Knoop to be inducted into Angels' Hall of Fame

ST. PETERSBURG -- Bobby Knoop, the All-Star second baseman who won three Gold Gloves and has been involved with the organization for 25 years, is set to be inducted into the Angels' Hall of Fame on Thursday, Sept. 5.

Knoop will be honored during a pregame ceremony just before the Angels host the Rays at 7:05 p.m. PT. Fellow Angels Hall of Famers Rod Carew, Brian Downing, Chuck Finley, Jim Fregosi and Bobby Grich will attend, along with owners Arte and Carole Moreno and former owner Jackie Autry.

Long-time Angels employees Susan Weiss, in her 50th season at the ticket office, and John Moynihan, who has been with the club in several capacities since the inaugural season of 1961, will receive gifts commemorating their service to the organization.

Knoop, one of the Angels' first stars, combined with Fregosi to form one of the best double-play tandems in baseball.

Originally signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent before the 1956 season, Knoop was picked up by the Angels in the Rule 5 Draft in December 1963 and posted a .242/.297/.346 slash line from 1964-68, before being dealt to the White Sox for Sandy Alomar and Bob Priddy in May 1969. In 1966, he posted career highs in homers (17), RBIs (72), runs (54) and triples (11) while starting the All-Star Game.

During his time with the Angels, Knoop joined Garret Anderson as the only players to be four-time recipients of the Owner's Trophy, presented annually to the team's MVP. After his playing days, he spent 18 seasons as a Major League coach with the Angels -- from 1975-76, then from 1979-96 -- and returned as a special assignment coach this season.