Dean Chance
Dean Chance | |
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Pitcher | |
Born: Wooster, Ohio, U.S. | June 1, 1941|
Died: October 11, 2015 Wooster, Ohio, U.S. | (aged 74)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 11, 1961, for the Los Angeles Angels | |
Last MLB appearance | |
August 9, 1971, for the Detroit Tigers | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 128–115 |
Earned run average | 2.92 |
Strikeouts | 1,534 |
Teams | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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Wilmer Dean Chance (June 1, 1941 – October 11, 2015) was an American
In 1964, Chance became at the time the youngest pitcher to win the Cy Young Award[3] when, as a member of the Los Angeles Angels, he led the American League in wins (20), innings pitched (2781⁄3) and earned run average (1.65—as of 2023, a franchise record) and was third in the A.L. in strikeouts.[1] He pitched 11 shutouts (also a franchise record as of 2023) that season, winning five of those by a 1–0 score.[1] At the time, only one Cy Young Award was given in all of MLB; since 1967, separate awards have been given in the AL and the National League.[4] Chance's Cy Young Award was the third in a string of five consecutive Cy Young Awards won by a pitcher from a Los Angeles–based team. The others were won by Dodger pitchers: Don Drysdale in 1962 and Sandy Koufax in 1963, 1965, and 1966.[4]
Baseball career
Chance attended Northwestern High School in West Salem, Ohio, and starred on the baseball team and basketball teams (leading the team to a 1958 state title), but baseball is where Chance would shine. During his high school years, he set several state records which still stand including a 52–1 career record, 20 wins in a season, 32 straight wins, eight no-hitters in a season (in both his junior and senior years), and 17 no-hitters total. He also led the Huskies to the Class A state semifinals in 1958 and a championship in 1959 (and pitching every inning of every postseason tournament game).[5]
Following high school, Chance signed with the
Chance had an outstanding rookie campaign in 1962, winning 14 games with an ERA of 2.96 and finishing tied for third in AL
Chance responded by winning 20 games for the Twins in 1967, leading the AL in games started (39),
The 1968 campaign saw Chance put up a lackluster 16–16 record (echoing the Twins' 79–83 finish), but saw him notch career lows in hits and walks per 9 innings (6.9 and 1.9 respectively), and career highs in innings (292), strikeouts (234), and strikeouts per 9 innings (7.9). Due to his strong numbers, Chance had more than a decent chance at again winning 20 games, but the Twins offense let him down in 1968, scoring two runs or fewer in 17 of his 22 starts (games in which Chance himself posted an ERA of 2.55). In the games in which the Twins scored at least three runs, Chance posted a 13–4 record.
Chance split the 1970 season between the Indians, for whom he pitched a 9–8 record with a 4.28, and the New York Mets (after being purchased from the Indians on September 18). Chance was traded again on March 30, 1971, this time to the Detroit Tigers along with reliever Bill Denehy for minor league pitcher Jerry Robertson. Used largely out of the bullpen, Chance finished his career with a 4–6 record in 31 games.
His career record over 11 seasons (1961–71) and 406 games pitched was 128 wins, 115 losses and an ERA of 2.92. He was a notoriously weak batsman in the days prior to the designated hitter, garnering only 44 hits in 662 at bats, for a batting average of .066. Chance's batting average is the lowest ever recorded by any Major League player with at least 300 plate appearances; he also struck out 420 times in his 662 at-bats. Baseball author Bill James named Chance, along with Ron Herbel as the worst hitting pitchers of the 1960s.[16]
Retirement
Chance retired to a 300-acre ranch 3 miles (4.8 km) from his boyhood farm[5] During the 1970s and 1980s Chance acted as a midway barker and operated games of skill at carnivals and fairs and was one of the most successful operators, eventually employing 250 people and running 40 games at the Ohio State Fair alone, on a circuit that includes Columbus, Ohio, Raleigh, North Carolina, Augusta, Georgia, Syracuse, New York, Hollywood, Florida, and Corpus Christi, Texas[17] before tiring of the constant travels and con men who frequented this business.[14] Chance founded the International Boxing Association during the 1990s, managed many fighters, and was its long-time president.[18]
As part of the Angels' 50th anniversary, Chance threw out the first pitch before the June 4, 2011 game versus the New York Yankees.[11]
Chance had one child, son Brett, who graduated from Ohio State University in 1985[19] and worked as an executive for the Ohio State Fair, the Ohio Expo Center, and Instagram.[citation needed] In August 2015 Chance was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame.
Chance died at his home in Wooster on October 11, 2015, at the age of 74.[20][21]
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
References
- ^ a b c d e f https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chancde01.shtml Dean Chance Page at Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ "The Ballplayers - Dean Chance | baseballbiography.com". Retrieved 2011-05-12.
- ^ a b c Newhan, Ross (June 24, 1985). "Twenty years have past but many still remember the exploits, both off the field and on, of the Angels most colorful duo of all time : BELINSKY & CHANCE". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ a b https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mvp_cya.shtml List of Cy Young Award winners at Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ a b c "Wooster's Dean Chance, a high-school pitching legend in the 1950s, knows no-hitters". cleveland.com. 5 May 2009.
- ^ "Dean Chance Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Dean Chance Minor Leagues Statistics & History – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ Angels trade Dean Chance for three Minnesota Twins
- ^ http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1967/B08060MIN1967.htm Box Score and Play by Play from Retrosheet
- ^ http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1967/B08252CLE1967.htm Box Score and Play by Play from Retrosheet
- ^ a b c "Charley Walters: Francisco Liriano's gem makes Dean Chance proud". TwinCities.com. 6 May 2011.
- ^ "Charley Walters: Francisco Liriano's gem makes Dean Chance proud". TwinCities.com. 6 May 2011.
- ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1967-schedule-scores.shtml 1967 Minnesota Twins Game Log from Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ a b Bruce Markusen (10 June 2011). "Card Corner: 1971 Topps, Dean Chance". The Hardball Times.
- ^ "Dean Chance 1968 Pitching Splits – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ISBN 9781439106938.
- ^ Newhan, Ross (June 24, 1985). "Twenty years have past but many still remember the exploits, both off the field and on, of the Angels most colorful duo of all time : BELINSKY & CHANCE". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Welcome to the International Boxing Association". ibamensboxing.com. Archived from the original on 2008-09-22.
- ^ Newhan, Ross (June 24, 1985). "Twenty years have past but many still remember the exploits, both off the field and on, of the Angels most colorful duo of all time : BELINSKY & CHANCE". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Dean Chance, Angels' first Cy Young winner, dies at age 74". The Orange County Register. 11 October 2015.
- ^ "Dean Chance, former Angels pitcher and Cy Young Award winner, dies at 74 - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. 12 October 2015.
External links
- Dean Chance at IMDb
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)