Product Description
by Carroll Conklin (Author)
These were the heroes who owned the summers of the 1960s. Dean Chance and Leon Wagner. Buck Rodgers and Andy Messersmith. Bo Belinsky and Jim Fregosi. Bobby Knoop and Albie Pearson. During the summers of the 1960s, the heroes of Orange County wore Angels uniforms. On their best days (which were, admittedly, too few), they were entertaining and inspiring. They smote hated rivals and sent their best to the All-Star game, in the decade when that mid-summer classic moved under the lights ... and into prime time. On their worst days, these Angels heroes broke our hearts, squandering late-inning leads and pre-season hopes ... but they never lost our devotion. They were the heroes of our youth. Now their stories are collected in Angels Heroes: Remembering the California Angels Who Helped Make the 1960s Baseball's Real Golden Age. The book profiles the best (and a few of the worst) of the Los Angeles and California Angels of the 1960s. In all, there are 68 profiles of the infielders, outfielders, catchers and pitchers who played for the Angels in the 1960s. Do you remember ... The right-handed fireballer who pitched 11 shutouts for the Angels in 1964, winning six of them by 1-0 scores? (page 83) The 140-pound All-Star center fielder who led the American League with 115 runs scored in 1962? (page 56) The playboy southpaw who tossed a no-hitter as a rookie? (page 76) The six-time All-Star shortstop who was traded for the game's greatest strikeout pitcher? (page 12) The hard-luck left-hander who led the American League in losses in 1968 ... despite a 2.86 earned run average? (page 79) The switch-hitter who caught 894 games for the Angels in the 1960s? (page 72) The pitcher who started his career with the Angels (winning 59 games in 5 years) and became one of baseball's first free agents? (page 105) The Gold Glove second baseman with a .236 career batting average who led the Angels in RBIs in 1966? (page 17) The "Daddy" who led the Angels in home runs from 1961 through 1963? (page 60) The Hall of Fame pitcher who hit a home run in his first major league at-bat and pitched a no-hitter in his first major league start? (page 116) Their stories are here. Enjoy the memories.
Author Biography
Carroll Conklin combines a life-long passion for baseball with a three-decade career as a professional writer. A graduate of Ashland University and Bowling Green State University, Carroll has spent more than 20 years as an advertising copywriter and marketing strategist. He has taught copywriting and brand theory at The Ohio State University and the Columbus College of Art & Design. A prolific author, Carroll has also written books on topics ranging from marketing management to fear elimination. He preaches the "gospel" of the 1960s as baseball's real golden age at www.1960sBaseball.com.
