Jim Fregosi dies at 71; first star player in Angels history

Los Angeles Times ^ | February 14, 2014 | Mike DiGiovanna

[Pelham]

Jim Fregosi, the first star player in Angels franchise history and the manager who guided them to their first American League West championship in 1979, died Friday in a Miami hospital after suffering a stroke in the Cayman Islands. He was 71.

His death was announced by the Angels, who retired his No. 11 jersey in 1988.....

.....Fregosi was born in San Francisco on April 4, 1942, and was a three-sport star at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, where he was all-league in football, basketball and baseball.

Originally signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1960, he was selected by the Angels in the 1960 expansion draft and made his major league debut in September 1961, when he was 19.

Fregosi quickly established himself as one of baseball's best defensive shortstops, teaming with second baseman Bobby Knoop to form one of the game's top double-play combinations. He led the AL in double plays twice and won the 1967 Gold Glove Award.

In 11 seasons with the Angels, Fregosi hit .268 with 115 home runs and 546 runs batted in and made the All-Star team six times.

Fregosi was traded to the New York Mets in December 1971 in the famous five-player deal that brought future Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan to Anaheim.

http://www.latimes.com/obituaries/la-me-jim-fregosi-20140215,0,5504983.story#ixzz2tJBptm1B

[Pelham]

Jim Fregosi was from the generation of baseball players who weren’t all that highly paid and so he lived in a regular suburban neighborhood in Orange County. He was known to round up all of the neighborhood kids and take them to Angel games.

[ecomcon]

When I was a kid playing ball, my faves were Fregosi, Knoop, Brooks Robinson, and Boog Powell.

[ken5050]

"........infamous trade...

[ScottinVA]

A good, solid player an a good leader on the field.

RIP..

[Phillyred]

Rest in peace, Jim. Philadelphia is forever grateful for that wonderful magical 1993 team and season. Hard to believe it was more than 20 years ago!

[atc23]

My faves: (grew up in Newport Beach)

Jim Fregosi, Bobby Knopp, Harmon Killebrew,Tommy John, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Clemente and Don Drysdale.

Unrelated: I used to walk over to the San Diego Chargers practices at UC Irvine and carried the head gear of Johnny Unitas, Ron Mix, Mike Garrett, John Hadl and David "Deacon" Jones - all Hall of Famers. - simpler times. Mini Bikes and surf mats with Voit Duck Feet. :-)

[ecomcon]

Nice. I grew up in Orange, right up the 55 from N.B.

Minibikes and motocross...

[Vigilanteman]

Classy guy to the end! I remember him best for his pivotal role on that great 1967 Red Sox team. They would have won the World Series had they not had the misfortune of playing the 1967 St. Louis Cardinals, arguably one of the best of all time.

71 is too young.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[chrisinoc]

Remember Albie Pearson?

Very nice gentleman, spoke at a church meeting while he was with the Angels. He looked shorter than 5’6”, his reported height. I think he is still alive.

[darkangel82]

I heard about this last night and saw on ESPN.com this morning that he had passed. Sad news.

[Vigilanteman]

Scratch the former part of the comment. I mixed him up with Rico Petrocelli, another great shortstop of that era.

[RckyRaCoCo]

I lived in Orange in the 80's. Met Bert Blyleven at a KFC there, also the (Rev.)Robert Schuller(at a liquor store).

Lived in an apt. complex(E. Chapman?), remember going to work in my pickup, and while waiting for traffic to pass, having 3-4 illegals(looking for work)hop in the truck bed.

...right around the time Bob Dornan's California was turning into Loretta Sanchez's.

(adios)

[EveningStar]

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[kenmcg]

May he RIP. The trade that sent Nolan Ryan from the Mets to the Angels for Jim Fregosi was probably one of the worst trades in history (for Mets fans).

[SevenofNine]

Yeah that dude that Angels trade for Nolan Ryan back in da day

[atc23]

My mom was the credit manager at Selman Chevrolet. She arranged a car lost for Nolan Ryan and brought me home an autographed 8 X 10 glossy. I LOST IT IN A MOVE! oh my, as Dick Enberg might say . .

[atc23]

Motocross with Jeff Ward at Saddleback ? :-) “On Any Sunday”

[SevenofNine]

That so cool

Don’t forget Trekkies Nolan met future Capt Kathyn Janway of Star Trek Voyager fame

Take that Ben Sisko of Deep Space nine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XAtN5LQWPc