Thanks for Billy!
The Angels have lost 3 in a row and are only 5-7 in September. But of course they're 97-50 for the year and have long since clinched. Which means they can make a few dreams come true.
Whether you call him Rickey Foley (as BBRef and the game do) or Rick (as the cards do), he was a star at Santa Clara University, and a 3rd round pick of the Padres in 1977. But, perhaps understably, he decided he didn't want to be a Padre and went back for his senior season.
He wasn't successful in improving his draft position, being only a 5th round pick of the Angels in 1978, but he got on the fast track, being sent immediately to AA El Paso and then bumped up to AAA Salt Lake City after just 12 starts. He put in full seasons as a Gull in 1979 and 1980, mostly struggling, bounced back by going 15-7 for AA Holyoke in 1981, but fizzling out again at AAA Spokane in 1982.
At this point, the Angels cut ties with both Foley AND Spokane, moving the franchise to Las Vegas. And Spokane never saw the PCL again.
(At least Foley got a cameo with the Tuscon Toros at the end of 1984, getting a courtesy bump after two inoffensive seasons in the bullpen for the AA Columbus [GA] Astros. But that was as far as he got, too.)
Interesting to see that the Angels just let Holyoke keep using their old "we're a Brewers farm" uniforms after taking over that affilate, but sprang for brand-new Spokane gear (including the "haloed A" that's the organization's trademark), even though they only put in one season with Spokane as the top farm. Hadn't seen those before.
Thanks in advance.