Bruce Christensen

Bruce Ray Christensen

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 160 lb.
• High School Chatsworth High School
• Debut July 17, 1971
• Final Game September 30, 1971
• Born February 22, 1948 in Madison, WI USA

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Biographical Information

Bruce Christensen played 24 games at shortstop in the second half of the season for the California Angels in 1971. He hit .270 on a team that hit .231. Four players had substantial time at shortstop that year for the Angels. Jim Fregosi, who had been there since the start in 1961, hit .233 and played 74 games but was also on the disabled list part of the season. Syd O'Brien, who played for four major league teams in four years, appeared in 52 games and hit .199. Sandy Alomar, the team's second baseman, moved over to short for 28 games.

Christensen led his league in fielding percentage each of his first three seasons in the minors. He led the Pioneer League in 1966 at .947, also leading with 62 putouts and 153 assists. He led the California League in 1967 and 1968 at .946 and .969 respectively, leading the Cal league with 366 assists in 1967. He missed 1969-1970 due to military service. Christensen was hitting over .300 for the Salt Lake City Angels in 1971 before coming up to the majors, and his .963 fielding would have led the league, but he did not play enough to qualify. 23 at the time, he never made it back to the major leagues. In 1973, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants organization in a deal that landed the Angels Ed Figueroa.