Number(s): 46
Nickname: Don
Position: Starting/Relief Pitcher
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
How He Was Acquired: Traded to Angels from Boston Red Sox for second baseman Jerry Remy following his rookie season (1977).
Years Played As an Angel: 1978-1984
Angels’ Stats: 39-39, 3.91 ERA, 695.1 IPs, 18 CGs, 27 Saves
Career Stats: 66-60, 3.80 ERA, 1109.3 IPs, 22 CGs, 82 Saves
Why You Should Know Him: Aase pitched a shutout against California in his second game as a Boston rookie. The Angels traded for him to solidify their rotation in 1978, and he won 11 games for them that year. The next year he became the first ever Angel to earn a post-season victory, replacing Frank Tanana in Game Three against the Baltimore Orioles. He gave up two runs and the lead, but the Angels scored two in the bottom of the ninth for their only win in that series.
Aase became a relief pitcher during the 1980 season, and he recorded 11 saves in the strike-shortened 1981 season as California’s primary closer. His elbow injury in July of the next year came back to haunt the Angels, who won the AL West despite blowing late leads several times in Aase’s absence. The Angels lost the deciding Game Five at Milwaukee after blowing a late lead to the Brew Crew.
He missed the 1983 season and came back to make 23 appearances for the Angels in 1984. He recorded eight saves.
Memorable Moments/Games: Aase saved 23 games in the first half of the 1986 season for the Baltimore Orioles, and in his only All-Star Game appearance induced a double play to earn the save for the American League that season.
Anecdotes and Quotes: An Angels executive was speaking at a dinner in 1983 and Aase was in attendance. The Angels bullpen was in such disarray that the executive quipped that he was there to report back if Aase had raised his right arm.
Contributed by Brett Borden – AngelsWin.com Columnist
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