Page 459 - 2020 Angels Media Guide

ANGELS HALL OF FAME

Grich officially became an Angel Nov. 24, 1976. The native of Muskegon, MI concluded his Angels career with a
.269 average in 1,222 games including 154 home runs and 557 RBI. During his career, Grich compiled the following
overall numbers: .266 average, 2,008 games, 6,890 at-bats, 1,033 runs, 1,833 hits, 224 home runs and 864 RBI.
One of California’s most popular players, Grich became only the second player in Club history to play 1,000
games-or-more (1,098) at one position, joining Fregosi who totaled 1,367 appearances at shortstop. Grich’s .997
fielding percentage in 1985 established a Major League record for second basemen.
On the date of his induction, Grich ranked among the top three on several Angels all-time lists, including games
(3rd), at-bats (3rd, 4,100), runs (3rd, 601), home runs (2nd), runs batted in (2nd), extra-base hits (3rd, 357), hits (3rd,
1,103), doubles (3rd, 183) and total bases (3rd, 1,788).
In 1981, Grich recorded a career-high .304 average and tied Dwight Evans, Tony Armas and Eddie Murray in the
A.L. home run race (22 each). He became the first second baseman to lead the league in home runs since Nap Lajoie
of Philadelphia totaled 14 in 1901. He also became the first A.L. second baseman to lead in slugging since George
Stirnweiss with the Yankees in 1945 (.476).
In 1980, Grich was co-winner of the Owner’s Trophy, symbolic of the club’s Most Valuable Player as selected by
the players .
Jim Fregosi, a six-time Angels All-Star, was inducted May 17, 1989. He
appeared with the Halos from 1961-71 as a player and then managed the
Club from June 1, 1978 through May 28, 1981. Fregosi guided the Angels
to an 87-75 finish in 1978 and a second place tie prior to the memorable
1979 season when the Club captured their first-ever Western Division
title. For his efforts, Fregosi was runner-up in balloting by the Associated
Press for A.L. Manager of the Year. He finished with a 237-248 record
managing the Angels .
As a player, Fregosi’s career spanned 18 seasons during which
he registered a .265 lifetime average. He was originally acquired by
the Angels Dec. 14, 1960 in the expansion draft from the Boston
Red Sox .
Fregosi was voted the winner of the Angels Owner’s Trophy three times
and was a Gold Glove® recipient in 1967 .
At the time of his induction, Fregosi led on the Angels all-time lists in
the following categories: games (1,429), at-bats (5,244), hits (1,408) and
triples (70). In addition, he ranked second in runs (691), doubles (219),
extra-base hits (404) and total bases (2,112).
Jim Fregosi
Don Baylor, the first Angel to win the American League Most Valuable
Player Award in 1979, was inducted on May 26, 1990. He appeared
with the Angels from 1977-82. He was a member of the Angels first
two Western Division Championships in 1979 and 1982. During his
MVP season, Baylor compiled a .296 average with 36 home runs and
a league-leading 139 RBI. He also led the league in games played (162)
and runs scored (120). His marks in games played, runs scored, RBI and club history
total bases set Club single-season records. In the 1982 American League
Championship Series, he hit .294 with a grand slam and series-high 10
RBI .
Baylor’s career spanned 19 Major League seasons during which he
registered a .260 average and 338 home runs. He was originally acquired
by the Angels Nov. 16, 1976 as a free agent. With the Halos, he averaged
23 home runs and 87 RBI, while batting .262 in six seasons.
Baylor was voted the winner of the Owner’s Trophy twice (1978 &
1979) and earned All-Star recognition as an outfielder in 1979.
Upon his induction, Baylor ranked on Angels all-time list in the
following categories: third in home runs (141), fourth in at-bats (3,105),
runs (481), RBI (523) and total bases (1,390). In addition, he also ranked
fifth in extra base hits (288), hits (813), doubles (140, tied with Carew)
and stolen bases (89).
Don Baylor

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