1963 Broadcasting Debuts

I got a little off track what with the Post Season being local and all, and I overlooked a Broadcasting Debut, that being of Buddy Blattner. Buddy joined Don Wells in the booth for the 1963 thru 1968 seasons. Wells and Blattner held down the Angels KMPC broadcasting duties for a solid 6 years together.


Robert Garnett Blattner
Second Baseman, Third Baseman and Shortstop
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 0", Weight: 180 lb.
Born: February 8, 1920 in St. Louis, MO
Debut: April 18, 1942 St. Louis Cardinals
Final Game: October 2, 1949 Philadelphia Phillies
Died: September 5, 2009 in Chesterfield, MO

Years broadcasting Angels games: 1963 - 1968


INTERSTING FACTS:
- Won the World Men's Doubles Table Tennis Championship in 1936.
- Served in the U.S. Navy (42-45) in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.
- Hit .247 with 16 HR, 84 RBI and 102 walks in 5 years with the Cardinals, Giants, and Phillies.
- Led league in hit-by-pitch (6) in 1946.
- Teamed with Dizzy Dean on St. Louis Browns radio as well as nationally on the Liberty and Mutual networks.
- Broadcast the televised Baseball Game of the Week on ABC (53-54) and CBS (55-59).
- Broadcast baseball for the Cardinals (1960-61), Los Angeles/California Angels (1963-68), and Kansas City Royals (1969-75) as well as on NBC in 1969.
- He also called games for the St. Louis Hawks of the National Basketball Association in the '50s.
- Founded the "Buddy Fund" in 1962, a charitable organization that supplies athletic equipment to disabled and underprivileged children in the St. Louis area.
- Died at his home in Chesterfield, Missouri from lung cancer, aged 89.

I'M GOIN TO THE WORLD SERIES!!

After completely missing out on seeing any Angels Postseason games in 2002, the year I had been waiting for ALL OF MY LIFE, I resolved that I was NOT going to miss any of the Rangers postseason since it's practically in my backyard. In fact, in 2002 I had been here in Texas for two years. Since I couldn't make it back to So Cal for any of the Angels games, I watched on TV and listened on the radio. I'd get on my Salmon jersey and Angels cap, sit on the floor of my living room, and score the games off the TV (or radio). I even had my parents in Fountain Valley save all the Registers sports pages when the Angels played. So here I am now, ready to go to the World Series. I'm STOKED!

My first-ever in-person Postseason, started with the Game 3 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rangers won the first two at Tropicana Field.

The game was played on Saturday, October 9th. The Rays beat the Rangers 6-3 extending the Rangers Postseason consecutive home loses to some rediculous number. This was that game that the Rangers had wrapped up, and would have resulted in a sweep of the Rays, had the bullpen not allowed 5 runs in the 8th and 9th innings.

One interesting note...I called Ian Kinslers shot in the 7th.

The game set a record for largest attendance at 51, 746. The view from my seat is below.


Next up was Game 1 of the American League Championship Series versus the Spankees.

Another consecutive Postseason home loss for the Rangers. Another blown game. The Rangers jumped all over CC Sabathia, and were leading 5-1 behind a CJ Wilson masterpiece going into the 8th when the Shanks scored 5 runs and ended up winning 6-5. Man I hate that.


My son Tommy and I sat in the upper deck behind home, looking down the first base line.

So this Sunday we head out to the Ballpark again to Game 4 of the 2010 World Series. Can't wait!

GO...Rangers?

Yep, I'll be going to the ALCS game 1 tonight and since the Angels aren't in it, will be rooting Rangers all the way for the following reasons:

1. I've lived in the DFW area for ten years now and it's hard to not like them.
2. Nolan Ryan is my all-time favorite baseball player. Saw him pitch for the Angels when I was growing up in Southern California. My father was at his 3rd no-hitter.
3. CJ Wilson went to the same high school that I did, Fountain Valley.
4. Four ex-Angels on the team: Vladdy, Molina, Oliver, and O'Day.
5. They're playing the YANKEES.

1963 Season Recap

The Angels rounded out 1963 with 70-91 record, good for 9th in American League.
Their attendance at Chavez Ravine was 821,015 (6th of 10).
Leon Wagner led the team with 26 HR and 90 RBI. Jim Fregosi led the league in triples with 12 and as did Albie Pearson's .304 batting average and 92 walks. Ken McBride and Dean Chance each won 13 games, with Chance getting 18 loses, most in the American League, but had an ERA of 3.19 with 168 strikeouts. Julio Navaro was team leader in saves with 12.
Other Angels that ended up American League leaders included Felix Torres who grounded into 20 double plays, as he did the year before with 19; and Ken McBride with 36 starts and 251 innings pitched.

1963 TRANSACTIONS:
Del Bates signed as an amateur free agent.
Art Fowler signed as a free agent.
Dave Marshall signed as an amateur free agent.
Chuck Tanner released.

March 14, 1963 Sold Ryne Duren to Philadelphia Phillies.
March 25, 1963 Sold Leo Burke to St. Louis Cardinals.
Returned Gordie Richardson to St. Louis Cardinals.
March 29, 1963 Traded Jacke Davis to San Francisco Giants in exchange for Charlie Dees.
April 5, 1963 Traded Bob Botz to St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for a player to be named later; Los Angeles Angels received Bob Duliba (April 8, 1963).
May 15, 1963 Lost Bobby Darwin to Baltimore Orioles on first-year waivers.
May 16, 1963 Purchased Bob Perry from San Francisco Giants.
May 26, 1963 Hank Foiles signed as a free agent.
June 15, 1963 Traded George Thomas and cash to Detroit Tigers in exchange for Paul Foytack and Frank Kostro.
June 28, 1963 Vic LaRose signed as an amateur free agent.
June 30, 1963 Jay Johnstone signed as an amateur free agent.
July 9, 1963 Sold Ron Moeller to Washington Senators.
July 24, 1963 Bob Turley released.
July 27, 1963 Jim Piersall signed as a free agent.
August 1, 1963 Received Bob Lee from Pittsburgh Pirates for future considerations.
September 12, 1963 Sold Ken Hunt to Washington Senators.
September 20, 1963 Jim Piersall released.
October 11, 1963 Purchased Leo Marentette from Detroit Tigers.
October 14, 1963 Hank Foiles released. Tom Morgan released.
December 2, 1963 Major League Draft:
Selected Bill Kelso from Los Angeles Dodgers.
Selected Bobby Knoop from Milwaukee Braves.
First-Year Draft:
Selected Charlie Vinson from New York Yankees.

Traded Leon Wagner to Cleveland Indians in exchange for Barry Latman and a player to
be named later; Los Angeles Angels received Joe Adcock (December 6, 1963).

Rockey Bridges ended his tenure as an Angels coach.

Tribute to Aaron Peel

Recently learned from futureangels.com that Angels minor-leaguer Aaron Peel had passed away.

Aaron Isaac Bradley Peel
Outfielder
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 1", Weight: 190 lb.
Born: February 8, 1983 in Brownfield, Texas
Died: September 21, 2010 in San Angelo, Texas
Minor League Debut: 2002 Arizona Rookie League - Anaheim Angels
Final Minor League team: 2008 Arkansas Travelers - Los Angeles Angels

ANGELS TRANSACTIONS:
Selected by Anaheim Angels in 11th Round (324th overall) of 2002 amateur entry draft (June-Reg)
6/9/2002 - signed
1/4/2007 - Invited to spring training by Angels

ANGELS MINOR LEAGUE RECORD:
2002 - 2008
Batted .278 with 62 HR, 122 doubles and 272 RBI over seven seasons.

#75 Aubrey Gatewood

Aubrey Lee Gatewood
Pitcher
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 1", Weight: 170 lb.
Born: November 17, 1938 in Little Rock, AR
MLB Debut: September 11, 1963 Los Angeles Angels
Final MLB Game: July 8, 1970 Atlanta Braves
Years with the Angels: 1963-1965

ANGELS TRANSACTIONS:
December 14, 1960: Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels from the Detroit Tigers as the 11th pick in the 1960 expansion draft.
November 27, 1961: Drafted by the New York Mets from the Los Angeles Angels in the 1961 rule 5 draft.
April 6, 1962: Returned (earlier draft pick) by the New York Mets to the Los Angeles Angels.
July, 1966: Purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from the California Angels.

ANGELS DEBUT:
Starting pitcher first faced Gary Geiger who grounded out to him. Gatewood then went the distance giving up 1 run on 4 hits with 5 Ks in a 4-1 win against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, September 11, 1963 (N) at Chavez Ravine.

ANGELS RECORD:
1963-1965
Went 8-9 with a 2.76 ERA in 65 games (13 starts).
Top Angels Performance: See Debut above.



OTHER INTERSTING FACTS:
- was a knuckleballer.
- that's all I got.