Jim Fregosi

Lore & Background

Fregosi was the Angels' most productive and popular player for the franchise's first eleven years, becoming its first star. He led the American League in defensive double plays twice, winning the Gold Glove Award, and upon leaving the team ranked ninth in AL history with 818 double plays. He holds the franchise record with 70 career triples; several of his other team records were broken by Brian Downing. Fregosi returned to the team as manager, guiding it to its first-ever postseason appearance in 1979, and later managed the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1993 National League pennant.

In Their Own Story

The afternoon sun hung low over the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, painting the infield dirt in shades of amber. Fregosi stood in the hole, glove low, eyes tracking the batter's hands. The count was three-and-two. The hitter swung — a lazy, looping ground ball that sailed toward the second-base bag. Fregosi was already moving before the ball touched the grass. He lunged, glove first, and the leather closed around it with a soft thud. Without looking up, he pivoted and fired to first. The throw arrived before the runner's foot. The umpire's fist went up. Fregosi stood, brushed the dirt from his knees, and said nothing. He didn't need to. The whole Coliseum already knew whose play that was.

Reader's Guide

Fregosi was signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Red Sox and selected by the Angels in the 1960 MLB Expansion Draft. He made his MLB debut on September 14, 1961. He was an All-Star every season from 1966 to 1970, and also made his first All-Star squad in 1964. He won his only Gold Glove in 1967. He was traded to the New York Mets on December 10, 1971, for four players including Nolan Ryan. He later played for the Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates. As manager of the California Angels (1978–1981), he led the team to its first postseason in 1979. He also managed the Chicago White Sox (1986–1988) and the Philadelphia Phillies (1991–1996), leading the Phillies to the 1993 World Series.

Did You Know?

• Fregosi became the first Angel to hit for the cycle on July 28, 1964, against the Yankees, and did so again on May 20, 1968.
• He was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 1989, and his number 11 was retired by the team in 1998.
• Fregosi was the son of Archie and Margaret Fregosi; his paternal grandparents were Italian, and his maternal grandparents were English and Irish.
• He graduated from Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, California, in 1959, and was inducted into the school's inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame class in 1990.