Name: Wilmer Dean Chance
Nickname: Dean
Position: Starting pitcher
Throws: Right
Bats: Right
Number(s): 31
Years Played As an Angel: 1961-1966
Angels’ Stats: 74-66, 2.83 ERA, 48 CGs, 21 Shutouts, 857 Ks, 16 saves
Career Stats: 128-115, 2.92 ERA, 83 CGs, 33 Shutouts
How He Was Acquired: Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels from the Baltimore Orioles in the 1960 expansion draft. iDrafted by the Los Angeles Angels from the Baltimore Orioles in the 1960 expansion draft.
Why You Should Know Him: Chance was the Angels’ first star player, finishing third in rookie voting in 1962 and winning the Cy Young Award in 1964 with a 20-9 record coupled with a 1.65 ERA. Chance pitched an amazing 11 shutouts that season.
He pitched six seasons in Los Angeles/Anaheim before the Angels traded him to Minnesota on December 2, 1966.
Memorable Moments/Games: Chance pitched a no-hitter for the Twins in 1966. Among his 11 shutouts in 1964 were six wins by a 1-0 score.
Anecdotes and Quotes: After his playing career, Chance briefly worked as a boxing manager. One of his clients, Ernie Shavers, fought Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight title. Chance managed Ernie Shavers for his first 40 professional fights.”One day you can throw tomatoes through brick walls. The next day you can’t dent a pane of glass with a rock. It hurts, but you hang on, hoping it will come back.” – Dean Chance
Where is He Now?: Chance became a boxing manager in 1969. Chance later founded the International Boxing Association in 1990 for which he is still president.
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