6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

Willie Aikens CAL b. 1954, played 1977, 1979. Born Willie Mays Aikens after the slugger, Top 100 Angel Aikens was drafted by the Halos as a first-round pick in 1975, and was in the Show two years later. Though he regularly hit around 20 homers a year, a good figure for the time, he was terrible in the outfield and should have been a full-time DH. The Angels unloaded him for the 28-year-old outfielder Al Cowens in December, 1979, who in turn was flipped for Jason Thompson, a player who spent only a partial year with the team. It was a completely futile set of trades, as Aikens continued to post steady offensive numbers with the Royals, becoming the eighth player in major league history to have grand slams in consecutive games. He also became the first player ever to have multiple homer games in the same World Series in 1986.

The Royals eventually suspended Aikens for drug use, and he tried, ineffectively, to make a comeback with the Blue Jays. He moved on to the Mexican League in 1986, where he had the highest batting average in full-season history with a .454 mark playing for Puebla, helped in part by a new livelier ball. He spent four more years there, but drug problems followed him; as of 2000, he was incarcerated on more drug charges.

Hugh Casey BRO b. 1913, played 1939-1942, 1946-1948, d. 1951-07-03. The Dodgers were one out away from a 4-3 victory over the Yanks in the 1941 World Series Game 4. With nobody on, reliever Casey struck out Yankee rightfielder Tommy "Old Reliable" Henrich — but the ball got away from catcher Mickey Owen, and scooted toward the Dodger dugout. Henrich broke for first.

Compounding the situation was the fact that police, mistakenly thinking the game was over, moved in toward the mound to protect the players from the assembled crowd. Henrich threaded his way through the mass of humanity, according to a Herald Tribune sportswriter, "in a vivid imitation of a man changing a tire, grabbing for monkey wrenches, screwdrivers, inner tubes and a jack and he couldn't find any of them." He reached first safely, and then all hell broke loose. The Yankees scored four on an epic two-out rally off Casey that was Brooklyn's darkest hour until Ralph Branca gave up The Shot Heard 'Round The World in 1951.

But aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? ... Casey missed the war years in his country's service, but unlike a lot of players, came back in fine shape and dominated upon his return. At least, he did in 1946, but he declined steadily, and eventually spent brief stints on the Pirates and Yankees. He died a suicide, not over his Dodger misfortunes a la Donnie Moore, but over a paternity suit he lost despite his protestations of innocence even afterwards... he called his ex-wife just before he killed himself, and blew his brains out with a shotgun while she was still on the line.

Ed Figueroa CAL b. 1948, played 1974-1975. What was wrong with the Angels? They never could settle on a plan, and no Figueroa is probably as good a starting place for that ineptitude as any. Signed and released by the Mets, then re-signed by the Giants, he was a fine pitcher with good-not-great strikeout numbers, and solid control. The Angels picked him up for a pair of journeymen, and two years later, they moved him for Top 100 Angel Bobby Bonds, then in the twilight of his career; the Angels also sent on a man who should have made the Top 100 list (if not for the fact that I didn't get my list in on time), Mickey Rivers.Figueroa went on to become the first Puerto Rican 20-game winner in major league history, while the Angels were casting about for what to do after Nolan Ryan, Frank Tanana, and a string of plugins beyond that.

Figueroa had elbow surgery in 1979 and did not pitch effectively afterwards in the majors, though he did play some in the Mexican leagues.

Tommy Harper CAL b. 1940, played 1975, All-Star: 1970. The fifth member of the 30-30 club, he was one of the few players to wear the Seattle Pilots uniform. He played for the Angels near the end of his career, mostly batting third with good success before being shipped off to Oakland late in 1975.

Bill Leard BRO b. 1885, played 1917, d. 1970-01-15

Max Macon BRO b. 1915, played 1940, 1942-1943, d. 1989-08-05

Al Oliver LAN b. 1946, played 1985, All-Star: 1972, 1975-1976, 1980-1983. A 1B/OF type, he was a seven-time All Star with Pittsburgh, Texas, and Montreal, more often appearing for weak teams. He finished his career 257 hits shy of 3,000; in December 1977, he was involved in a rare four-team, ten-player trade that sent Oliver to Texas and Bert Blyleven to the Pirates, among others. He spent a half-season with the Dodgers in 1985, mostly being ineffective in the outfield.

Ivy Olson BRO b. 1885, played 1915-1924, d. 1965-09-01

Jimmy Ripple BRO b. 1909, played 1939-1940, d. 1959-07-16

Duaner Sanchez LAN b. 1979, played 2004-2005. Good luck with that shoulder injury, Duaner.

Tom Silverio CAL b. 1945, played 1970-1972

Fred Underwood BRO b. 1868, played 1894, d. 1906-01-26