#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.