Thirteen-year Major League Baseball veteran John Cangelosi was the sparkplug on more than one of the teams he suited up for during his nearly decade and a half long career. Known for getting on base by any means necessary, he set what was at the time the American League rookie record for stolen bases by swiping 50 bags in 1986 for the Chicago White Sox. He earned a World Series ring with the Florida Marlins in 1997.
At age 60, he’s still in the game, now as the co-owner of Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports and coaching children of all ages through Cangelosi Baseball.
In our newest Card Back Q&A, we discuss his stolen base record, playing Moneyball before Moneyball existed and memories from his time in the Mexican League.
Tony Reid–The back of your 1987 Donruss rookie card stated that you broke the all-time AL rookie record for stolen bases in a season, which had stood since 1910. What an amazing accomplishment. What do you remember about your success on the base paths that year?
John Cangelosi-I knew that was my ticket to the big leagues. If I got on first base I was stealing second and third. Back then, that was my ticket. I finally got to the big leagues and I was on pace to be an All Star then freaking (Jim) Fregosi benched me. I had 41 bags at the All Star break. Even if I had a bad second half I would have had 70 bags. We were in last place and I was 22 years old. We were supposed to be building.
You can’t cry over spilled milk. I loves stealing bases. Sammy Sosa hit home runs and I stole bases. That was my niche and that is what kept me in the big leagues. That and running down the ball in the outfield.
TR–On the back of your 1988 Score card there’s a quote from Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe that states ‘Trying to throw a strike to him it’s like trying to hit a gnat in the eye with a cannon, he is a tough guy to pitch to.’ Can you speak to your ability and mindset to draw walks, get on base, and then swipe so many bags?
JC-I wasn’t a home run hitter. My strength was on base percentage, stolen bases and runs scored. I can’t steal first base. I have to get on. I can hit but I would walk 100 times a year when I played every day. Would you rather have a hit or a walk? (I don’t care) as long as I am on first base and it gives me the opportunity to steal bases. I was very selective. I knew how to work the count. I knew how to get on base.
TR-A number of your card backs mentioned how you broke into pro ball playing in the Mexican League. What was that experience like for you?
JC-I hated it. I was going to quit then (Jerry) Reinsdorf, Eddie Einhorn and (Dave) Dombrowski got on the phone. They were going to suspend me. I was going to play Triple A ball but they wanted this guy named Nelson Berrero. He was supposed to be the next Mickey Mantle but that didn’t pan out. I went over to Mexico for three months and it was the worst time I ever had. I got chicken pox at 22 years old. I was miserable. I ran into a brick wall. One night we were out with two couples. I wasn’t married at the time, and I thought balloons were going off and here there were four guys at the doorway shooting at people. They shot up the restaurant. Four people got shot all because they wouldn’t let them in the bar. It was crazy. Thank God John Bowles got me out of there.
I got to the big leagues. Within a week of me leaving Mexico in 1985, they had the mudslides. That’s where like 3,000 people died. They used our stadium for keeping the dead bodies that they couldn’t identify. I liked going to Cabo but I didn’t like going to Mexico City.
TR-If collectors could flip over your card and you could choose the stat or fact that was printed, what would you want listed on your card back?
JC-John Cangelosi got the most out of his ability. He knew how to get on first base, via getting a hit, walk or however. I knew how to get on first base. I knew how to steal bases. I knew how to score runs. It’s almost like the movie Moneyball. Give me a guy that has on base percentage. Give me a guy that knows how to score runs. You are going to win games. I prided myself as a guy who had limited ability but played parts of 13 years of professional baseball in the big leagues and knew how to get on first base and knew how to cause havoc for the opponents. And I ran the ball down of defense. If the ball was in the ballpark I caught it.
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