Top 100 Angels: #64 Dave Chalk

The Los Angeles/California/Anaheim Angels have played almost 60 seasons of baseball. As the baseball world is suspended due to circumstances outside its control, it is time to look back at the history of this organization. There have been many talented players to put on the uniform, and we at Crashing the Pearly Gates wish to highlight the best who have ever represented the Angels. Without further ado, here we go!——————————————————————————————————

#64 – Dave Chalk

Chalk was a perfectly adequate everyday infielder for the Angels in the mid-1970s. From 1975-1977, Chalk was tied with Bobby Bonds for the best fWAR (6.8) among position players. In this three-year peak with the Angels, Chalk was basically a league-average player, posting a 94 wRC+ at the plate and 7 Total Zone Runs in the field. Chalk’s best year came in 1975, when he was worth 3.5 WAR and posted a career-best 105 wRC+, the only time he finished as an above-average hitter in his career. He was rewarded with his second straight All-Star appearance in 1975 after making it as a reserve in the 1974 game (despite replacement-level production). As a whole, Chalk was worth 8.1 WAR in 732 games with the Angels.

In a period of time where the Angels possessed two of baseball’s best arms (Nolan Ryan and Frank Tanana) but little in the way of position player talent, Chalk was a welcomed and reliable player. He wasn’t flashy nor was he elite at any point in his Angels tenure but he was a solid, everyday player.

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RexFregosi
Super Member
3 years ago

Good average player but just Another reason why there were ‘two days of cryin’ in the mid-70s

Guest
3 years ago

When I was a boy just learning about baseball, Dave Chalk was my favorite player. I think it was a combination of his funny name and his penchant for getting a big hit whenever I happened to be watching the Angels on TV. Remembering that made me want to make a chain of my favorite players. Who was my favorite player once Chalk was no longer an Angel? And then who was it when that guy was no longer an Angel, und so weiter.

Here it is:
Chalk > Carew > Pettis > Joyner > DiSarcina > Salmon > Vladimir > Weaver > Calhoun > Fletcher.

I’m digging this series. The only disagreement I have is with Leon Wagner being so low, at #80. Wags was a far more impactful player for the Angels than Chalk ever was. I would have Wagner be the player right before we enter the cluster of Angel legends.

Oh wait, make that two disagreements, unless this guy’s appearance on this list is forthcoming. If so, my apologies! But I would have Brad Fullmer on this list. He was only an Angel for a year and a half, but he was the final piece of the 2002 championship puzzle. It was Fullmer who led the team in OPS+ (133) during the regular season, and then he had a really good post season, with his .351 OBP, 6 runs scored, and 5 RBI in 37 PAs.

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to 

Apple and Trout don’t mix?

Guest
3 years ago

I enjoy an amazing Calhoun diving catch or one of his laser strikes on the fly to nail a runner much more than I enjoy a Trout home run. Plus, I was frustrated with the years when Trout would just sit on first base, waiting for a Pujols home run, without ever thinking about stealing a base, although I imagine that was more management’s decision than Trout’s.

Born_in_59
Member
3 years ago
Reply to 

I remember Dave Chalk being a pretty good ball player, but then he probably looked better compared to other players on the team.

My list of favorite players leans heavily to pitchers, but here it is (going back to when I first attended a game): Sandy Alomar>Nolan Ryan>Brian Downing>Chuck Finley>Tim Salmon>Scott Shields>Jered Weaver>Mike Trout.

Yeah I know, Shields over Guerrero. What can I say, the team just didn’t have too many pitchers that could take over from the starter and keep the game close until the closer is called in. Shields was one of those few and did a good job of it.

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Born_in_59

I loved Downing’s open batting stance. Shields had ridiculous horizontal movement on his fastball. I swear sometimes I saw it move left-right-left. I miss having that great back end to the bullpen. Weav had pinpoint control with his fastball and then could drop that curveball anywhere he wanted to. Barry Zito and Weaver were both magicians with their curveballs, the best I’ve ever seen.