April 15, 1972 the California Angels beat the Texas Rangers 1-0 at Anaheim Stadium. In the game Andy Messersmith pitched a complete game, giving up two hits and striking out nine. Messersmith was selected by the Angels as the 12th overall pick in the 1966 amateur draft and played for the Angels from 1968-1972 compiling a 59-47 record with a 2.78 ERA during that time. Messersmith won 20 games in 1971 playing for the Angels and was selected to the All-Star team that year. Messersmith was known along with Dave McNally for being involved in the 1975 Seitz decision where the reserve clause in baseball ended and free agency begun when they played without contracts that year.
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