Dean Chance

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Lore & Background

Chance's 1964 season defined his legacy with the Angels. Leading the American League with 20 wins and a 1.65 ERA (a franchise record as of 2023), he also pitched 11 shutouts, five by a 1–0 score, setting another team record as of 2024. He was third in the league in strikeouts. His signature move involved never looking at home plate after receiving his catcher's sign; instead, he turned his back completely to the hitter before spinning and unleashing his pitch. This season made him the youngest Cy Young winner at that time. The award came during a unique era when only one Cy Young Award was given across all of MLB. Chance's win continued a string of five consecutive awards for Los Angeles-based pitchers, following Don Drysdale (1962) and Sandy Koufax (1963, 1965, 1966). Later in his career with the Minnesota Twins, he won 20 games again in 1967, leading the AL in games started (39), complete games (18), and innings pitched (283 2/3).

In Their Own Story

On August 6, 1967, Chance achieved a rare feat against the Boston Red Sox at Metropolitan Stadium. Pitching a rain-shortened, five-inning perfect game, he kept the Red Sox off the scoreboard entirely. Just weeks later, on August 25, he threw a 2–1 no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. The Indians scored their only run in the first inning via two walks, an error, and a wild pitch. Chance credited umpire Ed Runge's wide strike zone for helping him keep runners off the basepaths. Despite these highs, his career saw turbulence. In 1968, he posted a 16–16 record with career lows in hits per nine innings (6.9) but career highs in strikeouts (234). He held out before the 1969 season over a salary cut attempt by Twins owner Calvin Griffith. His time with the Twins ended after a trade on December 10, 1969, where he was sent to the Cleveland Indians alongside Graig Nettles and Ted Uhlaender for Stan Williams and Luis Tiant.

Reader's Guide

Dean Chance's career trajectory began at Northwestern High School in West Salem, Ohio, where he set state records including a 52–1 career record and eight no-hitters in a single season. Signed by the Baltimore Orioles for a $30,000 bonus and a $12 Greyhound bus ticket in 1959, he was drafted by the Washington Senators in December 1960 before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Joe Hicks. He made his major league debut on September 11, 1961, at age 20. His rookie year (1962) saw him win 14 games with a 2.96 ERA, finishing tied for third in Rookie of the Year voting. In 1963, he lost 18 games but maintained a 3.19 ERA. After the 1966 season, the Angels traded him to the Minnesota Twins for Jimmie Hall, Don Mincher, and Pete Cimino. His career concluded with stints in Cleveland (1970), New York Mets (late 1970), and Detroit Tigers (1971). Over 11 seasons, he finished with a 128–115 record and a 2.92 ERA. Notably, he was one of the worst-hitting pitchers in history, batting .066 with 44 hits in 662 at-bats.

Did You Know?

• Chance was the youngest pitcher to win the Cy Young Award at the time, achieving this in 1964.
• He had a unique pitching motion where he turned his back fully toward the hitter mid-windup before spinning to throw.
• His career batting average of .066 is the lowest ever recorded by any major league player with at least 300 plate appearances.
• In 1967, Chance pitched both a rain-shortened perfect game and a no-hitter in the same season.
• After retiring from baseball, he operated carnival games for decades, eventually employing 250 people and running 40 games at the Ohio State Fair alone.