The Angels might have been on the outside looking in for most of the 1967 AL pennant race but at one point late in the first half, they led the way. The team got by on some solid pitching but some less then stupendous offense. One hitter rose above the rest, and that was first baseman Don Mincher. Mincher had played for the Twins the year before and in the off season prior to the 1967 season, he was traded along with Pete Cimino and Jimmie Hall for Dean Chance and Jackie Hernandez.
Mincher led the team in just about every offensive category. He led in homeruns (25), RBIs (76), runs (81), walks (69) and OPS (.854). His .487 slugging percentage was good for sixth in the league and his 25 homeruns was good for fifth in the league. He also played in his first of two All Star games in 1967.
Mincher was one of the driving forces in the Angels first half run. He hit .295/.397/.534 and he had 15 homeruns and 48 RBIs. As Mincher went, so did they Angels though and as the Angels faded, Mincher hit .247/.331/.430 with 10 homeruns and only 28 RBIs. Those numbers would have looked even worse had Mincher not hit three homeruns in a season ending double header with the Tigers.
Here’s a look at Mincher’s final 1967 numbers
Games 147
AB 487
Runs 81
Hits 133
Doubles 23
Triples 3
Homeruns 25
RBIs 76
Walks 69
Strikeouts 69
Stolen Bases 0
Caught Stealing 3
BA .273
OBA .367
SLG% .487
OPS .854
RC 86
RCAA 35
RCAP 21
RC/G 6.26
ISO .214