Dennis Minishian, 61; Leading Los Angeles Sports Statistician

Dennis Minishian, a leading sports statistician in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years, has died. He was 61.

Minishian died Wednesday at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in West Los Angeles after a heart attack.

Doug Mann, a statistician for Fox Sports Net and one of Minishian’s closest friends, said Minishian suffered a first heart attack on Memorial Day and underwent a double angioplasty. He suffered a second heart attack Wednesday. “After both heart attacks, he drove himself to the hospital,” Mann said.

A UCLA graduate, Minishian was the student manager of the Bruins’ first national championship basketball team in 1963-64. After attending UCLA Law School, Minishian worked as a city attorney by day and as a sports statistician for television networks and radio stations by night.

He retired from his job as city attorney three years ago but continued to work as a statistician. If there was a college or pro sporting event going on in L.A., Minishian more than likely was in the broadcast booth. “He was a wonderful human being who was the eternal optimist,” said Dodger announcer Vin Scully. “For I don’t know how many years, he was a good friend, he was a devoted worker, and I’m telling you he will have left a huge hole in the broadcast booth.”

The Kings’ Bob Miller said, “If you don’t have a good statistician, you can be in for a long night. Dennis was one of the best. He lived to work games.”

Minishian is survived by his sister, Diane Sparks.

A graveside service will be held Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.