Fansided

3 most legendary LA Angels shortstops of all-time

By Craig Tyson Adams |
Jul 26, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Andrelton Simmons (9) dives for
Jul 26, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Andrelton Simmons (9) dives for / Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
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California Angels
California Angels / Focus On Sport/GettyImages

The LA Angels fans have enjoyed many fine shortstops in the team's history.

The number 6 position has played an integral part in the club's most successful seasons. 

Shortstop is detrimental to any contending ball club’s success. Any championship team has a shortstop that is ingrained in that team’s fans' memory. For example, the Atlanta Braves unlikely run this year was solidified by Dansby Swanson’s play. 

For the LA Angels, the position is a glaring weak spot at the present.

Shortstop is a field-first position. They need to hold down the defense in the infield. An offensive shortstop is a bonus.

LA Angels general manager Perry Minasian will need to scour the rosters of other teams for someone decent. Preferably a shortstop that can defend and contribute offensively. Prospects Jeremiah Jackson and Kyren Paris still need more seasoning. 

That said, let's look at the best the LA Angels have had so far. 

The No. 3 most legendary LA Angels shortstop of all-time: Dick Schofield

It was tough picking between multiple gold glove winning shortstop Andrelton Simmons and Dick Schofield, but Schofield was picked by the LA Angels in 1981 and made his debut as a 20-year-old in 1983. 

His best season came in 1986, when he hit .249/.321/.397 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs in 139 games, finishing 22nd in the balloting for AL MVP. 

Schofield also hit .300 with a homer, a double and two RBIs in the 1986 ALCS against the Red Sox. The durable shortstop is tied for 10th in team history with 1,086 games played. 

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v Texas Rangers
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v Texas Rangers / Matt Brown/GettyImages

The No. 2 most legendary LA Angels shortstop of all-time: Erick Aybar

Erick Aybar made his debut with the LA Angels in 2006. He had his best year in 2009 hitting .312/.353/.423 with five homers, 23 doubles, nine triples and 14 stolen bases in 137 games. He played at least 137 games in each of the next six seasons with the club.

Aybar was a steady presence at shortstop during one of the best eras in Angels history. He played in 17 postseason games, hitting .262 with three doubles and four runs batted in.

Aybar ranks among the top 10 in Angels history in several categories, including fourth in triples (43), sixth in stolen bases (141), seventh in games played (1,220), seventh in hits (1,223), seventh in doubles (222) and ninth in runs (572). 

He won a Gold Glove in ’11 and was an All-Star in '14. 

Jim Fregosi California Angels
Jim Fregosi California Angels / Transcendental Graphics/GettyImages

The No. 1 most legendary LA Angels shortstop of all-time: Jim Fregosi

Before Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, Jim Fregosi was the LA Angels first legend. Fregosi was a six-time All-Star and an early face of the franchise. He was the franchise.

He’s fourth in games played. Fregosi is the LA Angels leader in triples. He won a gold glove in 1967 and combined with Bobby Knoop as a slick fielding double play combination. 

Fregosi made his debut as a 19-year-old in 1961 and established himself as a regular in 1963 while garnering some MVP votes. In 1964 he became the first LA Angel to hit for the cycle and he also made the AL All-Star team that year. 

Fregosi’s highest finish in MVP voting was seventh in 1967, when he hit .290/.349/.395 with nine homers and 56 RBIs in 151 games.

When Fregosi left the LA Angels it had a historic impact for the club. He was traded to the New York Mets for a multi-player package that included another legendary LA Angel, the great Nolan Ryan. 

Next. 3 greatest memories from 2021. dark

After retiring as a player, the 36-year-old Fregosi returned to become manager of the ball club and led the team to its first postseason appearance in the ‘Yes We Can’ year of 1979. He had his number 11 retired and was inducted into the LA Angels Hall of Fame in 1998.

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