Rookies, Misfits, and Jim Fregosi, LA Angels at New York Yankees, September 6, 1962 (Recreation)

An expansion team in its second year was never expected to be sitting in third place, just 3 and a half games behind the New York Yankees. Yet that’s where the Los Angeles Angels find themselves at the start of September in 1962. Can Bill Rigney’s audacious young team of rookies and misfits grab the pennant, or could Ralph Houk squeeze out another American League win from these Bronx Bombers in their twilight years?

The Yankees are missing Mickey Mantle and White Ford, leaving the defensive backbone to Bobby Richardson and Clete Boyer, while Tom Tresh would have to set up a fading Roger Maris and Elston Howard.

In his sophomore year, Jim Fregosi is at the heart of the Angels line-up. His name would become practically synonymous with the Angels over the following twenty-five years. A six-time All-Star, the team’s first superstar, retiring wth a franchise-leading 70 triples, and a beloved manager who won the Angels’ first pennant in 1979 (and another for the Phillies in 1992). For now, he’s working with catcher Buck Rodgers to try and hold the Yankees at bay.

Ewan Spence and the Classic Baseball Radio team bring you this recreated radio broadcast from September 6, 1962. This should not be considered a complete or fully accurate historical record. Nevertheless, this is our story of the game.

We thank Retrosheet, Sports Reference, Sports Logos Net, Tom R Audio, Radio Echoes, and  Crafting The Call.

** Links **

You can find the boxscore here:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA196209060.shtml

Listen to Brian Ibbot’s Coverville podcast.

https://www.coverville.com/

Dean Chance's path from an Ohio dairy farm to his Cy Young Award.

https://baseballhall.org/discover/cardcorner-1970-topps-dean-chance

MLB’s Obituary for Jim Fregosi.

https://www.mlb.com/news/six-time-all-star-and-former-manager-jim-fregosi-dies-at-age-71/c-67757650

Mickey Mantle and Tom Tresh

http://www.mickeymantleclassic.com/tresh.htm

Broadway Podcast Network: Break a Bat – Featuring An Interview With Bobby Richardson (2020)

https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcasts/break-a-bat-where-baseball-meets-broadway/65-now-batting-bobby-richardson/122 

Sports Illustrated: The Marvelous, Delirious Angels Of 1962

Link: https://vault.si.com/vault/1962/07/09/the-marvelous-delirious-angels

Los Angeles Times: The 1962 Angels' Improbable Pennant Race.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/story/2020-04-20/1962-angels-expansion-team-al-pennant-race

The 1962 Angels, Fifty Years Later

https://www.halosheaven.com/2012/6/15/3087093/the-1962-angels-fifty-years-later

The New York Times’ obituary for Clete Boyer

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/05/sports/baseball/05boyer.html

Pinstripe Alley: Ralph Terry’s 1962 Campaign and October Triumph

https://www.pinstripealley.com/2020/4/18/21223405/yankees-history-1962-ralph-terry-world-series-game-seven

The Yankees Win Game 7 in 1962 Behind Ralph Terry

https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/yankees-win-game-7-1962-world-series