Former big league outfielder Albie Pearson has passed away, the Angels announced. A former Rookie of the Year winner and All-Star, Pearson was 88 years old.
“The Angels Organization was saddened to learn of the passing of former Angels All-Star Albie Pearson,” the team said in a statement. “As a key member of the expansion Angels, Albie’s impact on our franchise was immediate. In the Club’s inaugural game in 1961, he would etch his name into the record books by scoring the organization’s first run. … While Albie will always be a treasured member of the Angels Organization, his greatest achievements may have come away from the diamond. For over 20 years, he and his wife Helen dedicated their time towards impacting countless communities through their tremendous work with Father’s Heart Ranch. We would like to extend our deepest condolences to Albie’s wife, Helen, their five daughters and the entire Pearson family.”
A native of Southern California, Pearson began his professional career in 1953. He signed with the Red Sox as a 19-year-old and played four-plus seasons in their minor league system. Before the 1958 campaign, Boston traded Pearson with first baseman Norm Zauchin to the Washington Senators for infielder Pete Runnels.
Runnels finished tenth in AL MVP balloting that season and would eventually earn three All-Star selections in five years with Boston. Pearson, meanwhile, hit .275/.354/.358 over his first 146 MLB games to secure that season’s American League Rookie of the Year award. Early in his second season, Pearson found himself on the move again. Washington traded him to the Orioles for outfielder Lenny Green. Pearson spent a season and a half in Baltimore but struggled offensively, spending some time in Triple-A in 1960.
Over the 1960-61 offseason, the Angels nabbed him as an expansion pick. Pearson would play six seasons with the Halos to wrap up his career. Consistently running high walk totals, the 5’5″ outfielder would go to put up a .275/.379/.366 line in just under 2700 plate appearances as an Angel. He hit .288/.420/.400 during his first season in Los Angeles and led the American League with 115 runs scored in his second. Pearson’s best year came in 1963, when he posted a .304/.402/.398 line in 684 trips to the plate. He earned his only career All-Star selection and finished 14th in AL MVP voting.
Pearson remained effective through 1965, when he hit .278/.370/.369 in 122 games. Unfortunately, he was limited to just two games the following season by back injuries. He retired after 1966, his age-31 campaign. As the organization referenced, Pearson became a minister in his post-playing days. He and his wife co-founded a group home for abused or neglected young boys.
Over parts of nine major league seasons, Pearson hit .270/.369/.355 in just under 1000 games. He only connected on 28 home runs but picked up 831 hits and scored 485 times. MLBTR sends our condolences to Pearson’s family, former teammates, friends and loved ones.
RIP
Is there anyway to get more detailed stats on Albie or did anyone ever see him play? Particularly interested in 61-63. He had quite the OBP with low power and low SB totals with .288, .261 and .304 BA’s. That tells me they weren’t pitching around him bc there wasn’t many ways he could hurt them at least I would assume. Did he just foul pitches off like crazy until pitchers walked him?
You can easily find stats of old players on baseball reference.
I saw him and the Angels play many times at old Wrigley Field on Avalon Bl. In fact, I had one of his game jerseys , but that’s for another time.
He was patient at the plate and his short frame was a major factor . I have fond memories of Wrigley and my Angels .
If anyone wishes more information, send me a message .
For a person without a ton of speed he sure did have an odd year in 62 scoring 115 runs with a 360 slugging and 712 OPS. Walk machine tho so I guess it sorta makes sense?
He had a disc in thee spinner game all star baseball. The home run was so tiny. His name stuck out as a kid. Have never heard anyone else called Albie.
Irrelevant, but I played that game often.
It’s was the only way I knew some non stars who played before my era.
Could probably name most of the set.
Strat-o-matic is great for this too.
5’5″ 140.
Smol king
Articles call him the “Littlest Angel”. Seems like a strange way to lead an obit. Like how people affectionately call Babe Ruth, the “Fattest, most alcoholic Yankee”; or how people called Barry Bonds “The Giant with the smallest balls”.
The last one? Excellent!
Freddy Patek was shorter.
I was born in 63 and grew up in the lights of Anaheim Stadium and stories my dad would tell me about Albie and the character he was, I believe one story was how he ran the bases third to home after hitting a home run. One of the few he hit.
Different sport, but back in the day there was a satirical song going around about Arshavin being a short member of the Russian national team, with the emphasis on the words “short member” sung repeatedly in the chorus
Freddie Patek. Good one. Haven’t heard his name in years but remember him well.
ROY
MVP votes
Alot of walks and min K’s
RIP
No mention of that legendary walk to strikeout ratio, particularly in the minors, but also in the majors? Strange
RIP AP
He got his MVP award for that post-baseball work. A meaningful life.
He was the quintessential old school leadoff guy. He would take a lot of walks, and then be bunted to 2B, or move to 3B via the hit and run. He had a lot of speed, which he used in the OF, but the game at that time, had not evolved into stealing bases. He wasn’t especially a good base stealer, as he led the league one year in caught stealing. He set a record going 0-11 in a doubleheader one year.For a guy who was only 5’5″, he had a powerful arm, and covered a lot of ground. He was a beautiful person and wonderful human being. RIP
Loved watching him play.
RIP
He was like Buck O’Neil. He loved playing the game and was always positive. He was an amazing human being.
He was one of my first baseball cards.
It was hard to believe that someone even shorter than my Dad played in the big leagues.
He was an OBP fiend. Congratulations on passing on to the next world.
Easier to walk when your short
RIP Albie.
RIP Mr. Pearson. Love all players Who played for the Angels
Even Rudy Meoli who cost Ryan two no-hitters? That’s where I draw the line.
HALO11-Well since you put it that way. There’s a few I didn’t care for.
I remember him from the 1956-57 San Francisco Seals AAA minor league teams when I was a teenager. I was as tall as him in those days. RIP
Grew up in Detroit and followed the Tigers, but Albie Pearson was always a non-Tigers favorite.
RIP Sir. My respects and condolences to his family who must be hurting.
Thank you MLBTR for making younger baseball fans aware of great players like Mr Pearson.
Hope there’s baseball up there!
If there’s no baseball in heaven…would it really be heaven?
Great comment ClevelandSpiders…
Unless there’s blaring stadium music between pitches in which case it might be hell. Oh and Tatis Jr talking about ringworm.
I had the absolute honor of meeting him as a teenager in the Crowley Lake area of the eastern Sierra in the mid 70’s. I was a teenager and stumbled across this great fishing hole on McGee Creek along with a buddy. We saw a gentleman fishing there so we began to leave, respecting him getting there first. I said hello and I hoped I didn’t spook any fish! He said, “it’s not my fishing hole, it’s God’s, join me, boys!” We did and during the course of the conversation he asked where we were from and at the time I lived in Orange County. He said, “I used to work down there”, and upon asking what he did, he mentioned he “played a little baseball”. I then recognized him from my (at the time extensive but “my mom threw them away”) baseball card selection! Big halo fan that continues to this day. We fished for over an hour. He mentioned that he was a Pastor in Crowley and invited my buddy and I to his church the following Sunday. We went and Pastor Pearson was simply awesome.
Rip Albie! You touched my heart as you did many others. Someone mentioned earlier that he rec’d his MVP award off the field. Concur. “Well done, good and faithful servant”.
Brilliant!!!
Speechless! Thanks for sharing. RIP Pastor Pearson.
Was Andy Griffith there?
Beautiful,just beautiful…to be welcome by The Creator with those words! Humble Man Mr. Pearson, see you in Heaven.
Really a good player who suffered a back injury that ruined his career. Sad to me that the younger Angel fans have no idea who he was. The franchise needs to get all these franchise icons out regularly to camps, old-timers games, on TV and radio— it’s important to celebrate the past.
A great player and even better preacher, I heard him once not expecting much, but he was great. He also signed a couple of my cards.
Great player p, even better Preacher,
Why do we say RIP? A good eight hour sleep then cleats back on man.
Albie and I played together on the El Monte High School baseball team in 1950 and 1951. He was one year behind me in School. He pitched and played right field. We lost in the CIF semi-finals in 1951 in San Diego. Pound-for-pound the best athlete I have ever known! He also played varsity football as a running back! I’m saddened by his passing.