FORMER A’S WORLD SERIES HERO DIES AT 73

Angel Mangual, a 1972 World Series hero who played a supporting role on three consecutive Oakland A’s title teams, died Tuesday morning in his native Puerto Rico, according to multiple reports. He was 73.

Mangual spent nearly all of his seven-year career with Oakland after being traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970. Mangual had been saddled with unrealistic expectations of being the next Roberto Clemente, the Pirates’ iconic All-Star. His bouncing, pinch-hit single through a drawn-in infield in Game 4 of the ’72 Series gave the A’s a walk-off 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Mangual’s gamewinning hit was the A’s third pinch-hit in the inning, still a World Series record.

Dubbed “Little Clemente” before being shipped to Oakland for pitcher Mudcat Grant, Mangual also became baseball’s first Puerto Rican player to earn three World Series rings who wasn’t with the New York Yankees.

A career .245 hitter, Mangual was the A’s primary center fielder for most of their 1974 season.

In a 2018 interview, Mangual said he was always appreciative of his time in Oakland, especially because of the support of teammates such as 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. 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.”