#67 Bob Perry

Melvin Gray Perry
Centerfielder
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 2", Weight: 180 lb.
Born: September 14, 1934 in New Bern, NC
Debut: May 17, 1963 Los Angeles Angels
Final Game: October 3, 1964 Los Angeles Angels
Years with the Angels:1963-1964

Purchased by the Los Angeles Angels from the San Francisco Giants on May 16, 1963.
February 1, 1965: Traded by the California Angels to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Julio Gotay.

ANGELS DEBUT:
Started the game in center field. Struck out in his first at-bat in the second against Jim Bouton, and went 1-4 on the day with an assist in an eventual 4-3 loss to the Yankees on Friday, May 17, 1963 (N) at Yankee Stadium I.


ANGELS RECORD:
1963-1964
In 387 at-bats hit .266 with 7 home runs.


INTERESTING FACTS:
- Originally signed as an amateur free agent by New York Giants in 1953.
- Was in the military from 1954-1955.
- In 13 at-bats against Whitey Ford he hit .462.
- After being released from the Angels in 1964 continued to play in the minors through 1970.

#66 Bob Turley

Robert Lee Turley (Bullet Bob)
Pitcher
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 2", Weight: 215 lb.
Born: September 19, 1930 in Troy, IL
Debut: September 29, 1951 St. Louis Browns
Final Game: September 21, 1963 Boston Red Sox
Years with the Angels: 1963

Purchased by the Los Angeles Angels from the New York Yankees on October 29, 1962.
July 24, 1963: Released by the Los Angeles Angels.

ANGELS DEBUT:
Entered the game in relief in the bottom of the 11th with a man on third and one out with a 9-8 lead and gave up a single before a double play ended the inning. Ended up giving up 2 runs in 2 innings and took the 11-10 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, April 16, 1963 (N) at Metropolitan Stadium.

ANGELS RECORD:
1963
2-7 with a 3.30 ERA in 19 games (12 starts)


INTERESTING FACTS:
- 3-time AL All-Star (1954, 1955 & 1958)
- First Cy Young Award Winner in the AL (1958)
- 1958 World Series MVP
- AL Wins Leader with 21 (1958)
- AL Strikeouts Leader with 185 (1954)
- AL Complete Games Leader with 19 (1958)
- 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1958)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1954, 1955 & 1958)
- Won four World Series with the New York Yankees (1956, 1958, 1961 & 1962) (he did not play in the 1961 and 1962 World Series).

#65 Mel Nelson

Melvin Frederick Nelson
Pitcher
Bats: Right, Throws: Left
Height: 6' 0", Weight: 185 lb.
Born: May 30, 1936 in San Diego, CA
Debut: September 27, 1960 St. Louis Cardinals
Final Game: June 2, 1969 ST. Louis Cardinals

Purchased by the Los Angeles Angels from the St. Louis Cardinals on October 15, 1962.
May 25, 1964: Purchased by the Minnesota Twins from the Los Angeles Angels.

ANGELS DEBUT:
Started the 7th in relief of Bo Belinsky trailing 3-1 and walked the first batter he faced JC Martin, ended up going the final 3 innings giving up only 1 hit and striking out 3 in a 3-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, April 11, 1963 (N) at Chavez Ravine.

ANGELS RECORD:
1963
Went 2-3 in 36 games (3 starts) with a 5.30 ERA.

I asked Mr. Nelson what one of his fondest memories was:

INTERESTING FACTS:
- Began his pro career as an outfielder and hit 27 home runs for the Fresno Cardinals in 1955.
- He was converted to pitching in 1957 and spent parts of six seasons in the majors.
- Gave up 2 HRs in a game 3 times for the Angels in 3 consecutive months.
- Also played for the Cardinals and the Twins.
- Following his playing career, he was a longtime scout.

SPECIAL INSERT - Bobby Thomson

1992 Action Packed

Baseball and hobby great Bobby Thomson passed away Monday, he was 86. Thomson was another one of those players that I couldn't get enough of. I always enjoyed reading about him, writing to him, and collecting his cards. Here, in tribute, are a few from my autograph collection.

1991 Topps 1953 Archive and 1994 Upper Deck Baseball Series

2001 Bowman Heritage Reprint

Simple answers to simple questions. I was glad to get the response.

1993 Upper Deck BAT Tri-fold

Custom Index Card

#64 Bob Sadowski

Robert Frank Sadowski (Bo)
Third Baseman, Rightfielder, Second Baseman
Bats: Left, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 0", Weight: 175 lb.
Born: January 15, 1937 in St. Louis, MO
Debut: September 16, 1960 St Louis Cardinals
Final Game: September 28, 1963 Los Angeles Angels
Years with the Angels: 1963

Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels from the Chicago White Sox in the 1962 rule 5 draft on November 26, 1962.

ANGELS DEBUT:
Pinch hit for pitcher Bo Belinsky in the 6th with 2 on and 1 out and grounded out to second in a 3-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, April 11, 1963 (N) at Chavez Ravine.

ANGELS RECORD:
1963
Batted .250 in 88 games, and hit 1 HR out of a career 7.

INTERESTING FACTS:
- his lone Angels home run was a 2-run shot off of Jim Bunning in an 11-2 trouncing of the Tigers where he went 3-for-5 with 5 RBI.
- played on 4 teams in 4 seasons: Cardinals, White Sox, Phillies, and Angels.
- after released from the Angels he then played for Toronto in 1964-66 in the International League.
- finished his career playing for a variety of minor league teams in 1967-69.

I noticed the difference between his signature on the baseball cards received this year, and that on his responses received in 2004. I can only attribute the difference to age. It is also possible that he had someone else write out and sign the responses for him.

1962 Season Wrap-Up

Surprisingly, the Angels finishing 3rd in the American League with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses. Not bad for a second-year expansion team sharing a brand-new stadium with the Los Angeles Dodgers. On May 5, Bo Belinsky who went 10-11 on the season, threw the first no-hitter in Angels history, and the first one at Chavez Ravine, beating the Baltimore Orioles 2-0. Team leaders were Ken McBride who contributed an 11-5 record with a 3.50 ERA, Leon Wagner who led the hitters with 37 HRs and 107 RBI, and Lee Thomas close behind hitting 26 homers with 104 RBI. Albie Pearson was 4th in the league with a batting average of .304 and Jim Fregosi was second in the league in triples with 12. Bill Rigney was named Associated Press AL Manager of the Year.


TRANSACTIONS:
Bobby Darwin signed as an amateur free agent.
Ed Kirkpatrick signed as an amateur free agent.
Jim McGlothlin signed as an amateur free agent.
Paul Schaal signed as an amateur free agent.
Ed Sukla signed as an amateur free agent.
Ken Turner signed as an amateur free agent.
Jackie Warner signed as an amateur free agent.
March 30, 1962 Purchased Frank Leja from St. Louis Cardinals.
April 6, 1962 Aubrey Gatewood returned from New York Mets.
April 9, 1962 Joe Nuxhall signed as a free agent.
May 1, 1962 Returned Red Witt to Pittsburgh Pirates.
May 5, 1962 Traded Frank Leja to Milwaukee Braves in exchange for Bob Botz.
May 8, 1962 Purchased Billy Consolo from Philadelphia Phillies.
May 12, 1962 Traded Marlan Coughtry to Kansas City Athletics in exchange for Gordie Windhorn.
May 15, 1962 Joe Nuxhall released.
May 29, 1962 Traded Jim Donohue to Minnesota Twins in exchange for Don Lee.
June 26, 1962 Lost Billy Consolo to Kansas City Athletics on waivers.
July 20, 1962 Mike Lee signed as a free agent.
July 21, 1962 Traded $35000 and a player to be named later to Kansas City Athletics in exchange for Dan Osinski; Kansas City Athletics received Ted Bowsfield (November 26, 1962).
July 23, 1962 Sold Gordie Windhorn to Kansas City Athletics.
September 2, 1962 Purchased Julio Navarro from San Francisco Giants.
September 8, 1962 Art Fowler released.
October 15, 1962 Purchased Mel Nelson from St. Louis Cardinals.
October 29, 1962 Purchased Bob Turley from New York Yankees.
November 26, 1962 Major League Draft Selected Gordie Richardson from St. Louis Cardinals.
Selected Bob Sadowski from Chicago White Sox.
December 2, 1962 Winston Llenas signed as a free agent.
December 11, 1962 Traded Earl Averill to Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Jacke Davis.

1962 Chavez Ravine

The Angels left little Wrigley Field after that first season and moved into the brand new Dodger Stadium.

Dodger Stadium became the home of the Los Angeles Angels between 1962 and 1965, sharing the stadium with the Dodgers. To avoid constantly referring to their landlords, the Angels called the park Chávez Ravine Stadium (or just "Chávez Ravine"), after the former geographic feature in which the stadium had been constructed. The Angels drew 1,144,063 in 1962, almost double what they drew at Wrigley Field the year before. That first year they coexisted pretty well with the Dodgers but eventually realized their need for their own fan base and their own stadium. They moved to Anaheim Stadium in 1966.

1962 Coaching Debuts

1961 coaches Red Kress and Bob Elliott departed the Angels after the 1961 season, to be replaced with former Angels Del Rice and Rocky Bridges.

DEL RICE (1962-1966)
Rice was #9 on the All-Time Angels debut list and made his player debut on April 11, 1961.
Rice was a longtime member of the Angels' organization, and after he playing for them in that inaugural 1961 season, he became the first-base coach for the club from 1962-1966.


ROCKY BRIDGES (1962-1963, 1968-1971)
Bridges who made his debut as a player with Angels back on April 29, 1961, signed on as a coach for the 1962 season. Following his active playing career, he served two terms (1962-63; 1968-71) as the third-base coach of the Angels. He also managed in the Angels minor league organization. His minor league managerial career is profiled in Jim Bouton's collection of baseball articles and essays entitled I Managed Good, But Boy Did They Play Bad.

#63 Bobby Darwin

Arthur Bobby Lee Darwin
Pitcher, Rightfielder
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 2", Weight: 190 lb.
Born: February 16, 1943 in Los Angeles, CA
Debut: September 30, 1962 Los Angeles Angels
Final Game: August 18, 1977 Chicago Cubs
Years with the Angels: 1962

Before 1962 Season: Signed by the Los Angeles Angels as an amateur free agent.
May 15, 1963: Selected off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles from the Los Angeles Angels as first-year waiver pick.

ANGELS DEBUT:
Started the second game of a double header (final game of the 1962 season) and walked the first batter he faced Don Dillard. Ended up lasting 3.1 innings giving up 6 runs on 8 hits with 6 strikeouts in a 6-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Sunday, September 30, 1962 (D) at Cleveland Stadium.

ANGELS RECORD:
1962
Started one game in his only appearance as an Angel ending up 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA. Struck out in his only at bat.

INTERESTING FACTS:
- After struggling as a pitcher, transitioned to the outfield in 1969.
- Spent most of the 60's in the minor leagues.
- Had two 20-Home Run Seasons: (1972 & 1974).
- Led the American League in striking out as a batter: (1972-1974).
- Played with the Angels, Dodgers, Twins, Brewers, Red Sox, and Cubs.