Although he was born in Houlton, Maine, on the Canada–US border, he attended high school in Burbank, California, and was selected by the Angels in the seventh round of the 1974 Major League Baseball Draft. He then spent 5​1⁄2 years in the club\'s farm system before his recall during the middle of the 1979 campaign.\n', '

Botting made his Major League debut in relief on June 28, 1979, against the Texas Rangers at Arlington Stadium. Angels starting pitcher Jim Barr came out of the game with one out in the top of the first inning, with runners on second and third, and already behind 3–0. Botting "threw gasoline on the fire," and when the inning ended it was 8-0, Texas. He then pitched to four batters in the top of the second and retired no one, though there was an error committed by Angels shortstop Jim Anderson. In two-thirds of an inning, Botting allowed not only the two inherited runners to score, but gave up seven runs (six earned) of his own.\n', '

On July 26, Botting pitched 5​1⁄3 innings of relief at Yankee Stadium to earn his first Major League win. Nolan Ryan had come out of the game after pitching one scoreless inning because he heard popping in his elbow. In relief, Botting allowed three hits, three walks, and one run, striking out six. The Angels won, 9-5.\n', '

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