Talk:Dean Chance

I have a memory of Dean when I was 8 or 9 years old, it was around 1963 or 1964, he was pitching for the Los Angeles Angels. My Grandpa took me to an Angels exhibition game at Blair Field in Long Beach where we lived. Blair was nothing more than the baseball field at a large local park. Chance had a big previous year, winning 20 games, and I guess was quite full of himself. He had pitched the first two or three innings and was sitting alone in the stands in street clothes. I approached him and asked for an autograph. He said, "Sorry kid, I ain't got time." Talk about deflating a young baseball fan. Grandpa was PISSED!!

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On December 10, 1969, the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians completed a blockbuster trade involving some of the most notable (see "pranksters," "flakes') ballplayers of the 1960's expansion era. The talented, right handed fireballer LuisTiant and bullpen specialist Stan Williams were sent to Minnesota for youngsters like infielder Craig Nettles, outfielder Ted Uhlaender, long-time reliever Bob Miller and the 1964 Cy Young Award winner, Dean Chance.

It was a happy circumstance for Chance. Despite going from the first-place Twins to the last-place Indians, Chance was quoted thusly in the 12/13/69 Lima (OH) Daily News: "It's too good to be true. I couldn't be any happier at the way it worked out." This would be odd, if it weren't for the fact Chance was going home. He was living in Wooster, Ohio at the time - 50 miles to the north of Cleveland. He went on to say "I really enjoyed my three years in Minnesota. There are some fine people there, and and some of the friends I made I hope will always be my friends for the rest of my life."

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