We learned over the weekend about the death of Jim Fregosi, one of those players that I loved in the late 1960s: "Jim Fregosi, the first star player in Angels franchise history and the manager who guided them to their first American League West championship in 1979, died early Friday in a Miami hospital after suffering a stroke in the Cayman Islands. He was 71.   His death was announced by the Angels, who retired his No. 11 jersey and inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 1998."  (LA Times) Fregosi was a shortstop who could hit a home run and turn the double play.  He averaged 14 HRs and 62 RBI's between 1964-70.  He is also well known as the man who was traded for Nolan Ryan after the 1971 season.  The Mets did not think that Ryan would be ever be a consistent major league pitcher. Wonder if the Mets fired that consultant after Ryan's 4th no-hitter in first 4 seasons with the Angels? Back then, when my...(Read Full Post)