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Cox later attended Gannon University (PA) on former colleagues pointed out Engel’s longevity
a baseball scholarship while majoring in crimi- and his position — as former president of the
nal justice. During his time at Gannon, Cox left umpires union — as clear indicators of his stat-
his mark by setting several notable records as a ure within the game.
starting pitcher as well as a position player. On Engel also worked the World Series in 1972,
the mound, he was Gannon’s all-time leader in 1979 and 1985. He worked six National League
strikeouts, shutouts, complete games, lowest Championship Series and four All-Star Games.
opponent batting average, most strikeouts per
nine innings, as well as second in ERA. At the Engel worked his way up through the ranks, of-
plate, he established Gannon’s single season ficiating at the local level — high school base-
home run record during his freshman year and ball and basketball in particular — while cutting
in memoriam
was among the leaders in career home runs. his teeth in the minor league baseball circuits,
These statistics were achieved in a three-year with stints in the Sooner State League, California
period, making them all the more impressive. League and Pacific Coast League.
Cox played three seasons for Gannon before the In an era when umpires weren’t paid high sala-
Angels drafted him. He was 7-3 with a 3.64 ERA ries, Engel came back to Bakersfield during the
(101.1 IP – 41 ER) in 68 appearances over three offseason to work as a car salesman at Valley
seasons for Rookie-league Orem and Class-A Oldsmobile. He was also manager of the sports
Burlington and Inland Empire. and RV show at the Kern County Fairgrounds.
RICK DOWN, a longtime Major When his umpiring career was over, Engel re-
League hitting coach, including turned to live in Bakersfield.
one stint with the Angels (1987-
88), died January 5th in Las Ve-
gas. He was 68. KAREN FONTAINE, a former
Down spent 27 years with Major member of the Angels front
League clubs and most notably office whose positive outlook
was a hitting coach for the New and willingness to assist any-
York Yankees, New York Mets, one, with anything, at any time,
Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Bal- passed away last Aug. 18. She
timore Orioles from 1993 to 2003. Although he was 55.
topped out in Triple-A as a player, Down was A native of Yorba Linda, CA, she
well-loved as a coach while overseeing some of grew up a long-time devoted
the top offenses of the past 30 years. baseball and Angels fan. Karen worked for the
Before becoming a Major League hitting coach, Angels off and on from high school until 1994.
Down managed the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate in As an Angel, she was employed in the ticket of-
Columbus from 1990-92, which eventually fed fice and eventually finished her time with the
into the dynastic mid-’90s teams. He helped club as Administrative Assistant in the Scouting
lead the Clippers to three straight division titles Department.
and a team-record 95 wins in 1995, while coach- A tremendously fun-loving, caring and enthu-
ing the likes of Bernie Williams, Brad Ausmus, siastic individual, Karen was married to former
J.T. Snow and Deion Sanders. Angels Director of Scouting Bob Fontaine, the
During his first two years as a hitting coach in man responsible for drafting several members
1993 and ’94, his Yankees led the league in of the 2002 World Championship team.
batting average, including a .290 average in a
strike-shortened 1994 season that was the high-
est mark in baseball since 1950. In a second go- TITO FRANCONA, who played 15
around with the Bombers in the early 2000s, he seasons in the Major Leagues as
helped the 2002 team hit 223 home runs, which an outfielder and was the father
was then the second-highest mark in franchise of Cleveland Indians manager
history. Terry Francona, died Feb. 13
Down’s offenses also put up big numbers in his of last year at his home in New
first years in Baltimore and Los Angeles. The Ori- Brighton, PA. He was 84.
oles set a Major League record with 257 home Francona had a breakthrough
runs in 1996, while the Dodgers set a franchise season in 1959, after he was
record with 211 home runs under his watch in traded to Cleveland from the Detroit Tigers. His
2000. .363 (145/399) batting average was the best
BOB ENGEL, who grew up in in the Majors that year, but he did not have
enough plate appearances to qualify for the bat-
Bakersfield, CA and went on to ting title. He also had 20 home runs and 79 RBI,
become one of Major League and the hard-hitting Indians finished second in
Baseball’s premier umpires, died the American League to the Chicago White Sox.
March 5th of last year in Fallon, Francona was fifth in voting for the league’s
NV. He was 84. Most Valuable Player Award.
At the pinnacle of his career, Over the next two seasons, Francona was
Engel worked many high-profile a steady player for Cleveland, leading the
games, and was president of
the MLB umpires union. His first Major League league with 36 doubles in 1960 and batting
.301 (178/592) with 85 RBI in 1961, the only
game was Aug. 24, 1965. His 25-year career in year in which he played in the All-Star Game.
the big leagues was no small feat. Friends and A left-handed-hitting outfielder and first base-
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