Dean Chance should have owned Los Angeles. He was the third Cy Young
Award winner in three years who called Dodger Stadium home. Don
Drysdale won it in 1962, Sandy Koufax in 1963 and Chance, a young
right-hander with the Los Angeles Angels, was right behind them in
1964. He was 20-9 for the Angels and seemed headed for stardom.

But by 1969 Chance was closer to the end than to Cooperstown. He was
preparing to start his final season with the Minnesota Twins, who
traded for him from the Angels after the 1966 season. John Wiebusch’s
story in The Times captured Chance’s small-town roots, folksy charm and
new interest–boxing.

"There may be a better pitcher around the American League but if
there is he hasn’t started to shave yet," said his new manager, Billy
Martin. "Dean Chance has a lot of things going for him and he’s only
27."

With the Angels, Chance teamed with another young and talented
pitcher, Bo Belinsky. One earned a Cy Young Award and the other a
no-hitter, but the Angels eventually gave up on both of them.

–Keith Thursby