Plunkett: Remember the .300? That Angels’ offense is history

As forgotten as Charlie Dees’ .307…

Mickey Hatcher can put away the camera.

A year ago Wednesday, the Angels made a bit of history. On August 18, 2009, they finished a 5-4 victory at Cleveland with an entire lineup of .300 hitters. All nine had at least 200 at-bats, the first time that had happened in a major-league game since the Tigers did it in September 1934.

Midway through the .300 game, the Angels’ hitting coach noticed the numbers and sent a clubhouse attendant scurrying to find a camera and take a picture of the Angels’ lineup (averages included) posted on the scoreboard at Progressive Field. Like a proud parent, Hatcher had copies of the picture made for each of his hitters, getting them to autograph one print as his own keepsake.

This year’s lineup is much less photogenic.

“This year, I’ve got an all-.250 lineup,” Hatcher joked. “Maybe I’ll get a picture of that, too. You know – ‘Before’ and ‘After.’”