Playing the hot corner on some offensively-challenged Angel teams of the mid-1970s, Dave Chalk showed up almost every day to provide league average defense and league average offense in an era when that was exactly what you expected from an infielder. He got on base 907 times in his 732 games as an Angel. His On Base Percentage as an Angel was .327.
Prior to the 1979 season, Dave was inexplicably traded away for Bert Campaneris who did nada in three seasons as a utility infielder.
According to pre-2006 seaon research by Matt Welch, when measured in Win Shares, Chalk had the 9th-best season ever by an Angel 3Bman*:
1. 27.5 DeCinces 1982
2. 25.0 Glaus 2000
3. 22.3 Glaus 2002
4. 21.8 McMullen 1972
5. 20.8 Lansford 1979
6. 20.8 Phillips 1995
7. 20.6 Glaus 2001
8. 20.1 Figgins 2004
9. 18.5 Chalk 1975
10. 17.8 McMullen 1971
* includes only those who played at least half the team's games at 3rd; and adjusts to 162 games.
0 recs | 13 comments
Figgins' 2007 bumps Chalk down to 10th
Desmond racked up 21.9 Win Shares then, moving him up to 4th, though it’s true he benefited from batting leadoff every day, etc.
mattwelch - December 21, 2008
imagine how far
Figgy’s 2007 bumped him UP the Top 100 Angels list?!?!?!?!
Rev Halofan - December 21, 2008
Not many Angels have three years of 20 Win Shares
Figgins’ totals as a starter:
2004: 20.1
2005: 21.7
2006: 17.0
2007: 21.9
2008: 12.1
Just eyeballing here for a second, here are the Angels who have had at least three seasons of 20+ Win Shares (which are, in essence, All-Star caliber seasons):
8 Fregosi (consecutive, to boot, with each receiving MVP votes)
7 Salmon
6 Downing
5 Grich
5 Vlad
4 Ryan
4 Joyner
3 Tanana
3 Glaus
3 Figgins
Note the lack of Baylor, Carew, Lynn, Edmonds and Anderson on this list….
mattwelch - December 21, 2008
I had underappreciated Chalkie.
Thx.
cj1646 - December 21, 2008
Rev Halofan, your comment of the Angels having some offensively-challenged teams in the 70’s, reminded me of the 1975 Halos, one that hit only 55 homers. Basically they had strong starting pitching with Nolan Ryan, Frank Tanana and Ed Figueroa plus some speedburners on the basepaths, notably Mick " The Quick " Rivers, Dave Collins and Jerry Remy.
During a series in Boston, Red Sox pither Bill " The Spaceman " Lee ( aptly nicknamed by the way ), was quoted in the newspaper as saying the Angels could take batting practice in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel and not break anything. Apparently the next day, manager Dick Williams lead a group of players with taking batting practice in the Sheraton lobby……………using whiffle balls and bats.
Canada Angel - December 21, 2008
That team stole 220 bases!
Second-best home run total (after LeRoy Stanton’s 14) was 6. Imagine a lineup that started like this:
Morris Nettles
Jerry Remy
Mickey Rivers
Bruce Bochte
Dave Chalk
The shame of it was that some of those dudes were pretty good players; it’s just that someone needs to hit a home run now and then.
mattwelch - December 21, 2008
SOMEONE...
ANYONE… anyone? Bueller… Bueller?
Rev Halofan - December 21, 2008
Dave Chalk,,,,,,,what a great name
Angel Aviator - December 22, 2008
I remember Chalk going on the DL one year
because he sliced open his finger while trying to butter his dinner roll on the team flight east.
Angel Aviator - December 22, 2008
You heard that rumor as a child
As an adult, does it pass the smell test?
mattwelch - December 22, 2008
Not so sure but I I know I heard it on the radio
when I was a kid and he had been put on the DL. Now there could be some truth and then again there might not be. There is always Chris Brown and sleeping on his eye wrong though
Angel Aviator - December 22, 2008
Angel Aviator - December 23, 2008
Wrong thread, bro!
BTW, just ordered up about 12 seasons’ worth of Angels cards…. Figured it was time to make myself a complete set for Christmas, considering about the only one I own currently is a Dave Hansen rookie.
mattwelch - December 23, 2008
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