Right-hander Dean Chance, the Angels first Cy Young winner who also made the AL All-Star game with the Twins in the 1960s, died Sunday. He had turned 74 in June. The circumstances of his death have not been published by authorities, but Chance's friend and fellow former major league star Jim Kaat said, in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, that it appeared Chance had a heart attack.
Known for having early success in the majors, a funky right-handed delivery that he later said probably led to injuries and shortened his career, along with matinee idol looks that allowed him blend well with the Hollywood scene, Chance was inducted into the Angels Hall of Hame in September. Tim Salmon and Mike Witt were in Chance's class.
In retirement from baseball, Chance also founded the International Boxing Association, and owned carnivals.
Chance won the Cy Young with the Angels in 1965, before the award was split for AL and NL recipients, by posting a league-leading 1.65 ERA, 15 complete games, 11 shutouts, 278 1/3 innings, and 2.39 fielding independent pitching. He also allowed just seven home runs, struck out 207 and had four saves for good measure. He also was a Hollywood player, along with a teammate more famous for such exploits, Bo Belinsky, until Chance was traded to the Twins in December 1966.
From the Orange County Register:
Chance’s Angels career was notable for his exploits off the field, as well. He and Bo Belinsky were known for hanging out in Hollywood circles with movie stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
Chance had more good seasons with the Twins, including a second All-Star appearance in 1967, but he never was quite as dominant as that '65 season. His body breaking down after facing thousands of batters with a motion that turned his back to the batter, Chance retired at age 30 after pitching with the Tigers in 1971.
Here's video of Dick Allen hitting a home run against Chance in the '67 All-Star game:
"When it finally got to a point where I couldn't do physically what I could still do mentally, it was bye-bye. No one had to tell me. I won my last four games, but it wasn't any fun."
In his retirement, he founded and served as president of the International Boxing Association. He also owned a company that operated carnival games.
Sounds like quite a life.
