A crippling injury in caused Minton to alter his delivery. Instead of using his high leg kick, Minton shortened his stride to take pressure off his knee. The new delivery gave Minton a 92-mph sinker that batters were unable to drive. Minton went three full seasons (269 innings) without allowing a home run until
John Stearns homered against him on May 2, 1982. , this is the longest such streak in the period for which game-by-game data is available (since 1904). Also in 1982, Minton appeared in his only
All-Star Game and finished sixth in National League
Cy Young Award voting. On August 14, 1986, Minton gave up the last of
Pete Rose's MLB record 4,256 career hits. In 1989, Minton made 62 appearances in relief. He earned eight
saves and a 2.20
earned run average (ERA). Over portions of 1988 and 1989, he pitched another consecutive innings without giving up a home run, which was the longest stretch of this type by any pitcher in Angels history. He signed a one-year extension for 1990 worth $850,000. He spent much of the 1990 season on the
disabled list with elbow problems, and he pitched only innings before announcing his retirement that October. After his career as a player, Minton was a pitching coach in the California Angels organization and managed the independent
Lubbock Crickets for two years. ==Personal==