Dick Schofield--1985
“And with their first pick the California
Angels select shortstop Dick
Schofield from Sacred Heart-Griffin
High School in Springfield, Illinois,”
announced the Commissioners Office
on Draft Day 1981.
With the third overall pick of the 1981
Free Agent Draft, the Angels
selected Schofield with the thought
that the son of the former major
league infielder by the same name
would secure their middle infield that
in recent years had been manned by
rookies and aging veterans. The
names of Rance Mulliniks in 1977
and Dave Chalk in 1978, gave way to
a 37-year-old Bert Campaneris in
1979, who was followed by Freddie
“The Flea” Patek who retired after his
1980 season with the Angels.
With Rick Burleson taking over in
1981 at age 30, the plan was in
place, as Schofield would be selected
to ultimately inherit the Angels’
shortstop job.
Unfortunately Burleson hurt his arm
after his 1981 All-Star year and
Schofield was rushed to the big
leagues by 1983. At age 20,
Schofield was learning on the fly at
the major league level, hitting just .
204 in 21 games.
Thrust into the starting job in ’84,
Schofield hit a meager .193 in 140
games. Leaning on wall in the dugout
with his trusty glove in the ’85 card,
Schofield pondered the task of being
asked to hit.
Schofield never did master the art of
hitting, ultimately hitting .230 over his
14-year major league career.
However he did manage to out-hit the
“Old Man” who batted just .227 over
19 seasons in the bigs.
(6/10/09)
Angels select shortstop Dick
Schofield from Sacred Heart-Griffin
High School in Springfield, Illinois,”
announced the Commissioners Office
on Draft Day 1981.
With the third overall pick of the 1981
Free Agent Draft, the Angels
selected Schofield with the thought
that the son of the former major
league infielder by the same name
would secure their middle infield that
in recent years had been manned by
rookies and aging veterans. The
names of Rance Mulliniks in 1977
and Dave Chalk in 1978, gave way to
a 37-year-old Bert Campaneris in
1979, who was followed by Freddie
“The Flea” Patek who retired after his
1980 season with the Angels.
With Rick Burleson taking over in
1981 at age 30, the plan was in
place, as Schofield would be selected
to ultimately inherit the Angels’
shortstop job.
Unfortunately Burleson hurt his arm
after his 1981 All-Star year and
Schofield was rushed to the big
leagues by 1983. At age 20,
Schofield was learning on the fly at
the major league level, hitting just .
204 in 21 games.
Thrust into the starting job in ’84,
Schofield hit a meager .193 in 140
games. Leaning on wall in the dugout
with his trusty glove in the ’85 card,
Schofield pondered the task of being
asked to hit.
Schofield never did master the art of
hitting, ultimately hitting .230 over his
14-year major league career.
However he did manage to out-hit the
“Old Man” who batted just .227 over
19 seasons in the bigs.
(6/10/09)
