1967 California Angels season
Encyclopedia
The California Angels
season involved the Angels finishing 5th in the American League
with a record of 84 wins and 77 losses, 7½ games behind the AL Champion Boston Red Sox
.
ace pitcher]] and 1964 Cy Young Award winner Dean Chance
to the Twins. In exchange, they obtained power hitting first baseman Don Mincher
. Mincher would be their first legitimate consistent power threat since Leon Wagner
was traded after the 1963 season
. The Angels also obtained outfielder Jimmie Hall
, who had averaged 25 home runs per season for the Twins from 1963-66. The Angels counted on young pitchers Jim McGlothlin
and Rickey Clark
to pick up the slack for the departed Chance.
The 1967 Angels had the second best record in franchise history to date and ranked a franchise best to date 4th in the American League in attendance. Mincher chipped in 25 homers and Hall added 16 in 129 games. Former bonus baby Rick Reichardt
finally started showing promise by batting .265 with 17 homers, while shortstop
Jim Fregosi
had another solid season, batting .290 and earning a Gold Glove
. Second baseman
Bobby Knoop
also won a Gold Glove, and the Angels led the league in fielding percentage
. The pitching staff was led by McGlothlin, who was named to the AL All-Star team, along with Clark and hard luck veteran George Brunet
, who lost 19 games despite a 3.31 ERA
. Relief pitcher Minnie Rojas
had a remarkable season, with a league-leading 27 saves, winning 12 games in relief, and sporting a 2.52 ERA.
, Detroit Tigers
, Chicago White Sox
, and the surprising Boston Red Sox.
On August 13, the Angels completed a 3 game sweep of the Red Sox. They were now only 1½ games out of first as they embarked on a crucial road trip that included stops in Minnesota and Boston. The Angels lost 3 games to the Twins, and 3 games in Boston (in one of which Boston's Tony Conigliaro
was severely beaned and almost killed by the Angels' Jack Hamilton). When they returned home, they Angels lost 3 out of 4 to the Tigers, and they entered September only 1 game over .500 and 8 games out of first.
They played well in September, going 17-11 to finish 84-77, but never got closer than 6 games out of first. However, they had a big influence on the tight American League pennant race as they beat the Tigers in Detroit in the last game of the season, enabling the Red Sox to win the pennant by 1 game.
Gold Glove Award
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
season involved the Angels finishing 5th in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
with a record of 84 wins and 77 losses, 7½ games behind the AL Champion Boston Red Sox
1967 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season, often referred to as The Impossible Dream, consisted of the Red Sox shocking New England and the rest of the baseball world by winning the American League Championship and reaching the World Series for the first time since 1946...
.
Offseason
- October 18, 1966: Jimmy PiersallJimmy PiersallJames Anthony Piersall is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. Between 1950 and 1967, he played for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , New York Mets , and Los Angeles/California Angels .While he had a fairly good professional career as a center...
was released by the California Angels. - November 28, 1966: Ramón Hernández was drafted from the Angels by the Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the 1966 rule 5 draftRule 5 draftThe Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. - November 29, 1966: Mike WhiteMike White (baseball)Joyner Michael White is a retired American professional baseball player. Primarily an outfielder, White appeared in Major League Baseball for all or parts of three seasons for the Houston Colt .45s/Astros. He is the son of the late Jo-Jo White, a former MLB outfielder and coach...
and Don Furnald (minors) were traded by the Angels to the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for Chris KrugChris KrugEverett Ben "Chris" Krug is a former Major League Baseball catcher. Krug was signed by the St...
and Wayne SchurrWayne SchurrWayne Allen Schurr is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who pitched for the Chicago Cubs in 1964.-External links:*...
. - December 2, 1966: The Angels traded Dean ChanceDean ChanceWilmer Dean Chance is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Over the right hander's 11-year major league career, he would play for the Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, and Detroit Tigers...
and a player to be named later to the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
for Don MincherDon Mincher-External links:***...
, Jimmie HallJimmie HallJimmie Randolph Hall is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and left-handed batter who played for the Minnesota Twins , California Angels , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves .-Minor league career:After attending Belmont High School and playing...
, and Pete CiminoPete CiminoPeter William Cimino is a retired professional baseball player who played four seasons for the Minnesota Twins and California Angels of Major League Baseball. He once scored 114 points in a high school basketball game and also had 20 strikeouts in one minor league baseball game...
. The Angels completed the deal by sending Jackie HernándezJackie HernandezJacinto Hernández Zulueta is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman from 1965 to 1973....
to the Twins on April 10, 1967. - December 14, 1966: Norm SiebernNorm SiebernNorman Leroy Siebern was a Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Boston Red Sox from to . His best season came in with the A's, when he hit 25 home runs, had 117 runs batted in and a .308...
was traded by the Angels to the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for Len Gabrielson.
Regular season
The 1967 Angels broke from the past, trading their aceAce (baseball)
In baseball, an ace is the best starting pitcher of any team and nearly always the first pitcher in his starting rotation. Barring injury or exceptional circumstances, an ace usually always starts on Opening Day...
ace pitcher]] and 1964 Cy Young Award winner Dean Chance
Dean Chance
Wilmer Dean Chance is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Over the right hander's 11-year major league career, he would play for the Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, and Detroit Tigers...
to the Twins. In exchange, they obtained power hitting first baseman Don Mincher
Don Mincher
-External links:***...
. Mincher would be their first legitimate consistent power threat since Leon Wagner
Leon Wagner
Leon Lamar Wagner was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the San Francisco Giants , St. Louis Cardinals , Los Angeles Angels , Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
was traded after the 1963 season
1963 Los Angeles Angels season
The Los Angeles Angels season involved the Angels finishing 9th in the American League with a record of 70 wins and 91 losses.-Offseason:* December 11, 1962: Earl Averill, Jr...
. The Angels also obtained outfielder Jimmie Hall
Jimmie Hall
Jimmie Randolph Hall is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and left-handed batter who played for the Minnesota Twins , California Angels , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves .-Minor league career:After attending Belmont High School and playing...
, who had averaged 25 home runs per season for the Twins from 1963-66. The Angels counted on young pitchers Jim McGlothlin
Jim McGlothlin
James Milton McGlothlin , nicknamed "Red", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He graduated from Reseda High School in 1961...
and Rickey Clark
Rickey Clark
Rickey Charles Clark is a retired professional baseball player who played five seasons for the California Angels of Major League Baseball.-References:...
to pick up the slack for the departed Chance.
The 1967 Angels had the second best record in franchise history to date and ranked a franchise best to date 4th in the American League in attendance. Mincher chipped in 25 homers and Hall added 16 in 129 games. Former bonus baby Rick Reichardt
Rick Reichardt
Frederic Carl Reichardt was a Major League outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels/California Angels , Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals...
finally started showing promise by batting .265 with 17 homers, while shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Jim Fregosi
Jim Fregosi
James Louis Fregosi is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played from 1961–1978 for four different teams, primarily the Los Angeles and California Angels. In that franchise's first eleven years of play, he became its first star as the team's...
had another solid season, batting .290 and earning a Gold Glove
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
. Second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Bobby Knoop
Bobby Knoop
Robert Frank Knoop [kuh-NOPP] is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and right-handed batter who played for the California Angels , Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals ....
also won a Gold Glove, and the Angels led the league in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. The pitching staff was led by McGlothlin, who was named to the AL All-Star team, along with Clark and hard luck veteran George Brunet
George Brunet
George Stuart Brunet , nicknamed "Lefty" and "Red", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched for the Kansas City Athletics , Milwaukee Braves , Houston Colt .45's , Baltimore Orioles , Los Angeles Angels/California Angels , Seattle Pilots , Washington Senators ,...
, who lost 19 games despite a 3.31 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. Relief pitcher Minnie Rojas
Minnie Rojas
Minervino Alejandro "Minnie" Rojas Landin was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels from through . Rojas batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Remedios, Villa Clara, Cuba....
had a remarkable season, with a league-leading 27 saves, winning 12 games in relief, and sporting a 2.52 ERA.
Season summary
The Angels, coming off a 80-82 record in 1966, started slowly. On May 31, they were 18-27 and 10 games out of first place. At that point, they began to jell, and after going 20-11 in June and 17-11 in July, they found themselves at 55-49. While this put them in fifth place, they only 4½ games out of first in what had become a five-team race between the Angels, Minnesota Twins1967 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins finished 91-73, tied for second in the American League with the Detroit Tigers. The Twins had a one-game lead with two games remaining, but lost both games to the Boston Red Sox in the season's final days...
, Detroit Tigers
1967 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished tied for second in the American League with the Minnesota Twins with 91 wins and 71 losses, one game behind the AL pennant-winning Boston Red Sox.- Notable transactions :...
, Chicago White Sox
1967 Chicago White Sox season
The 1967 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 67th season in the major leagues, and its 68th season overall. They finished with a record 89-73, good enough for fourth place in the American League, 3 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox.- Offseason :...
, and the surprising Boston Red Sox.
On August 13, the Angels completed a 3 game sweep of the Red Sox. They were now only 1½ games out of first as they embarked on a crucial road trip that included stops in Minnesota and Boston. The Angels lost 3 games to the Twins, and 3 games in Boston (in one of which Boston's Tony Conigliaro
Tony Conigliaro
Anthony Richard Conigliaro , nicknamed "Tony C" and "Conig", was a Major League Baseball outfielder and right-handed batter who played for the Boston Red Sox and California Angels . He was born in Revere, Massachusetts, and was a 1962 graduate of St. Mary's High School...
was severely beaned and almost killed by the Angels' Jack Hamilton). When they returned home, they Angels lost 3 out of 4 to the Tigers, and they entered September only 1 game over .500 and 8 games out of first.
They played well in September, going 17-11 to finish 84-77, but never got closer than 6 games out of first. However, they had a big influence on the tight American League pennant race as they beat the Tigers in Detroit in the last game of the season, enabling the Red Sox to win the pennant by 1 game.
Opening Day lineup
- José CardenalJosé CardenalJosé Rosario Domec Cardenal is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants , California Angels , Cleveland Indians , St...
, CF - Jim FregosiJim FregosiJames Louis Fregosi is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played from 1961–1978 for four different teams, primarily the Los Angeles and California Angels. In that franchise's first eleven years of play, he became its first star as the team's...
, SS - Rick ReichardtRick ReichardtFrederic Carl Reichardt was a Major League outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels/California Angels , Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals...
, LF - Don MincherDon Mincher-External links:***...
, 1B - Jimmie HallJimmie HallJimmie Randolph Hall is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and left-handed batter who played for the Minnesota Twins , California Angels , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves .-Minor league career:After attending Belmont High School and playing...
, RF - Bobby KnoopBobby KnoopRobert Frank Knoop [kuh-NOPP] is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and right-handed batter who played for the California Angels , Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals ....
, 2B - Buck RodgersBuck RodgersRobert LeRoy "Buck" Rodgers is a former catcher, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he helmed three major league teams: the Milwaukee Brewers , Montreal Expos and California Angels , compiling a career won-lost mark of 784–773 .-Playing career:Rodgers attended Ohio Wesleyan...
, C - Paul SchaalPaul SchaalPaul Schaal is a retired professional baseball player who played 11 seasons for the Los Angeles Angels, California Angels, and Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball....
, 3B - George BrunetGeorge BrunetGeorge Stuart Brunet , nicknamed "Lefty" and "Red", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched for the Kansas City Athletics , Milwaukee Braves , Houston Colt .45's , Baltimore Orioles , Los Angeles Angels/California Angels , Seattle Pilots , Washington Senators ,...
, P
Notable transactions
- April 10, 1967: Jimmy Piersall was signed as a free agent by the Angels.
- May 6, 1967: Cotton NashCotton NashCharles Francis "Cotton" Nash is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and National Basketball Association forward....
and cash were traded by the Angels to the Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for Bill Skowron. - May 12, 1967: Jimmy Piersall was released by the Angels.
- June 8, 1967: Chris Krug was released by the Angels.
- June 15, 1967: Marcelino LópezMarcelino LópezMarcelino Pons López was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was a member of the 1970 World Series Champion Baltimore Orioles.-Early years:...
and Tom Arruda (minors) were traded by the Angels to the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
for Woodie HeldWoodie HeldWoodson George "Woodie" Held was a shortstop/outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels and Chicago White Sox. He batted and threw right-handed...
. - August 7, 1967: The Angels sent a player to be named later to the Houston AstrosHouston AstrosThe Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
for Jim WeaverJim Weaver (left-handed pitcher)James Brian Weaver is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of two seasons, and , for the California Angels.-Sources:...
. The Angels completed the deal by sending Héctor TorresHéctor TorresHéctor Epitacio Torres Marroquin is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He played all or part of nine seasons in the majors, between and , for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays...
to the Astros on November 21.
Roster
| 1967 California Angels | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 147 | 487 | 133 | .273 | 25 | 76 | |
| 2B | 159 | 511 | 125 | .245 | 9 | 38 | |
| SS | 151 | 590 | 171 | .290 | 5 | 96 | |
| LF | 146 | 498 | 132 | .265 | 17 | 69 | |
| CF | 108 | 381 | 90 | .236 | 6 | 27 | |
| RF | 129 | 401 | 100 | .249 | 16 | 55 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | 141 | 31 | .220 | 4 | 17 | |
| 29 | 130 | 31 | .238 | 1 | 8 | |
| 62 | 123 | 27 | .220 | 1 | 10 | |
| 11 | 12 | 1 | .083 | 0 | 2 | |
| 5 | 5 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 250 | 11 | 19 | 3.31 | 165 | |
| 32 | 174 | 12 | 11 | 2.59 | 84 | |
| 32 | 197.1 | 12 | 11 | 2.59 | 84 | |
| 26 | 119.1 | 9 | 6 | 3.24 | 74 | |
| 3 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 3.60 | 4 | |
| 4 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 9.00 | 6 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 48.1 | 3 | 2 | 4.47 | 21 | |
| 14 | 34.2 | 2 | 1 | 2.60 | 13 | |
| 13 | 30.1 | 3 | 0 | 2.67 | 20 | |
| 3 | 6.1 | 1 | 0 | 1.42 | 0 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 12 | 9 | 27 | 2.52 | 83 | |
| 69 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 2.97 | 91 | |
| 46 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3.26 | 80 | |
| 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4.30 | 39 | |
| 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4.91 | 8 | |
| 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4.15 | 6 | |
| 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2.33 | 7 | |
Awards and honors
AL All-Stars- Jim FregosiJim FregosiJames Louis Fregosi is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played from 1961–1978 for four different teams, primarily the Los Angeles and California Angels. In that franchise's first eleven years of play, he became its first star as the team's...
- Jim McGlothlinJim McGlothlinJames Milton McGlothlin , nicknamed "Red", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He graduated from Reseda High School in 1961...
- Don MincherDon Mincher-External links:***...
Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
- Jim FregosiJim FregosiJames Louis Fregosi is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played from 1961–1978 for four different teams, primarily the Los Angeles and California Angels. In that franchise's first eleven years of play, he became its first star as the team's...
, SS - Bobby KnoopBobby KnoopRobert Frank Knoop [kuh-NOPP] is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and right-handed batter who played for the California Angels , Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals ....
, 2B