Gene Mauch Dies At 79

Back in the day, when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were not yet even the Anaheim Angels, but still went by the California Angels, and before '95 when I gave up on them once-and-for-all, back when I still loved the team, a man named Gene Mauch ran the show.

Unfortunately, Ol' Gene will probably leave a legacy for his big chokes late in the season.

In 1964 he and his Philly's held a 6 1/2 game lead with 12 games to go, and lost 10 straight, and in the process, the pennant.

In '82 he and the Angels were up 2-0 in the ALCS, only to lose 3 straight.

In '86, still with the Angels, he was one out away from the World Series when they blew a 3 run lead to Boston. Boston took the next 2 games, and went to the Series.

The pitcher in that game, Donnie Moore, ended up taking his own life in his garage in Anaheim Hills three years later.

That is an unfair legacy.

In his 26 years as Manager, Mauch was the NL Manager of the year 3 times, only 5 other managers in MLB history have managed more games than Mauch, and he is 11th all-time in wins. He leads managers like Joe Torre, Tommy Lasorta, Earl Weaver, and Whitey Herzog, some big names, to say the least!

"When you played against him he looked like a robot, but when you got to know him you learned how passionate he was about the game,'' Yankee manager Joe Torre said Monday. ``He was a very classy, very generous, very caring man.''

To emphasize this point, I will tell you the one little tidbit I remember about the man, I was pretty young when he was the skipper of the Angels...

Mauch was hired by the Angels, and was always #4. But, the Angels already had a #4, he was 2nd baseman Bobby Grich. Of course, Mauch took a different number, #44.

Then, the Angels signed one Reggie Jackson, and Mauch, being the good leader, gave up his #44, and gave it to his new superstar.

Some may be thinking how insignificant!

But in the superstitious world of sports, that was huge!

That was also in '82.

The year they tanked the ALCS!

Coincidence?

Maybe not.

After that the Angels tanked again in '86, and then again in '95.

See, Reggie Jackson was the curse!

Of course that curse was lifted from the Angels in 2002.

But I digress...

Gene Mauch showed great character, and I hope his legacy shows him as a great manager, not a manager that is linked to teams that crumble.

Gene Mauch, our prayers go out to you and your family.