Angel Mangual, a 1972 World Series legend who assumed a supporting part on three sequential Oakland A’s title groups, passed on Tuesday morning in his local Puerto Rico, as indicated by numerous reports. He was 73.
Mangual spent virtually the entirety of his seven-year vocation with Oakland subsequent to being exchanged by the Pittsburg Pirates in 1970. Mangual had been burdened with unreasonable assumptions for being the following Roberto Clemente, the Pirates notable All-Star.
Albeit never accomplishing fame, Mangual established a spot in both An’s and Major League history.
His bobbing, squeeze hit single through an attracted infield in Game 4 of the ’72 Series gave the’s a stroll off 3-2 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds. Mangual’s down winning hit was the A’s third subbed in the inning, still a World Series record.
Named “Little Clemente” prior to being dispatched to Oakland for pitcher Mudcat Grant, Mangual likewise turned into baseball’s first Puerto Rican player to procure three World Series rings who wasn’t with the New York Yankees.
A profession .245 hitter with 22 homers during his 450-game vocation, Mangual hit a vocation high nine homers for the An’s in 1974, when they caught their third title.
In a 2018 meeting, Mangual said he was consistently keen to his time in Oakland, particularly in light of the help of colleagues, for example, Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi and Ray Fosse.
“I was hungry, and I found people who were willing to help,” Mangual told LaVida Baseball. “They were all good people. They came looking for me, offering their help.
“And to see them give me their hand made me feel like the proudest Puerto Rican in the major leagues. I felt part of the team. Every time we slapped five and said, ‘Let’s go,’ it gave me goosebumps. When people like that help you, it gives you the strength to keep going.”
