So Cal's All-Time Roster: No. 36
No. 36:
Our pick:
==Bo Belinsky, Angels ('62-'64)
Before Bo Jackson hit L.A., there was Bo Belinsky. And this Bo knew how to party.
His record with the Los Angeles Angels: 21-26 over three seasons. Two more years in Philadelphia. One more each in Houston, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, and by 1970, his career was over at age 33.
So what made him so special?
As one person on the Baseball Reference.com page wrote: "An American original and loveable flake, Bo could have been a regular 18+ game winner, but chose to party with the Hollywood set. It was short and sweet, and he made it fun, perfecting the poolside press conference while putting the Angels on the map."
He was linked romantically, at one time or another, to Ann-Margret, Connie Stevens, Tina Louise, and Mamie Van Doren, the latter his fiancee for a year.
Who threw the first no-hitter at Dodger Stadium for the home team? Not Koufax or Drysdale. Belinsky, on May 5, 1962, no-hit Baltimore 2-0. That was Belinsky's fourth consecutive win to start his rookie season. He would go 5-0, then 7-1. Sounds kind of Fernando-esque, eh? He finished the season 10-11 with a 3.56 ERA and a league-leading 122 walks -- the only time Belinsky ever led his league in any pitching category. At least on the field.
Belinsky was 9-7 with a career-best 2.86 ERA in August 1964 when he got into a hotel room fight with Los Angeles Times sportswriter Braven Dyer. The team suspended Belinsky, then traded him to Philadelphia for Costen Shockley and Rudy May.
Belinsky married and divorced Playboy Playmate of the Year Jo Collins, then heiress Janie Weyerhaeuser. He battled bladder cancer before his death in Las Vegas of an apparent heart attack at age 64.
Van Doren told the Associated Press upon Belinsky's death: "We've had a love affair that's continued a long time. I lost someone that was a very special part of my life. This is very sad for me. Our life was a circus. We were engaged on April Fools Day and broke the engagement on Halloween. It just broke my heart, and his, too. It was a wild ride, but a lot of fun."
Runner up:
==Jerome Bettis, Rams ('93-'94, also in St. Louis in '95)
Ran for 1,429 yards (second best in the NFL) and 7 TDs as a rookie out of Notre Dame in Anaheim; had 1,025 yards the next season. Currently protends to analyze professional football for a major network.
==Don Newcombe, Dodgers (1958, wore it from '49-'57 in Brooklyn)
Other 36s:
==Jered Weaver, Long Beach State ('02-'04); Angels ('06- )
Started his career 9-0, tying an AL record. Until Weaver accomplished the feat, Bo Belinsky was the only pitcher in the history of the Angels franchise to start his career with a winning streak of four games or better.
==Jeff Weaver, Dodgers ('04-'05), Angels ('06)
==Frank Robinson, Dodgers ('72)
==Rick Rhoden, Dodgers ('74-'78)
==Greg Maddux, Dodgers ('06) (A 6-3 record in 12 games)
==Lefty Phillips, Angels manager (1969-'71)
Sports Illustrated's pick for all-time No. 36: Robin Roberts, over Bettis.
Did we miss anyone?
You've got our vote, now let's see yours: