Top 100 Angels: Ken McBRIDE #97

Many of the earliest Angels had a positive impact on the franchise beyond their numbers. One could point to Steve Bilko as a connection with the PCL Angels as important in the lore of the team. Others blazed the trail for the acceptance of the club. But in compiling this list, and considering the oversights in the 2005 Halos Heaven Top 100 Angels List, the first Angel to be the starting pitcher in the All Star Game had to figure in this list - and beyond the legitimacy that start conferred on his team, Righty Ken McBride pitched 780+ innings in 5 seasons with the club.

Selected from the White Sox by the Angels in their December, 1960 expansion draft, McBride would go on to compile a 40 - 48 record for the team. Despite this, he was a 3-time Alll Star, 1961, 1962 and the topper, starting the 1963 All Star Game in Cleveland Stadium. Although the National League won that day, McBride pitched the first three innings of the game, surrendering 3 runs on 4 hits, but he also hit a single to score teammate Leon Wagner for the AL's 1s run.

Ken McBride's 3.81 ERA as an Angel is tied with Ken Forsch and John Lackey for 20th all-time as an Angel pitcher (of those with more than 500 IP with a Halo). His 780+ IP ranks 18th (Ervin Santana is in 19th place with 706+ IP). Ken was not a great pitcher, in fact perhaps he was not much of a good pitcher, but he was an innings horse in the early days of the club and his status as a 3-Time All Star and our franchise's first ever All Star Game starter earns him a place in team lore.

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