A career light on home runs suddenly turned explosive in a 20-2 rout.
On June 21, 1980, the Angels crushed the Red Sox 20-2 under a banner headline that read, “Little Fred Patek leads the charge.” The 5-foot-5 shortstop—better known for speed and slick fielding—launched three home runs and drove in seven runs, a shocking outburst for a player who had hit just 36 homers in his previous 12 seasons. Patek would finish his 14-year career with only 41 total home runs, making that night in Anaheim all the more remarkable. “I’d rather be the shortest person in the majors than the tallest person in the minors,” he once said—and for one unforgettable evening, he stood tallest of all.
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