Dean Chance, 1964 Cy Young Award winner with Angels, dies at 74

Brandon Schlager

Dean Chance, 1964 Cy Young Award winner with Angels, dies at 74 image

Dean Chance, a two-time All-Star pitcher who as a 23-year-old won the 1964 Cy Young Award with the Angels, died Sunday. He was 74.

Angels spokesperson Tim Mead confirmed Chance's death on Twitter, but did not disclose cause of death. Former Twins teammate Jim Kaat told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that Chance died of a heart attack.

MORE: Notable sports deaths of 2015

Chance played 10 MLB seasons, making his debut in 1961 with the expansion Los Angeles Angels. He went 20-9 in 1964 with a 1.65 ERA and 207 strikeouts en route to winning the Cy Young, which at the time was given to only one player annually. He was also named AL Pitcher of the Year by Sporting News in the same year.

In 1967, his first season with the Twins, Chance won 20 games for the second time and pitched a no-hitter against Cleveland on Aug. 25. Chance also played for the Indians, Mets and Tigers, before retiring in 1971 with a career record of 128-115 and a 2.92 ERA.

Chance, born in Wooster, Ohio, had traveled to Anaheim in September where he was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame along with outfielder Tim Salmon and Mike Witt.

 

Brandon Schlager

Brandon Schlager Photo

Brandon Schlager is an assistant managing editor at The Sporting News. A proud Buffalo, N.Y. native and graduate of SUNY Buffalo State, he joined SN as an intern in 2014 and now oversees editorial content strategy.