#31 04/11/61 – Memorial Stadium, Baltimore - Angels’ 1st Win

The Angels played their first ever game on Opening Day 1961 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Manager Bill Rigney, working with a collection of rookies and castoffs, filled out his Opening Day lineup card with the following names:

1) Eddie Yost, 3B

2) Ken Aspromonte, 2B

3) Albie Pearson, RF

4) Ted Kluszewski, 1B

5) Bob Cerv, LF

6) Ken Hunt, CF

7) Fritz Brickell, SS

8) Del Rice, C

9) Eli Grba, P

Milt Pappas was the starting pitcher for the O’s. The Angels took an early lead in the top of the first. Albie Pearson drew a two out walk, and scored when Ted Kluszewski belted a two-run home run to right. Bob Cerv followed with a solo shot to right-centerfield to put the Angels up 3-0.

They scored four more the next inning when Rice led off with a walk. Grba reached first on a groundout that forced Rice at second. Yost drew a walk before Aspromonte grounded into another force play at second. Pearson rapped a two-out single to left-center, scoring pitcher Grba for a fourth run.. Kluszewski then hit his second home run in his second at-bat as an Angel, a three-run shot that gave the Halos a 7-0 lead.

Grba gave up an unearned run in the bottom of the second, and another run in the third. After that, he cruised to 7-2 complete game victory – the first in Angels’ history.

“Big Klu,” who is credited with the franchise’s first hit, home run, and RBI, would only hit 15 HR in what would ultimately be his final season. The Angels, though, would win an expansion team record 70 victories on the year.

#32 10/05/79 – Anaheim Stadium - Angels’ 1st Postseason Win

After clinching their first ever divisional title in team history, the Angels traveled to Baltimore to take on the AL East Champion Orioles. Unfortunately, the Orioles won the first two games - 6-3 in Game 1, and a 9-8 heartbreaker in which the Angels’ rally came up just short.

The Angels were down two games to none when they returned to Anaheim for Game 3, for the first postseason game to be played at Anaheim Stadium. Things were looking grim in the best-of-five series, but the Halos were determined to put up a fight.

The Angels struck first, when Dan Ford singled in Carney Lansford in the bottom of the first. The Orioles struck back in the fourth, tagging pitcher Frank Tanana for a run on a single by Lee May. The Angels immediately retook the lead on a solo shot to left-center by regular season MVP Don Baylor.

Clinging to a 2-1 lead, Tanana loaded the bases in the 6^th, and was relieved by Don Aase. Oriole Doug DeCinces then tied the score with a sacrifice fly. Aase gave up another run in the seventh.

Losing 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Rod Carew lined a one-out double to left-center. Brian Downing walked, and Bobby Grich reached on an error, allowing Carew to score. Amid chants of “Yes we can!” Larry Harlow rapped a walk-off double, scoring Downing from second for the winning run. The 4-3 victory was the Angels’ first postseason win, and the celebration continued long into the night. Although they’d lose the series the very next night, this victory provided a lifelong highlight for any Angel fan lucky enough to enjoy it.

#33 09/28/08 – Angel Stadium of Anaheim - Angels’ 100th win

It was the greatest regular season in Angels’ history. It was the only year in Angels’ history that they reached triple digits in victories. Not only did they wrap up their fourth divisional title in five years, they won it by a team record 21 games. They clinched the title on 09/10/08, becoming the fifth fastest team in Major League history, by date, to clinch a division in a 162-game season.

By the end of the season, the only regular season goal that remained was to secure win #100. Joe Saunders started for the Angels, going for his 17^th win. He pitched brilliantly, going six innings while holding the Rangers scoreless on only two hits.

The Angel bats, on the other hand, pounded away at Texas. In the second, Mike Napoli doubled to right, driving in Gary Matthews. In the fifth, Napoli doubled the lead with a solo home run to left-center. In the sixth, Juan Rivera scored on Matthews single to right. Napoli then drove in Howie Kendrick and Matthews with another double. In the eighth, Reggie Willits drove in Sean Rodriguez with a sacrifice fly. Matthews then scored again on Kendry Morales’s bases loaded walk. Scot Shields closed out the game by striking out the side in the ninth – a 7-0 win for #100.

For icing on the cake, it was the first time in Angels’ history that the Halos finished the regular season with the Major League’s best record!

#34 04/27/02 – 06/09/02 – Anaheim Stadium - Eckstein’s 3 Grand Slams

In 2002, the Angels got off to their worst start ever (6-20) and found themselves 10½ games behind the Mariners. Rather than throw up the white flag, the Angels battled back with a pair of 8-game win streaks.

During that first streak, their light-hitting leadoff hitter, David Eckstein, came up huge. In the fifth inning of a game against the Blue Jays, David stepped up to the plate. The diminutive infielder, who usually choked up on the bat, capped a seven-run inning with a grand slam that snuck over the leftfield wall for his first homer of the year. Eckstein scored two and drove in five in the 11-4 victory.

The very next night, with the game tied 4-4 after 13 innings, Toronto scored in the top of the 14^th to take the lead. The Angels responded by loading the bases in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, David struck again, with a grand slam to almost the same exact spot. The 8-5 win was their fourth in a row.

By June 9, the Angels had pulled within 2 games of the Mariners. In the second inning of a contest against the Cincinnati Reds, Eckstein stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded again. His third grand slam in six weeks sparked a 7-4 victory and cut Seattle’s lead to one.

The “X-factor,” as he came to be known, continued to contribute key hits throughout the year and into the post-season. As the Angels’ leadoff hitter, he did what needed to be done, leading the league with 27 HBP (hit-by-pitch) and 14 sacrifice bunts, while batting .293, scoring 107 runs, stealing 21 bases, and even driving in 63 RBI on 8 home runs, in order to help the Angels make it to their first postseason in 16 years.

#35 05/17/89 – Anaheim Stadium - Abbott’s First Shutout

In June of ’88, the Angels drafted Jim Abbott, the one-handed pitcher out of Michigan with am impressive amateur resume. In college, he won the Golden Spikes Award and the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation's best amateur athlete. During the Pan American games, he became the first U.S. pitcher to beat Cuba on Cuban soil in 25 years. After the draft, Abbott led the U.S. to their first Olympic gold medal in baseball.

The following spring, Abbott made the Angels’ roster – becoming only the 15^th player to make his professional debut in the Major Leagues, rather than the minor leagues. After a poor start, analysts were wondering if Abbott should be sent down to the minors for more seasoning. Others wondered whether or not the Abbott experiment was just a publicity stunt.

On May 17, Jim faced two-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens. With the Angels tied with the A’s for first place in the West, the game took on added importance. The Angels got to the Red Sox ace early, loading the bases for Chili Davis in the first. Chili smoked a two-out double down the leftfield line to clear the bases. Lance Parrish then blasted a home run to deep left to push the lead to five. By the time Clemens escaped the inning, he’d given up five runs on five hits and a walk on 52 pitches. By the third inning, Roger was gone.

Abbott, meanwhile, got down to business, retiring Sox like a laundry room attendant. He scattered four hits over nine innings without giving up a single run. In fact only one player even made it to second base. When Ellis Burks grounded out weakly to third base for the third out in the ninth, Abbott had his shutout; and the Angels remained tied for the division lead.

The 5-0 victory over the defending Cy Young winner helped silence Abbott’s critics. Abbott proved that he belonged among the greatest players in the game. He finished the season with a respectable 12-12 record, a 3.92 ERA and four complete games (including a second shutout) to finish fifth in the Rookie of the Year balloting.

#36 05/05/62 – Dodger Stadium, L.A. - Bo Belinsky’s No-hitter

Bo Belinsky was like a shooting star, shooting across the Hollywood skyline, then flaming out almost as quickly. As a rookie, Bo burst onto the Hollywood scene by winning his first 5 decisions. In the fourth start of his Major League career, Bo pitched the first no-hitter in Angels’ history.

Bo set down the Orioles in order in the first, striking out the first two. In the bottom of the frame, his teammates posted him to a 1-0 lead on a pair of hits and a wild pitch. In the second, they scored again - on a walk, a double, and a fielder’s choice. Bo, meanwhile, was wild early. He walked four, hit two more, and was the victim of an error behind him. Nevertheless, he somehow escaped unscathed, stranding two runners in the second, three in the fourth, and one each in the fifth and sixth. After that, Belinsky cruised down the stretch – retiring the Orioles one-two-three in each of the final three frames, while registering nine strikeouts, to complete the no-no, and earn a 2-0 victory.

The gem earned Bo instant star status along Sunset Blvd., especially among the female crowd. More importantly, his quick start helped the second year ball club stay in the hunt for the league title while the Angels gained some confidence as a team. Then, even after Bo’s party-hearty lifestyle began to take its toll on his stamina, his teammates were able to keep the ball rolling. On July 4, the Halos climbed into first place by half a game – shocking the baseball world!

Of course, the success couldn’t last. In the second half, the Angels’ inexperience began to catch up with them. Still, they hung tough until the second week of September, when they were only four games out. Then the rug was pulled out from under them. They lost 12 of their last 16 to finish with an 86-76 record – good enough for 3^rd place in the AL, but 10 games behind the AL champion Yankees.

Bo milked his fame for all it was worth. His name is still bandied about in sports’ circles despite an extremely lackluster 28-51 career record. In any case, his name will always be etched in Angels’ history as the first Halo pitcher to defeat his opponent without allowing a hit.

#37 06/10/97 – Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City - Jim Edmonds’ Catch

It was simply the greatest catch in Angels’ history – and arguably the greatest catch in baseball history! It has been favorably compared to Willie Mays’ fabulous World Series catch. Although most fans give Mays’ catch the nod, most analysts agree that is because Willie made his catch on baseball’s biggest stage. Umpire Dave Phillips, who witnessed the catch in person, claimed, “That made Willie Mays’ play look routine.”

It happened during the fifth inning of a 1-1 tie versus Kansas City. The Royals had two on and two outs with David Howard at the plate. Howard lined a fly ball to straightaway CF. Jim Edmonds, who preferred to play shallow, raced back full throttle and leaped, fully extended, to snag the ball as it sailed over his head. Jim did a belly flop onto the centerfield grass, slid the warning track, and rolled onto his holding the glove aloft for the umpire to see. Inning over!

When the Angels came to bat the very next inning, Edmonds was due up third. With one out, and Darin Erstad at third, Edmonds proceeded to double in the go ahead run, helping the Angels to a 6-2 victory, and a half game lead in the West.

Although the Angels failed to make the postseason that year, that amazing catch remains etched in the minds of those lucky enough to see it. The Catch propelled Edmonds to his first of eight Gold Glove Awards. In 2002, it was ranked by USA Today as the third “Most Amazing Play” in baseball history, behind Mays and one by baseball’s Wizard – Ozzie Smith. MLB’s Prime 9 rated it #1.

#38 08/12/74 – Anaheim Stadium – Nolan Ryan’s 19 Strikeouts

Three times during the 1974 season, flamethrower Nolan Ryan struck out 19 batters in a game. The first time was against the Red Sox (06/14/74), but it took him 13 innings to do it; and he ended up with a no-decision. He accomplished the feat again in 11 innings on Aug. 20 in a 1-0 loss to the Tigers. In between these two marathon efforts, Ryan struck out 19 Red Sox again – but this time in a nine inning game, tying the ML record for most strikeouts in a nine inning game.

In that game, Ryan fanned the side in the second, fourth, and eighth innings. The Red Sox touched him for a run in the fifth, but the Angels scored three in the fourth, and another in the fifth.

As Ryan took the mound in the ninth, his team led 4-1. His 17 strikeouts were one short of the AL record of 18, two short of the ML record. Yastrzemski drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Evans then singled, advancing Yaz to third. Nolan struck out Rick Miller looking – tying Bob Feller’s AL record. Griffen reached on an error, and Yaz scored. With two on, Boston now had the winning run at the plate in the form of Bernie Carbo. Nolan struck out Carbo swinging for strikeout #19, tying the ML record jointly held by Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton. Rick Burlson, the only Red Sox batter not to strike out, flew out to right for the final out of the game.

Ryan victims that night were: Juan Beniquez, Cecil Cooper (2), Rico Petrocelli (4), Carl Yastrzemski, Dwight Evans (3), Rick Miller (3), Doug Griffin, Bob Montgomery (3), and Bernie Carbo.

#39 1982 season – Anaheim Stadium - Reggie Jackson’s 39 HR

When the 1982 season dawned, no baseball star was brighter than Reggie Jackson. The self-proclaimed “straw that stirs the drink” left the Bronx Zoo to sign a four-year contract with the California Angels with the expectation that he could be the missing link in bringing the Singing Cowboy a championship. After all, Jackson joined Rod Carew, Fred Lynn, and Don Baylor to make the Angels the only team with four former MVPs.

Jackson’s presence in the Angels’ line-up paid immediate dividends. Attendance figures rose dramatically following his arrival. Although Jackson got off to a slow start, his fortunes changed upon his return to the Big Apple. On 04/27/82, his first game back at Yankee Stadium, Yankee fans, disgusted that Steinbrenner had let their star go, greeted Jackson with the familiar “Reg-GIE” chant. Reggie responded by going 2 for 3, including a 7^th inning homer off Yankee ace Ron Guidry to help the Angels earn a 3-1 victory. It was his first home run of the year, and Yankee fans responded by jeering the Boss with the chant “Steinbrenner sucks.”

Throughout the summer, Jackson dazzled Angel fans with his mammoth home runs, and confident aura. As the season drew to a close, the Angels were in a tight pennant race with the Kansas City Royals for the AL West title, and Jackson was slugging it out with the Brewers’ Gorman Thomas for the HR Crown. In the final game of the season, Jackson came up in the bottom of the first with runners on second and third. Leading 1-0, Jackson took Texas hurler Mike Smithson deep to give the Angels a 4-0 lead in what would eventually be a Halo 7-6 victory. The home run was #39, tying him with Thomas for the home run crown.

In addition to his 39 home runs, Reggie scored 92 runs and pounded out 101 RBI during his first year in Anaheim. Jackson’s heroics, paired with huge contributions by Doug DeCinces, Brian Downing, Don Baylor, Rod Carew, Fred Lynn, and others, powered the Angels to 93 wins and their second AL West title – the most wins of any Angel team in the 20^th century.

#40 10/01/70 – Anaheim Stadium - Alex Johnson’s Batting Title

Alex Johnson is the only player in Angels’ history to win a batting title. Coming into the final game of the season, he was trailing the great Carl Yastrzemski, but could pass him with a 2 for 3 day.

In Johnson’s first at-bat, he grounded out to second, and his chances began to dim. He came up again in the bottom of the third and singled to right. He then scored the game’s first run on Mickey Rivers’ single. In the fifth, Johnson bounced a high chopper to third. He hustled up the line to beat the throw. A cheer went up from the crowd as the scoreboard showed that Alex was now ahead of Yaz. Manager Lefty Phillips immediately lifted him for a pinch runner, and the batting title was his - .3289 to .3286. Not only did he win the title, but the Angels won the game with a walk-off single by Mel Queen in the bottom of the 13^th for their 86^th win of the season, tying the franchise record.
Afterwards, Johnson claimed that winning the title was the greatest moment of his career. Although it was one of the few bright spots during his tumultuous tenure with the Angels, it was good enough to make the 50 Greatest Moments in Angels’ History.

#41 09/05/04 – Progressive Field, Cleveland - Bengie Molina’s No-look Pass

With the Angels trailing the Oakland A’s by four games in early September, every game was critical. With John Lackey on the mound, the Angels were clinging to a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth at Cleveland. But the Indians were threatening with a runner on third, and only one out. Manager Mike Scioscia could tell the big Texan was tiring, and turned to Francisco Rodriguez to close it.

K-Rod struck out Omar Vizquel swinging on three pitches to prevent the Indians from tying it up on a cheap out. But there are several ways to score from third without a hit - even with two outs. With an 0-2 count on Travis Hafner, Frankie threw a slider in the dirt that skipped away from catcher Bengie Molina. Ronnie Belliard broke for home in an attempt to tie the game. Bengie chased down the ball and, without looking, threw a backhanded pass to K-Rod who swiped the sliding runner inches from the plate for the final out of the inning! It was an amazing throw, and would have topped ESPN’s highlight reel no matter what situation it had come in. The fact that it preserved the lead in the midst of a pennant race made it a true defensive gem.

Bengie himself ran to a monitor in the clubhouse immediately following the play to see it for himself. “I went downstairs to watch it,” he admitted. “I had to.” Manager Mike Scioscia called it “flat out unbelievable.” Frankie claimed, “By far, that’s the best play we’ve ever made.”

After a futile ninth for the Angels, Frankie proceeded to set down the side in the bottom of the ninth, striking out two, to preserve the 2-1 win. The Angels would finish strong and win the division by a single game. Bengie deserves a “save” on his stat line for that play!

#42 06/18/07 – Angel Stadium – Chone Figgins’ 6-for-6 Night

This was the hallmark night in a remarkable season for the Angels’ speedster. Figgins had gotten off to a slow start on the year, and was only batting .258 on the season. Nevertheless, he was batting second in the lineup behind the Angels’ hot-hitting rookie Reggie Willits. In the first, Chone snuck a one-out groundball single into rightfield. Unfortunately, he was stranded at third.

In the second, he came up with two outs and runners at the corners. This time he singled to left, scoring Shea Hillenbrand for a 2-0 lead.

In the fourth, Figgins again grounded a one-out single into rightfield. He then scored on Orlando Cabrera’s double, giving the Halos a 4-1 lead.

In the sixth, Figgins came to bat with the Angels now behind 6-4. He swatted a double to right-center, but was stranded again.

In the seventh, a flurry of runs by both teams had raised the score to 9-8 when Chone dug in again. With two outs, and Erick Aybar at third, Chone legged out an infield infield single to 2B, allowing Aybar to score the tying run.

In the bottom of the ninth, with the score still knotted at 9-9, Figgins stepped up to the plate with two outs and Willits at first. The crowd was buzzing, knowing that Figgins not only had a chance to win the game, he could make history doing it. This time Chone smacked a walk-off triple up to right field line. Willits raced home with the winning run in the 10-9 victory, but Figgins was the hero.

Figgins’ six hits tied the Angels’ record for hits in a game, raised his average from .258 to .284, and propelled him to a career high .330 BA for the season - the seventh best in Angels’ history. With Figgins as their catalyst on offense, the Angels went on to win 94 games and reclaim their spot atop the AL West.

#43 06/06/00 – Angel Stadium - Birth of the Rally Monkey

With the Angels down by three runs to the visiting Giants in the bottom of the sixth, a couple of Angels’ staffers put a clip of a monkey jumping up and down on the JumboTron and labeled it “Rally Monkey.” Naturally, the Angels rallied.

With one out, Darin Erstad singled. He hustled into third on Kevin Stocker’s single. He then scored on Mo Vaughn’s groundout. The Giants got out of the inning, and scored one in the top of the seventh to push the lead back up to three (4-1).

But the Monkey made an appearance again the next inning, and so did the Angels’ bats. Garret Anderson singled. Troy Glaus drew a walk. Bengie Molina lined a single into left-center scoring G.A. After a pair of strikeouts, Erstad singled to center to plate Glaus, narrowing the gap to one, 4-3.

In the eighth, the Angels struck again. This time Tim Salmon got the monkey off his back by blasting a home run to left-center, tying the game. The Giants took the lead again in the top of the ninth, setting up the final comeback of the night.

With the Monkey whipping the fans into a frenzy, Adam Kennedy stroked a one out single to left off ace closer Rob Nen. Scott Spiezio took a free pass. Erstad then cranked out his third single of the night, driving in Kennedy. Spiezio advanced to third, but was cut down at the plate on a fielder’s choice to the pitcher. With two outs, Vaughn lined one into right. Erstad scampered home with the winning run of the 6-5 victory.

It was the first of many Monkey-inspired victories. Since then, the Angels’ promotional department created a whole series of movie clips starring the Rally Monkey – from Star Wars to Batman to Gilligan’s Island. Stuffed Rally Monkeys became one of the hottest selling items at Angel Stadium. Rules were developed about when the Monkey could be used - in the 7^th inning or later of a home game in which the Angels have a runner on while either tied or losing. Under those conditions, most teams could expect to lose, which makes the Monkey’s spectacular success in such situations that much more amazing. The Monkey became a national icon while inspiring 27 wins in the 2002 season alone, including 6 huge victories during their miraculous postseason.

#44 06/16/86 – Anaheim Stadium – Joyner Scores on a Walk-off Strikeout

It is possibly the rarest event in baseball – a “walk-off strikeout.” According to the Seattle Times, it has only happened 6 times in the last 50 years.[1] One of the most unique rules in the official MLB rulebook is Rule 6.09 (b) - the one regarding an uncaught third strike. It states that if a third strike touches the ground before being caught, or if the catcher drops it, the batter may run to first as long as: 1) first base is open or 2) there are already two outs.[2] That rule was the key to one of the strangest victories in Angels’ history.

It was an epic pitching duel between Kirk McCaskill and Charlie Hough of the Texas Rangers. McCaskill pitched brilliantly, allowing only one unearned run on four hits, while striking out ten in nine innings of work. But Hough was even better. As he stepped onto the mound in the bottom of the ninth, he was three outs away from a no-hitter.

The knuckleballer struck out pinch hitter Ruppert Jones for the first out. Jack Howell then smacked a line drive to leftfield for what appeared to be the second out; but the leftfielder misplayed the catch, and Howell ended up at third on a three base error. Rookie phenom Wally Joyner then stepped up to the plate. He ended the no-hit bid with a single that tied the game. Joyner then advanced to second on a passed ball, but Hough still succeeded in striking out Doug DeCinces. With two outs, and first base open, the Rangers issued an intentional walk to Reggie Jackson, bringing up George Hendrick.

With a full count, Hough struck out Hendrick for his third strikeout of the inning; but the ball got away from catcher Orlando Mercado. Hendrick ran to first, and Joyner, who was running on the pitch, raced all the way home. Hough was so stunned, he failed to cover the plate. Mercado staggered back toward the plate to tag out Joyner, but Wally eluded the tag, scoring the winning run on a walk-off strikeout - the only one in history where the winning run scored from second on what should have been the third out.

Hough's near gem was the first of two no-hitters Joyner would break up in the ninth in 1986 as he helped the Angels win the third AL West title in their history.

References:

[1] http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/marinersblog/2013036937_mariners_keep_on_making_histor.html

[2]  http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/batter_6.jsp

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#45 09/21/82 – Anaheim Stadium – Fred Lynn’s Catch is a Smashing Success

In the heat of the 1982 pennant race, Fred Lynn made one of the most unique catches in baseball history. Holding a one game lead over Kansas City, the Angels and Royals were scoreless in the fourth when Amos Otis drove a fly ball to deep left-center field. Centerfielder Fred Lynn and leftfielder Brian Downing both raced for it full throttle and leaped, crashing into each other and the fence simultaneously as Lynn snagged the ball. As the fence split open like a ripe watermelon, Downing collapsed onto the warning track and Lynn tumbled through the breach. He emerged seconds later holding the ball aloft in his glove. After a brief conference, the umpires ruled the play an out, preserving the tie.

In the bottom of the ninth, with the game now tied at 1-1, Daryl Sconiers drove a single into center off ace reliever Dan Quisenberry. Pinch runner Gary Pettis sprinted home with the winning run. Instead of falling into a tie with the Royals, the 2-1 walk-off victory extended the Angels’ lead to two games with eleven games remaining. The Angels would eventually clinch their second AL West title on the second to last day of the season.

#46 08/20/01-08/23/01 – Edison Field - Bengie Molina’s 9 consecutive Hits

Although Bengie was known more for his defensive prowess, he also had some pop in his bat. Over a four game span against the Red Sox, the Angels’ receiver hit safely in nine consecutive at bats, breaking the previous club record of eight.

In the first game, he singled in the eighth, and scored the only run in a 6-1 loss. In the second game, Bengie didn’t play.

In the third game, Molina pounded a double into right-center. He scored on Benji Gil’s single for the game’s first run. In the fourth, he smacked a single to left-center; but was forced at second on Gil’s ground ball. He led off the seventh with another single. This time he was nailed at the plate on a fielder’s choice. Finally in the eighth, with the Angels leading 3-2, Molina smashed a solo home run to add a valuable insurance run in the 4-2 win.

In the final game of the series, Molina hit a one-out single in the second inning. Unfortunately, he was forced out at second. In the fourth, he doubled down the leftfield line to drive in Scott Spiezio and give the Angels a 3-0 lead. He then scored the fourth run on David Eckstein’s single. In the sixth, he drove a single to left for his eighth consecutive hit, tying a record held jointly by four other Angels. This time he was stranded at first. In the bottom of the eighth, Bengie found himself stuck in a 0-2 hole, with two outs, against Red Sox hurler Derek Lowe. Bengie cued Lowe’s next offering into right field for his ninth straight hit, breaking the record. Again he was stranded. By that point the Red Sox had taken the lead, and would end up winning the game 7-6.

Bengie’s streak ended the next day on a flyball to right. But Bengie’s 9 hits (6 singles, 2 doubles, and a HR) in 9 at bats was quite a feat – an Angels’ record that remains to this day.

#47 09/16/87 – Royals Stadium, Kansas City - Bob Boone Breaks ML Career Games Caught Record

Although 1987 was a rather disappointing season for the Angels, one game stands out as being special. On a Wednesday evening in Kansas City, Bob Boone caught his 1,919^th Major League game, passing Al Lopez for first place in games caught on the all-time list.

Although Boone didn’t record a hit in the game, the Angels managed to beat the Royals 6-4. Billy Buckner was the offensive hero for the Halos, going 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI. Wally Joyner, Ruppert Jones, Devon White, and Dick Schofield also had multi-hit games. Greg Minton earned the win, and rookie DeWayne Buice got his 16^th save on the year.

But it was Boone who dominated the post-game radio talk shows. Boone would finish the year with his second straight Gold Glove Award, the third of four he would win with the Angels, after nailing a LL 46.3% of potential base stealers. His offensive numbers were typically low, but he did successfully lay down 14 sacrifice hits, becoming the Angel’s career leader in that category.

Boone’s final total of 2,225 games caught was eventually passed by Carlton Fisk in 1993, and later by Ivan Rodriguez in 2009. But his Angels’ record of 961 games caught still stands.

#48 07/29/97 – Jacobs Field, Cleveland - Chuck Finley Sets Career Wins Mark

 The Angels were 2 ½ games behind the Mariners in the AL West as they got set to play the Indians with their ace, Chuck Finley, on the mound. Chuck, who was pitching his twelfth season with the Halos, had already become the Angels’ career leader in several categories, but he entered this game tied with the great Nolan Ryan in the most coveted pitching stat of them all – career wins. They each had won 138 games as an Angel, and only the Indians stood in Chuck’s way of win #139.

            Finley set down the Tribe in order in both the first and the second. In the top of the third, the Angels struck first on an RBI single by Gary Disarcina. In the bottom of the inning, Cleveland answered, touching Finley for two runs on three hits. Finley wouldn’t allow another hit for the rest of the game. The Angels, on the other hand, scored two in the fifth on Jim Edmonds’s single, two more in the sixth on Jack Howell’s home run, and their final two in the eighth on Howell’s second two-run blast. In the ninth, Finley again retired the side, sandwiching his ninth strikeout of the evening between two groundouts. His complete game three hitter was his 10^th win of the year, and pulled the Angels to within a game and a half of Seattle.

With the win, he was also halfway to yet another Angel record. In each of his next three starts, Finley would win; each time giving the Angels a half game lead in the West. On Aug. 19, 1997, Finley broke his wrist backing up home plate and was out for the season - finishing the year at 13-6 after ten consecutive wins. It was the last day the Angels would spend in first for the remainder of the season. But he would pick up where he left off in 1998, winning his first four decisions to set an Angels' record with 14 consecutive wins.

Finley would pitch two more seasons for the Angels, finishing his career with an Angels’ record 165 wins, including ten seasons of double digit win totals.

#49 04/19/66 – Anaheim Stadium - Opening Day at the Big A



The Angels spent their first Major League season in Wrigley Field, a minor league bandbox that only held 20,457 spectators. For the next four years, they were tenants at Dodger Stadium – transient guests who used the new digs when the owners weren’t home. Gene Autry knew he needed to find a permanent home for his ball club.

At first, it appeared that the Angels might be headed for Long Beach; but the city insisted that the team be called the Long Beach Angels. Autry balked at the idea, recognizing immediately that it would produce a marketing nightmare. With the deadline to renew their lease at Dodger Stadium looming, Autry turned his sights on Anaheim. Although the city had a population of just 150,000 at the time, it did have several factors in its favor: a prosperous and growing community, nearby tourist attractions (Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm), and 7 million people within a 50-mile radius. Best of all, the proposed site for the stadium was a 160-acre parcel of land (previously an old citrus grove) near the intersection of three freeways.

After completing their negotiations with the city, the Angels broke ground for the new stadium in August 1964. They also changed the name of the franchise to the California Angels in 1965 in preparation for their move. Finally, in 1966, the 43,204 seat stadium was ready. The most distinctive feature of the $24 million stadium was a giant 230 foot tall, 210-ton scoreboard in the shape of a Big A – providing a nickname still used to this day. The golden halo located near the top of the A is illuminated following Angel wins, whether at home or on the road.

On April 19, 1966, the Angels played their first official game in their new home against the Chicago White Sox in front of a crowd of 31,660. Jim Fregosi recorded the stadium’s first hit – a double to right – in the bottom of the first. In the second, LF Rick Reichardt hit a solo home run for the stadium’s first run, RBI, and home run. Unfortunately, the Halos wouldn’t score again, and the White Sox came back to claim a 3-1 victory. Future Angel Tommy John was credited with the first win and Marcelino Lopez got the loss. The White Sox’s Eddie Fisher pitched the final two innings to earn the save.

The Angels would win their first game in their new home the next night - a 4-3 win over Chicago. The Angels drew 1.4 million fans that first year in Anaheim - almost tripling their home attendance from the previous year in Dodger Stadium. The Big A has been the site of most of the 50 Greatest Moments in Angels’ History – proving the refrain “There is no place like home!”

#50 12/06/60 –Baseball Winter Meetings, St. Louis – L.A. Angels Franchise Created


 In 1960, Gene Autry, the “Singin’ Cowboy,” learned that the Dodgers, whose games were broadcast by one of his radio stations (710 KMPC-AM), were planning on granting broadcasting rights to another station. He also heard that the American League was planning on creating an expansion team in the Los Angeles area. Therefore, Autry went to baseball’s winter meetings in St. Louis seeking to secure the broadcasting rights for the new ball club. When the deal was almost scuttled by Dodger owner Walter O’Malley’s demand for $450,000 in territorial indemnification, Autry and his partner, Robert Reynolds, ended up making a bid to buy the team themselves. Autry first needed to secure a $1.5 million letter of credit. Then he made his pitch at a joint meeting of the owners of both leagues. After the American League agreed to allow the NL to create an expansion team in New York in 1962, and Autry agreed to pay the Dodgers $350,000 in indemnification fees, they were granted the rights to the AL expansion franchise that became the Los Angeles Angels.

Autry immediately hired general manager Fred Haney and field manager Bill Rigney who were in charge of assembling a team. They had to work fast, because a special expansion draft was held on Dec. 14, 1960, only eight days after the franchise was formed, for the Angels and fellow expansion team Washington Senators to draft the rights to 28 players left unprotected by other Major League teams. Those drafted by the Angels included: Eli Grba, Jim Fregosi, Dean Chance, Albie Pearson, Ken McBride, Bob Rodgers, and Ted Kluszewski.

The team would begin play the following spring at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles with this group of rookies and cast-offs. That inaugural year, the Angels went 70-91, establishing the best mark ever for an expansion team.

Thus the Angels were born – a team that experienced ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies. Although the Angels would never quite reach their potential while Gene Autry was still alive, they provided many magical moments throughout the years until, in 2002, they would finally achieve their greatest goal – the world championship that had always been just out of reach. Since that magical season, the Angels have become one of the premier franchises in baseball. They have won 8 divisional titles, produced a Rookie of the Year, two MVPs, and two Cy Young winners. More importantly, they’ve become a symbol of hope and joy that burns brightly in the hearts of millions of fans in southern California and throughout the world.