Baseball - 2008

Hamilton High, Santa Monica City College and Cal State LA baseball star Jerry Feldman was drafted by the California Angels in 1968. After a stellar minor league career, a serious ankle injury at the 1973 Angels spring training––the year he was expected to make the big league roster––ended his playing career.

Following impressive junior and senior baseball seasons at Hamilton High, Jerry moved on to Santa Monica City College, where he developed into the MVP of the All-Western States Conference Team in 1964 and 1965. Earning a baseball scholarship to Cal State L.A, he led the nation’s collegians in doubles both years, was the national leader in RBIs in his senior year, second in batting average (.480), and received All-America Honorable Mention.

Drafted by the Angels upon graduation, Jerry was sent to their single A club in Idaho Falls, where he was the Rookie League’s top hitter––the league’s young players included Steve Garvey, Bill Buckner, Bobby Valentine and Gary Mathews. In 1969, he was chosen for the League All Star Game. Jerry was promoted to the California League, then Midwest League (made All-Star team), then the Pacific Coast League’s Salt Lake City (AAA) in 1971, where he was MVP of the League playoffs, carrying his Salt Lake City team to the PCL title.

Two seasons later, the spring training ankle disaster caused Feldman to miss the entire playing season. An attempt to comeback the following year was unsuccessful.