4] In 1969, he pitched in 23 games, mostly in relief, and 632⁄3 innings for the Mets.[1] He won 1 game against 4 losses with 1 save.[1] The win, his first in the Major Leagues occurred on July 20 against the Montreal Expos.[4] His ERA in 1969 was a solid 2.40, better than the league average.[1] The Mets won the World Series in 1969,[5] but DiLauro did not pitch in the postseason.[1]
After the season, DiLauro was drafted from the Mets by the Houston Astros in the rule 5 draft.[1] In 1970, DiLauro pitched in 42 games for the Astros, all in relief, pitching 332⁄3 innings. He had 1 win and 3 losses with 3 saves.[1]
After a career in sporting goods and as a retail liquidation consultant,[7] DiLauro died in Akron on December 7, 2024, at the age of 81. He was married with two sons, one of whom predeceased him.[8]
