Former outfielder and Rookie of the Year Albie Pearson died Monday at the age of 88. He starred for the expansion Angels:

“The Angels Organization was saddened to learn of the passing of former Angles All-Star Albie Pearson,” The Angels statement says. “As a key member of the expansion Angeles, 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.”

MSN.com

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Pearson posted a great OBP in his first season, then with the Washington Senators. Due to a hernia he did not play much in 1959 and 1960, and became available to the Expansion Senators and Angels. Los Angeles took him.

Over the next three season with the Angels he posted 10.9 rWAR. In that time he went .284/.392/.381 at the plate, scoring 299 runs and making the All-Star team in 1963. In each of those seasons he drew over 90 walks and struck out no more than 40 times. A back injury ended his career in 1966. It was a brief but productive peak.