Los Angeles Angels legend Bobby Knopp hangs it up after 53 years in baseball

The Los Angeles Angels were a fledgling franchise when Bobby Knopp first joined them in 1964.  Knopp was a second baseman and teamed with another Angel legend, shortstop Jim Fregosi, to form a strong double-play combo.

Bobby Knopp was very well-liked in his first stint with the Angels that lasted from 1964-1969.  He won the Owner’s Trophy four times in that six-year time period that he played for the Angels.  The award is given to the player deemed the Most Valuable Player each season.

Bobby Knopp won three Gold Gloves with the Angels from 1966 to 1968, and he was an All-Star in 1966.  Knopp hit .240 with 44 homers  with 236 RBIs in his six years with the Angels.

After Knopp’s playing career was over he became a coach and manager in the Angels minor league system before becoming the Angels first base coach in 1979 as part of his good friend, Jim Fregosi’s coaching staff.  That year the Angels won their first Western Division title in team history.

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Knopp remained an Angel coach for 18 seasons and was a part of all three AL West title teams for the Angels in 1979, 1982, and 1986.  He left the Angels after the 1996 season and became a coach for the Toronto Blue Jays and later worked for the Colorado Rockies in their scouting department from 2008-2012.

Knopp had one final stint with his beloved Angels from 2013-2018 as a Special Assignment Infield Coach which he decided to give up this week at the age of 80.

When I was growing I remember Bobby Knopp as the coach who was always there with the team.  Knopp was an Angel coach through eight different managers in his 18 years with the club.  In 1994 Knopp actually managed two games as an interim manager going 1-1.

When I met him as kid at an Angel photo day he was very nice to myself and my friend and posed for multiple pictures.  It was something I always remembered growing up.

Bobby Knopp is a great Angel legend and in 2013 he was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame and he will be remembered by many Angel fans and players.  Thank you Bobby for being a special Angel.  We wish you well in your retirement.