Danny Gans, a hugely popular Las Vegas headliner and one-time Baseball prospect who died unexpectedly last week, played at Torrance High, Mt. San Antonio College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before batting .234 in 35 games as a third baseman for the Victoria Mussels of the Class-A Northwest League in 1978. . . .
Several readers e-mailed to nominate the late Bill King as history's most underrated sports announcer, Bill Weissich of San Rafael, Calif., noting that the former Raiders, A's and Warriors play-by-play man could "paint a word picture in all three major sports as well as Rembrandt could paint a portrait." . . .
Holy Toledo!
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jerome.crowe@latimes.com
In less than four seasons as a big league pitching coach Mike Butcher has already made a name for himself, having helped the Angels win consecutive division crowns, a league strikeout title and guiding Francisco Rodriguez to a single-season saves record.
But he has done his finest work through the first month of this season.
The Angels , after all, started the year with three starters on the disabled list, then lost two more in the first 11 games. Yet after Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Oakland Athletics, the patchwork rotation Butcher was left with leads the American League in earned-run average (3.60) and is tied for second in wins (11).
"It's not me, man" Butcher said. "Our guys are doing all the work."
Consider the case of Tuesday's starter -- and winner -- Shane Loux, who was out of Baseball less than two years ago and appeared to be out of luck when the Orioles loaded the bases on him three batters into his last start.
But after a mound visit from Butcher, Loux retired the next three hitters, then finished that start with five shutouts innings to earn his first big-league win since 2003.
Four outs into Tuesday's start, Loux was facing another bases-loaded situation when Butcher again paid him a visit. Loux got the next batter to hit into an inning-ending double play, then finished the start with five more shutout innings to even his record at 2-2 and lower his season ERA by nearly a full run to 4.30.
