R.I.P. Ángel Mangual (1947-2020) A's World Series Hero
Feb 26, 2021 17:14:33 GMT
nutsberryfarm 🏜 likes this
Post by Toy-Cannon on Feb 26, 2021 17:14:33 GMT
One of my favorite players when I was a kid. I was ten years old when the 1972 World Series took place and I remember every game.
Former Oakland A’s World Series hero dies at 73
Angel Mangual’s game-winning pinch hit in 1972 gave A’s first World Series game win in Oakland
Angel Mangual’s game-winning pinch hit in 1972 gave A’s first World Series game win in Oakland
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68828576/angel_mangual.0.jpg)
Angel Mangual, a 1972 World Series hero who played a supporting role on three consecutive Oakland A’s title teams, died Tuesday morning in his native Puerto Rico, according to multiple reports. He was 73.
Mangual spent nearly all of his seven-year career with Oakland after being traded by the Pittsburg Pirates in 1970. Mangual had been saddled with unrealistic expectations of being the next Roberto Clemente, the Pirates iconic All-Star.
Mangual spent nearly all of his seven-year career with Oakland after being traded by the Pittsburg Pirates in 1970. Mangual had been saddled with unrealistic expectations of being the next Roberto Clemente, the Pirates iconic All-Star.
Although never achieving stardom, Mangual cemented a place in both A’s and Major League history.
His bouncing, pinch-hit single through a drawn-in infield in Game 4 of the ’72 Series gave the A’s a walk-off 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Mangual’s game-winning hit was the A’s third pinch-hit in the inning, still a World Series record.
Dubbed “Little Clemente” before being shipped to Oakland for pitcher Mudcat Grant, Mangual also became baseball’s first Puerto Rican player to earn three World Series rings who wasn’t with the New York Yankees.
A career .245 hitter with 22 home runs during his 450-game career, Mangual hit a career-high nine home runs for the A’s in 1974, when they captured their third title.
Dubbed “Little Clemente” before being shipped to Oakland for pitcher Mudcat Grant, Mangual also became baseball’s first Puerto Rican player to earn three World Series rings who wasn’t with the New York Yankees.
A career .245 hitter with 22 home runs during his 450-game career, Mangual hit a career-high nine home runs for the A’s in 1974, when they captured their third title.
In a 2018 interview, Mangual said he was always appreciative of his time in Oakland, especially because of the support of teammates such as Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi and Ray Fosse.
“I was hungry, and I found people who were willing to help,” Mangual told LaVida Baseball. “They were all good people. They came looking for me, offering their help.
“And to see them give me their hand made me feel like the proudest Puerto Rican in the major leagues. I felt part of the team. Every time we slapped five and said, ‘Let’s go,’ it gave me goosebumps. When people like that help you, it gives you the strength to keep going.”
“And to see them give me their hand made me feel like the proudest Puerto Rican in the major leagues. I felt part of the team. Every time we slapped five and said, ‘Let’s go,’ it gave me goosebumps. When people like that help you, it gives you the strength to keep going.”
