Statz, Grandest Angel of Them All, Dead at 90

Arnold (Jigger) Statz, who spent 17 years of a 35-year career in professional baseball with the old Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League, died Wednesday at his home in Corona del Mar. He was 90.

Statz, who played center field in the major leagues in 1919-28 with the New York Giants, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Brooklyn Dodgers, holds professional baseball records for most games played, 3,473; runs scored, 2,372; at-bats, 13,242, and putouts, 8,625.

A public funeral for Statz and son-in-law Henry Manney, who died Tuesday, will be held today at 2 p.m. at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Newport Beach.

Statz went from Holy Cross to the New York Giants in 1919, then moved to the Red Sox for part of a season before settling down with the Cubs in 1922-25.

Statz spent his last two seasons in the majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers before rejoining the Wrigley organization as a player with the minor league Angels, where he remained until 1942. In 1940-42, Statz served as player-manager. He later was a scout for the Cubs.

Statz is survived by three daughters--Anne Manney, Mary Baranoff and Janie Hovious--eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.