RIP - Albie Pearson

 

Albie Pearson, an outfielder for the Angels and others from 1958 to 1966, passed away on February 22, 2023 at age 88.

Pearson was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1958. (This seems inconceivable now. In 146 games, he had 3 homers, and only 33 RBI, with a .275 batting average. Ok, he was the center fielder, so maybe he was a defensive whiz.) 

 

The following May, he was dealt to the Orioles for outfielder Lenny Green. Pearson spent most of 1959-60 in the minors, only playing 80 (in 1959) and 48 (in 1960) games for the O's. 

 

He was selected by the Angels in the expansion draft in the Fall of 1960, and was one of their starting outfielders in their first 5 seasons. A back injury during Spring Training in 1966 limited him to only 2 games that season (both in mid-July), after which he was released. 

 

Pearson became an ordained minister in 1972.  

 

MLB obituary  

 

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