Sept. 19, 1971: The Times' art department at work.

Hoyt Wilhelm pitched the final three innings of the Angels' 1-0
victory over the Washington Senators and pronounced himself satisfied
with his efforts: "I had as good a knuckleball tonight as I ever have."

That would have been one extraordinary knuckleball.

Wilhelm's stay in Anaheim was short considering the length of his
career. He made his debut in 1952 as a 29-year-old pitcher with the New
York Giants and finished in 1972 as a 49-year-old Dodger. He was 46
during his season with the Angels, older than the father of his
catcher, Tom Egan.

What a fascinating career. He won a Purple Heart at the Battle of
the Bulge and hit a home run in his first at-bat in the majors. He
never hit another. Wilhelm retired with the most innings pitched in
major league history (a record that has since been passed), but the
longtime reliever also pitched a no-hitter in a 1958 start for the
Orioles against the Yankees. He was the first relief pitcher inducted
into the Hall of Fame.

The Angels got Wilhelm from the Kansas City Royals in a trade;
incredibly, the White Sox let Wilhelm go in the expansion draft.
Probably thought he was over the hill.

He had 10 saves for a dreadful Angels team before being traded in
September to Atlanta. The deal turned out to be a good one for the
Angels because one of the two players acquired was center fielder
Mickey Rivers.

— Keith Thursby