#50 Bob Lee, RHP (1964-1966)

Lee only pitched three short years with the Angels; but it was the quality of those years that secured him a spot in the Top 50. The Angels received him in a conditional deal with the Pirates in 1963. In 1964, Bob recorded an Angel record 1.51 ERA (1^st), with a 1.058 WHIP – Walks + Hits / Innings Pitched (6^th), 5.715 H/9 IP (2^nd), and 0.394 HR/9 IP (9^th) to lead the team with 19 saves. In 1965, he had a 1.92 ERA (3^rd) to go with a 1.043 WHIP (4^th), and 6.510 H/9 IP (8^th), for 23 saves in 69 games (T8th) to make the All-Star team.

After the 1966 season, Lee was traded to the Dodgers for Nick Willhite. Despite his brief tenure as an Angel (3 years), Lee finished among the team’s career leaders with:

- 128 games (6^th)

- 58 career saves (7^th)

His career 1.99 ERA for the club would be first if he had enough innings to qualify.

#1 10/27/02 - Anaheim Stadium - 2002 World Series Game 7

What could top a Game 6 victory in the World Series? Only a Game 7. Going for the Giants was 1997 World Series MVP Livan Hernandez. The Angels countered with rookie John Lackey. The big Texan had won the Wild Card clincher against the Rangers the month before, as well as Game 4 of the ALCS; but now he was facing the game’s greatest hitter on baseball’s biggest stage. In his two previous Series appearances, the Giants had tagged Lackey for five runs in 7 1/3 innings. Still, manager Mike Scioscia felt confident handing him the ball for the biggest game in Angels’ history.

            In the second inning, the Giants scored on a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the inning, the Angels immediately responded when Spiezio drew a two out walk and Bengie Molina doubled him in.

            In the third inning, David Eckstein led off with a single – his 20^th single of the postseason, tying the ML record. Darin Erstad promptly followed with a single of his own – tying the record for most hits in a postseason (25). Hernandez then plunked Tim Salmon to load the bases for Garret Anderson. G.A. had been relatively quiet all Series, with just three RBI to his credit. In other words, he was due.

            Garret drilled Hernandez’s third pitch up the first base line and into the corner. The man who’d led the majors with 56 doubles, hit the biggest double of his life to clear the bases and give the Angels a 4-1 lead.

            It was all the scoring the Angels would need. Lackey pitched five strong innings, then was relieved by rookie Brendan Donnelly. Donnelly shut out the Giants for two before rookie Frankie Rodriguez came in for the eighth. K-Rod capped his eye-popping postseason debut by striking out three of the four Giants he faced – finishing with a ML record 13.5 strikeouts per 9 innings.

In the ninth, Troy Percival came in to save it. Naturally, it wasn’t as easy as one, two, three. There had to be some drama. A single by Snow, a force at second, defensive indifference, and a walk put runners at first and second with only one out. Percival then blew away Shinjo setting up a showdown with Kenny Lofton. Kenny lofted a fly ball to CF, where Erstad caught it for the final out.

Percival crowed with delight as his teammates swarmed the mound to celebrate. It was his seventh save of the postseason – tying yet another ML record. John Lackey was credited with the win, the first rookie since 1909 to win Game 7 of the World Series.

In the celebration that followed, Tim Salmon, the longest tenured Angel, took the championship trophy on a victory lap around the field, inviting the Angels’ fans to share the championship with the team. Jackie Autry, carrying one of her late husband’s famous Stetson hats, then proclaimed, “Gene was with us tonight. He just had a better seat.”

Troy Glaus, who batted .385, with 3 home runs, 7 runs, and 8 RBI in the Series was voted MVP. But as he himself claimed, “No one guy on this team has gotten us to this point or carried us through this point. It’s been a team effort all the way through – 25 guys.” That pretty much sums up the entire postseason. Each game, a new hero seemed to rise to the forefront. This group of Angels worked as a unit, relentlessly pounding away at 41 years of disappointment and unfulfilled dreams until together, they achieved the prize. It was so magical, it was as if Disney itself had scripted it…no, it was better!

#2 10/26/02 - Anaheim Stadium - 2002 World Series Game 6

It was the biggest game in franchise history, and 44,506 fans were packed inside Anaheim Stadium to see if the Angels could pull off another miracle. These never-say-die Angels had rallied before, but they hadn’t yet faced an elimination game. History hadn’t been kind to the Halos in similar situations. Would their magic finally run out?

On the heels of a 16-4 blowout loss in Game 5, the Angels had their backs to the wall. Like David facing Goliath (or rather Eckstein vs. Bonds), it appeared that the Angels had finally met their match. They had reached the end of their rope, and still had a mountain to climb. The San Francisco Giants, led by their record shattering outfielder Barry Bonds, held a 5-0 advantage at stretch time, and were nine outs away from bringing San Francisco its first ever baseball championship. The Angels were nine outs away from adding yet another crushing defeat to their ignominious postseason history.

Giants’ pitcher Russ Ortiz had breezed through six innings – giving up only two hits. Staked to a 5-0 lead, he retired Garret Anderson while clubhouse attendants prepared the Giants’ locker room for the anticipated celebration. When Troy Glaus and Brad Fullmer hit back-to-back singles, manager Dusty Baker came out to get his pitcher. As Ortiz stepped toward the dugout, Dusty handed him the game ball – a souvenir in honor of a job well done. Felix Rodriguez was summoned in to put out the fire – and somehow quiet the raucous crowd that had been whipped into a fury by the appearance of the Rally Monkey.

Next up, Scott Spiezio – the RBI machine who was batting .714 with runners in scoring position. Scott already had 16 postseason RBI to his credit, only three short of the ML record. Felix was throwing bullets, but Spiezio fouled them off one by one, battling the count to full. Finally, on pitch number 8, Felix made a mistake, and Spiezio sent the ball deep to right. Reggie Sanders drifted back to the track, to the wall…then it was gone! 44,000 fans went bananas as Spiezio triumphantly circled the bases.

It was now 5-3 in favor of the Giants. Scott had tied the postseason record with 19 RBI, but the Angels still had work to do. Felix retired two of the next three batters to close out the seventh. Then Brendan Donnelly set down the Giants in the eighth.

Todd Worrell came in from the bullpen to face the Angels in the bottom of the eighth. Darin Erstad greeted him by lining his third pitch into the right field pavilion – cutting the deficit to one and reenergizing the crowd. Tim Salmon followed with a single, and Scioscia sent rookie speedster Chone Figgins in to pinch run. When Garret Anderson lefted a single to left, Figgins motored into third, causing a surprised Bonds to bobble the ball and allowing G.A. to advance to second base.

That was it for Worrell. With slugger Troy Glaus due up, nobody out, the tying run ninety feet away, and the go ahead run sitting in scoring position, Baker summoned his closer – Robb Nen. On Nen’s fourth pitch, Glaus drilled the ball to leftfield. A roar ripped the night as the ball sailed over Bonds’ head allowing both Figgins and Anderson to score – 6-5, Angels.

Nen retired the side without allowing any more runs to score, but the Angels had done it. They’d mounted the greatest World Series comeback ever by a team facing elimination; and their erstwhile closer, Troy Percival, was called in to save it. A strikeout, a shallow fly ball, and another strikeout ended it – the most exciting game in franchise history.

#3 10/13/02 – Anaheim Stadium - 2002 ALCS Game 5 Victory over Twins

In their ALCS showdown with the Twins, Minnesota took Game 1 by a score of 2-1. The Angels only managed to get four hits against Twins’ starter Joe Mays. Knowing that they’d need to take one in Minnesota, the Angels came up big in Game 2, scoring six runs on ten hits, including homers by Darin Erstad and Brad Fullmer. Game 3 was another pitchers’ duel, but solo shots by Garret Anderson and Troy Glaus powered the Angels to a 2-1 win. Rookie John Lackey pitched seven scoreless innings to start Game 4. Twins’ starter Brad Radke matched him pitch for pitch until the seventh, when the Angels broke the tie with a pair of runs. They then busted out for five more in the eighth to give the young Texan a 7-1 victory in his first postseason start.

The situation was eerily familiar to Angel fans who had been around for the Angels’ last postseason in ’86. Holding a 3-1 lead in the ALCS, the Angels were hosting Game 5, with a chance to advance to their first World Series in franchise history. Would this be the year they finally won? Or would their beloved Angels find a new way to lose?

Veteran pitcher Kevin Appier took the mound for the Angels. He gave up runs in both the first and the second. In the bottom of the third, the Angels’ #9 hitter, Adam Kennedy, sent the first pitch he saw into the seats to cut the deficit in half.

In the bottom of the fifth, Scott Spiezio and Kennedy both hit solo shots giving the Angels a 3-2 lead. But the Twins weren’t dead yet. In the top of the seventh, they roughed up rookie pitchers Brendan Donnelly and Frankie Rodriguez for three runs.

The ghosts of autumns past began circling overhead, haunting the memories of longsuffering Angel fans who remembered only too well the collapses of seasons past. While they chanted “Yes We Can!” in ’79, the Baltimore Orioles declared “No You Can’t!” They had front row seats to watch the ’82 Milwaukee Brewers become the first team to rally back from a 2-0 LCS deficit to win the series, despite Fred Lynn’s MVP performance. Worst of all, they witnessed the self-implosion of the ’86 team that had come within one strike of reaching the World Series, then watched in horror as Dave Henderson took Donnie Moore deep – a blow from which neither the ’86 team, nor Moore, would ever recover. And then there was the disastrous collapse of the ’95 club that suffered two infamous nine game losing streaks down that stretch, then rallied back to win their last five to finish tied with the Mariners, only to blown away 9-1 in the one game playoff. 

Of course, their predecessors had never had a furry primate in their corner to help them rally out of the jams they faced. The cuddly mascot appeared on the JumboTron as the Angels came to bat in the bottom of the seventh, and Angel fans everywhere joined the cacophony of cheers generated by the hometown crowd. After all, the ape had an uncanny ability to wake up the Angel bats…and that’s exactly what happened.

Spiezio singled to right. Bengie Molina followed with a single to left. Then Kennedy stepped up to the plate for the third time. This time he was asked to bunt. After fouling off the bunt attempt, Scioscia let him swing away. Down in the count 0-2, Kennedy launched Johan Santana’s fourth pitch into the right-field bleachers for his third home run of the game! It was an accomplishment that only four other players had ever done in postseason history – Reggie Jackson, George Brett, Bob Robertson, and Babe Ruth. Best of all, it gave the Angels a 6-5 lead.

But the Angels were just getting started. Eckstein beat out an infield single. Erstad sliced a single to left. Salmon drilled a single to left, loading the bases. Alex Ochoa entered as a pinch runner for Salmon. Garret Anderson walked, forcing in Eckstein – 7-5. Glaus struck out for the first out. Shawn Wooten knocked a single to right, scoring Erstad – 8-5. A wild pitch scored Ochoa – 9-5. Spiezio looped a single to left, scoring Anderson and Wooten – 11-5. Figgins cracked a  single to left. Kennedy came up again, but this time sliced a single to left for his fourth hit of the game. Eckstein was hit by a pitch, scoring Spiezio – 12-5. Erstad grounded out, scoring Figgins on the play – 13-5. Ochoa struck out, finally ending the inning.

But what an inning! By the time it was over, the Angels had set or tied the following post-season or LCS records: runs scored in an inning (10), hits in an inning (10), consecutive hits in an inning (6), singles in an inning (9), plate appearances in an inning (15), at bats in an inning (13), and players with two hits in an inning (2 – Spiezio and Kennedy). Twins’ 1B Doug Mientkiewicz summed it up best, “We just ran into a buzzsaw.”

Best of all, the ghosts of Angels past were finally silenced. The Twins were shell-shocked. Ben Weber set them down 1-2-3 in the eighth, and Percival mowed down the side in the ninth – inducing a pop fly to Eckstein for the final out. The Angels had finally made it to the World Series!

#4 10/5/02 – Anaheim Stadium - 2002 ALDS Victory over the Yankees

When the Angels clinched the Wild Card in 2002, they were pitted against the mighty New York Yankees – the most successful franchise in history, and winners of 103 games. As expected, the Bronx Bombers took the opener, rallying for four runs in the bottom of the eighth to win 8-5 on the strength of four bombs – including Bernie Williams’s three run blast to win it.

The next night was another slugfest. Tim Salmon slugged a home run in the first. Scott Spiezio followed suit with another solo shot in the second. A trio of singles by Wooten, Molina, and Gil added another run. Spiezio then singled in Anderson in the third to give the Angels a 4-0 lead off Andy Pettitte. The Yankees clawed back with a run in the third, two in the fourth, and two more in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Yankees had never lost a postseason game at Yankee Stadium when leading after the seventh inning. Evidently, nobody bothered to tell the Angels. Anderson tied it with a blast to lead off the eighth. Glaus put the Angels in front again with his third homer of the series. Before the inning was over, pinch runner Chone Figgins scored on Adam Kennedy’s sacrifice fly. The Yankees loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame, but this time Scioscia went to his closer, Troy Percival, who struck out Jeter looking to end the threat. Both teams traded runs in the ninth, but ultimately, “Percy” got his first postseason save, preserving Frankie Rodriguez’s first ML win, 8-6.

For Game 3, it was back to Anaheim. The Yankees jumped out to an early lead against Angel hurler Ramon Ortiz, tagging him for three runs in the first. The Angels scored a run in the second, but the Yankees ripped out three more runs in the third to take a 6-1 lead. That’s when the Angels got to work. In the bottom of the inning, Salmon drove home Kennedy and Erstad with a double to left to pull the Halos within three. Kennedy narrowed the gap further by smacking a home run in the fourth and driving in Brad Fulmer with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. In the seventh, the Angels showed that they meant business – monkey business. Amid wild shrieks from both the Monkey and delirious fans, Spiezio lifted a single to center, just over Alfonso Soriano’s glove, to score Anderson with the tying run. In the eighth, Kennedy blooped a leadoff double off the glove of Raul Mondesi. Eckstein bunted him to third. Then the crowd reached a fever pitch as Darin Erstad lined a 1-2 pitch over Jason Giambi’s head to take the lead. Tim Salmon’s two run blast on the very next pitch was icing on the cake as the Angels won 9-6. Naturally, the winning pitcher was again K-Rod, who struck out four Yanks in two perfect innings of relief.

When the Angels faced the New York Yankees for Game 4, they were one win away from winning their first postseason series. Six times, the Angels had been in that situation, and all six times, they’d managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. How did the Angels respond?

Jarrod Washburn, their ace, allowed two runs (one earned) over the first five innings. Down 2-1 as they entered their half of the fifth, the Angels put together one of the greatest innings in postseason history!

Facing David Wells, who entered the game with a stellar postseason record of 8-1, Shawn Wooten bashed a homer to left-center to tie the game. Bengie Molina flied out to right. Benji Gil singled to center. David Eckstein dropped a single into right. Darin Erstad drilled a single to center, scoring Gil. Tim Salmon ripped a single to left, scoring Eckstein. Garret Anderson drove a single to center, scoring Erstad. Troy Glaus hit a fly ball to shallow right – two down. Scott Spiezio singled to left, scoring Salmon. Wooten smacked a single to right, scoring Garret. Molina doubled to left, scoring both Spiezio and Wooten. Gil singled to center, and Eckstein flied out to center, finally ending the inning.

When all was said and done, the Angels had scored 8 runs on a record tying 10 hits in the inning to take a 9-2 lead. It was all they would need. The Yankees scored three more, to pull within 9-5, but the famine was finally over with that one inning feast. The Angels had won the first postseason series of their 42 year existence! Better yet, the Angels, whose .376 batting average in the series set a postseason record, had proved to themselves and the world what they were capable of. That mindset would establish the tone for the heroics that were yet to come.

#5 09/25/79 – Anaheim Stadium - 1979 A.L. West Title

It took a convergence of stars for the Angels to finally win their first divisional title. Jim Fregosi, the star of their first decade, was back for his first full season as the team’s manager. Brian Downing was having a breakout year as the team’s catcher, batting .326. Former AL MVP Rod Carew batted .318 during his first year in Anaheim at 1B. Bobby Grich busted out for 30 HR and 101 RBI for the only time in his career at 2B. Don Baylor won the MVP for his career year in LF. Carney Lansford had a superb sophomore year at 3B. Dan Ford put up the best numbers of his career playing RF. Dave Frost won practically as many games (16) in ’79 as he did for the rest of his career combined (17). Nolan Ryan and Frank Tanana were wrapping up their Angel careers at the end of a decade in which they were the team’s face, heart, and soul.

This veteran team won 88 games, spending 119 days in first place and winning the division by three games over the Royals. Everything seemed to come together during a July sweep of the defending champion Yankees. It was during that series that the fans began chanting “Yes we can!” willing the team to victory whenever the going got tough. The slogan seemed to epitomize the spirit of this team, winning despite significant injuries to Carew, Tanana, and DH Willie Atkins.

But it was their Sept. 25 game against the Royals that will forever be remembered by the Angel faithful. Sitting one win away from clinching their first division title, the Angels’ offense got things started in the bottom of the second. Don Baylor drew a walk. Then Rod Carew singled to left. Brian Downing muscled a single to right, plating Baylor for the first run and sending Carew to third. A wild pitch to Bobby Grich allowed Carew to score the second run and put Downing in scoring position. Grich grounded out, but Larry Harlow singled to right, scoring Downing for the third run. The Angels added another run in the fifth when Dan Ford singled, advanced to second on Carew’s base hit, and then came home on Downing’s second hit of the night.

Frank Tanana, meanwhile, was pitching a gem in the biggest start of his career. Even though he’d just returned from the disabled list earlier that month, he was in top form, retiring the first ten batters he faced. He allowed one run on a pair of hits in the fourth, but settled down and cruised the rest of the way, not allowing another run in his five-hit complete game masterpiece. With a runner on first with two outs in the ninth, he induced Darrell Porter to bounce the ball to Carew, who tossed the ball over to Tanana covering the bag for the final out.

The Angels had done it! They had finally won their first divisional title after 18 years of futility and disappointment in which they’d only had five winning seasons, and one second place finish. But that was the past; and at this moment, they felt like they were on top of the world.

#6 10/20/02 – Anaheim Stadium - 2002 World Series Game 2

No active player had played in more games (1,388) than Tim Salmon without making it to the postseason. The ten-year veteran was determined to make the most of it. In Game 2 of the World Series, the Angels desperately needed a win. They’d already lost home field advantage by losing Game 1 to the Giants, and couldn’t afford to lose another.

They got off to a fast start, scoring five runs on six hits in the bottom of the first, including a steal of home by Brad Fullmer – the first such theft in World Series play since 1964. The Giants responded by tagging Kevin Appier for four runs in the top of the second. In their very next at-bat, the Angels scored two more runs when Salmon launched a two run homer off Russ Ortiz for a 7-4 Angels’ lead.

Jeff Kent’s solo shot in the third, followed by a walk to Bonds, chased Appier. San Francisco then scored four more in the fifth to take a 9-7 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Anaheim cut the lead in half when Glaus scored on a sacrifice fly by Spiezio.

In the sixth, the Rally Monkey made his first World Series appearance. Anderson immediately evened the score with single that scored Erstad. Frankie Rodriguez, meanwhile held the Giants at bay with three perfect innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, Salmon stepped to the plate again, with two outs and Eckstein on first. The Kingfish airmailed Felix Rodriguez’s first pitch into the leftfield stands to give the Halos an 11-9 lead. It was his second home run of the night – a 4-for-4 performance with 3 runs, 4 RBI, and a walk.

Percival came in to save the game, despite giving up a mammoth solo shot to Barry Bonds, in the ninth. K-Rod was credited with the Angels’ first ever World Series win – the youngest pitcher ever to win a World Series game. It was his fifth win of the postseason (tying another ML record) – which ironically were the first five wins of his young Major League career.

#7 10/02/04 – Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland - 2004 A.L. West Title

After 159 games, the Angels and the Oakland A’s were tied atop the A.L. West with three games remaining – a head-to-head series in Oakland, winner take all! Whichever team won two of three would advance to the postseason, the loser would spend the month watching the games on TV.

The nucleus of the team was largely the same as the 2002 championship team, but bolstered by the addition of AL MVP Vladimir Guerrero. The pitching staff had added 18 game-winner Bartolo Colon and Kelvim Escobar.

In the first game of the series, the Angels bombed the Athletics 10-0, spreading the hits and RBI around in typical Angel fashion. Colon pitched seven innings of shutout ball for his 18^th win of the season.

The next night the Angels found themselves down 2-0 in the sixth when Guerrero stepped up to the plate with two outs and Chone Figgins on first. Guerrero drove the first pitch he saw from Barry Zito into the stands to tie the game. Unfortunately, the A’s responded by scoring two of their own in the bottom of the sixth.

Down 4-2 after seven innings, Bengie Molina led off the eighth with a single to left. After a strikeout of Curtis Pride, Figgins singed to center, sending pinch runner Josh Paul to second. Darin Erstad then laced a double to deep right, scoring both Paul and Figgins. Guerrero was intentionally walked and Troy Glaus hit a long flyball to deep left for the second out. Garret Anderson then singled to right, and Erstad raced home with the go-ahead run.

Frankie Rodriguez held the A’s scoreless in the eighth, and closer Troy Percival set them down in order in the ninth to clinch the AL West title – their first in 18 years!

#8 10/11/09 – Fenway Park, Boston - 2009 ALDS Game 3

Every time the Angels faced the Boston Red Sox in the postseason, the Sox would find a new way to beat them. It happened in 1986, 2004, 2007, and 2008. As the 2009 playoffs began, the Angels drew the Sox again; but this time was different.

The Angels had spent the season running up a team record 883 runs and a 97-65 record. They’d clinched their division in style, clobbering Texas 11-0. They’d even mounted a franchise record 47 comebacks during the regular season.

In Game 1 of the ALDS, ace John Lackey and Darren Oliver teamed up to pitch a four-hit shutout. Torii Hunter led the Angel attack, hitting a three-run home run in the fifth as the Halos won 5-0.

In Game 2, the Angels mounted another comeback victory, this one a 4-1 job capped by Erick Aybar’s two-run triple in the seventh. Jered Weaver only allowed one run over 7 1/3 innings pitched for the victory.

For Game 3, the Angels traveled to Fenway Park, where they were 2-7 in postseason play. Scott Kazmir started for the Angels, but was roughed up for five runs through six. The Angels, meanwhile, scored two: Kendry Morales on a solo shot in the fourth, and Hunter on a bases loaded double play with nobody out in the sixth. After seven, the Sox led 5-2, and things were looking grim.

In the eighth, Bobby Abreu doubled to lead it off. After Hunter struck out, Vladimir Guerrero drew a walk. Both runners advanced on Morales’s groundout, but now there were two outs, and Boston’s ace closer, Jonathan Papelbon strode in from the bullpen to close it out. In 26 postseason innings, Papelbon hadn’t allowed a single run. Juan Rivera must not have realized it though because he drove his first pitch into right field to cut the deficit to one.

Unfortunately, pinch runner Reggie Willits was picked off first for the final out of the inning. To make matters worse, Boston tagged on another run in the bottom of the inning. Papelbon got two quick outs in the ninth, and the Angels found themselves down to their last out.

Aybar kept them alive with a single to center. Chone Figgins then drew a walk. Abreu doubled again to cut the lead to one as Aybar scampered home. Hunter was walked intentionally to load the bases for Guerrero. Vladi had been the face of the Angels since his MVP season five years earlier. He’d helped the Angels win five divisional titles in six years; but was now hobbled by injuries and age. Nevertheless, Vladi stroked Papelbon’s first delivery into center, scoring both Figgins and Abreu and giving the Angels a 7-6 lead.

Closer Brian Fuentes set the Sox down in order in the bottom of the ninth, securing the Angels’ first and only postseason sweep. To do it against Boston made it especially sweet.

#9 10/10/05 – Angel Stadium of Anaheim - 2005 ALDS Game 5

For the first time in their history, the Angels successfully defended the divisional title by winning 95 games in 2005. Their reward was to play the AL East champion New York Yankees.

The Yankees won Game 1, 4-2, as Mike Mussina out dueled Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon. The Angels came back from a 2-0 deficit to win Game 2, 5-3, as Bengie Molina went 2 for 4 with two RBI, hitting his second home run of the series. Former Yankee Juan Rivera (2 for 3) also went deep for the Halos and Kelvim Escobar got the victory in relief.

In New York, the Angels bombed the Yanks in Game 3 by a score of 11-7. Bengie went deep for the third straight game, this time a two-run shot off Randy Johnson in the third inning. Garret Anderson also tagged Johnson for a three-run homer in the first, and finished the night 4 for 5 with 5 RBI. Scot Shields was credited with the win. Scot was tagged for the loss in Game 4 as the Yankees came back to win 3-2 and even the series at two games apiece, setting up a Game 5 showdown, winner take all.

Back in Anaheim, Colon took the mound again for the Angels, but injured himself in the top of the second. The Yankees scored two off his reliever, rookie Ervin Santana. But the Angels responded immediately with three runs in their half of the second. G.A. led off the inning with his second homer of the series. Molina, who was on fire, followed with a single. Two outs later, Steve Finley drew a walk. Adam Kennedy ripped a triple to center, driving in two.

In the third, Orlando Cabrera singled to left. Vladimir Guerrero followed with a single to right, moving Cabrera to third. Anderson drove in Cabrera with a sacrifice fly. Bengie stroked a single to right for his eighth hit of the series, advancing Guerrero to third. Vladi scored ahead of the tag on the fielder’s choice of Erstad’s goundball to first, giving the Angels a 5-2 lead.

The Angels’ pitchers then held the Yanks to one run the rest of the game, a solo shot by Jeter, sealing the 5-3 win. The victory clinched the Angels’ first series victory since their 2002 championship season. Santana, who had won the AL West clincher was the winner, and Frankie Rodriguez was credited with the save. Molina was the unofficial MVP, batting .444 with 3 home runs, 5 runs scored, and 5 RBI.

#10 08/29/86 – Anaheim Stadium - Schofield’s Walk-off Grand Slam

As August drew to a close, the Angels held a 4 ½ game lead over the second place Texas Rangers. Heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Angels found themselves in a 12-5 hole against the Tigers. Knowing that Texas had already won, it looked as if their lead would be trimmed to 3 1/2.

Most fans had already turned off their radios, or headed home, long before Dick Schofield stepped up to lead off the inning that would produce the signature moment of the exciting 1986 season. Dick legged out an infield single to SS to start the rally. Rick Burleson lined out to center for the first out, and more radios were flipped off. Wally Joyner then drew a walk. Brian Downing followed with a single to load the bases. Then Jack Howell doubled to right, scoring Schofield and Joyner.

With the score now 12-7, Sparky Anderson decided to go to his closer, former CY Award winner Guillermo Hernandez. Hernandez promptly gave up an RBI single to George Hendrick. Bobby Grich followed with another RBI single. Gary Pettis then grounded the ball to 2B. Lou Whitaker stepped on the bag to force Grich, but Pettis was too fast to be doubled up. Ruppert Jones pinch hit for Jerry Narron, and Pettis stole second. Hernandez then walked Jones to load the bases.

Nine batters after his leadoff single, Schofield stepped up to the plate again; this time representing the go-ahead run. Guillermo went to his splitter, and Schofield lofted a fly ball that carried into the leftfield stands for a walk-off grand slam! It was the sixth walk-off “Super Slam” in AL history (a walk-off grand slam hit with the home team losing by 3 runs). The 13-12 victory was the Angels’ greatest ninth inning comeback in their fifty year history and helped propel them to the divisional title.

#11 05/15/73 – 06/01/75 – Nolan Ryan’s 4 No-hitters

Nolan Ryan is not only the greatest strikeout pitcher ever, he is also the “No Hit King.” As an Angel, Nolan pitched a ML record four no-hitters. Each one of these games could make the list of Top 50 moments by themselves; but since Nolan already has his fair share of Top 50 moments, I decided to group them together:

Ryan’s first no-hitter came on 5/15/73 against the Kansas City Royals at Royals Stadium; just one start after the shortest start of his career (1/3 of an inning). Ryan got off to a great start, recording three of his twelve strikeouts in the first inning. He spread out three walks to the punchless royals as he cruised to a 3-0 victory.

Two months later, Ryan became the fifth pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a season – when he shut down the Detroit Tigers at Tiger Stadium on 7/15/73. This time Nolan struck out 17, fanning the side in the second, fourth, and seventh. When Norm Cash came to bat in the bottom of the ninth, he carried a table leg instead of his bat. The umpire made him exchange it, and Cash popped up for the final out of the 6-0 victory.

No-hitter #3 came on Ryan’s last start of the ’74 season – 9/28/74 at Anaheim Stadium. Ryan struck out 15 en route to a 4-0 victory over the Twins. It was his 22^nd victory of the season, tying the Angels’ single-season record for wins.

On 6/1/75, Ryan threw his fourth and final no-hitter as an Angel – a 1-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Anaheim Stadium. This one provided a bit of drama in the ninth. With one out, former batting champ Tommy Davis bounced one up the middle for what appeared to be a hit; but 2B Jerry Remy stretched out to snag it before nailing Davis at first. This fourth gem, the 100^th win of his career, tied Ryan with the great Sandy Koufax for the most no-hitters in a career – a record he would eventually raise to seven.

#12 09/27/73 – Anaheim Stadium - Nolan Ryan’s 383 Strikeouts

In his final start of the season, Ryan found himself 15 strikeouts shy of Sandy Koufax’s single-season record of 382. Ryan struggled early, giving up a single, a walk, a single, and a double for three runs before recording a single out. Luckily, he finished the inning strong – striking out three. The Angels scored three of their own in the bottom of the first to even the score.

In the second, Ryan struck out two Twins, and another in the third. The Angels scored in the bottom half of the frame to take a 4-3 lead.

Ryan struck out the side in the fourth, and two more in the fifth to bring his total up to eleven. He didn’t get any strikeouts in the sixth, but gave up the tying run - which would eventually prove to be providential.

In the seventh, Ryan again fanned three Twins, bringing him within one of the record. He tied Koufax’s mark in the eighth; but he also tore a muscle, an injury that would hamper him the rest of the way.

An exhausted Ryan didn’t strike anyone out in a scoreless ninth, but the game went to extra innings because his teammates couldn’t score either. In the tenth, he struggled, giving up two hits, but escaped without giving up a run or recording a strikeout. Once again, the Angels failed to score, and the game went to the eleventh.

Ryan and manager Bobby Winkles agreed that the eleventh would be Ryan’s last – with or without the record. Ryan got two strikes on Steve Brye before he grounded out to short. Rod Carew then drew a walk. When Carew broke for second, catcher Jeff Torborg made a good throw, but Carew slid in safely. Ironically, the crowd booed Torborg for trying to get the out and thus limit Ryan’s chances.

Tony Oliva flied out for the second out, bringing Rich Reese to the plate. Ryan got two quick strikes on Reese, setting up the final pitch. Announcer Dick Enberg, who had earlier compared Ryan to a heavyweight fighter staggering around struggling to land the knockout blow, made the call, “Ryan sets, here it is, SWUNG ON AND MISSED! …Nolan Ryan is the major league strikeout king of all time! ...Ladies and gentlemen we have seen one of the finest young men to ever wear a baseball uniform record one of the most incredible records in major league history. 383 for Nolan Ryan!”

In the bottom of the inning, Tommy McCraw scored on Richie Scheinblum’s double for the winning run, giving Nolan his 21^st win of the season. Despite winning 21, recording a 2.87 ERA, pitching 26 complete games, throwing two no-hitters, and breaking Koufax’s strikeout record, Ryan only finished second in the Cy Young Award voting – an award that would elude him throughout his illustrious career.

 

#13 09/30/84 – Arlington Stadium, Texas - Mike Witt’s Perfect Game

By the final game of the 1984 season, the Angels had already been eliminated from postseason play. Yet a win would mean the difference between second and third place; and they’d avoid finishing with a losing record. Their budding ace, Mike Witt, took the mound with a shot at his 15^th win of the season vs. Texas’s Charlie Hough.

In the third, Angels’ RF Mike Brown led off with a triple, but the Angels were unable to push him across the plate. After six, the score remained scoreless. Hough had allowed three hits, and two walks; but Witt had retired all 18 men he’d faced.

In the seventh, Doug DeCinces led off with a single. A passed ball advanced him to second. He then took third on Brian Downing’s groundout to 2B, and scored on the fielder’s choice of Reggie Jackson’s groundball for an unearned run.

It would prove to be the only run of the afternoon. In the ninth, Witt took the mound with a chance to make history. He struck out Tom Dunbar for his tenth strikeout of the game. Pinch hitter Bob Jones grounded out to Rob Wilfong for the second out. Pinch hitter Marv Foley followed suit with another grounder to Wilfong. Rob tossed it over to Bobby Grich at first for the final out of the game.

Twenty-seven up, twenty-seven down; Mike Witt completed the only perfect game in Angels’ history – and the 11^th in Major League history. The lanky right-hander would later combine with Mark Langston for a no-hitter in Langston’s first start as an Angel on April 11, 1990.

#14 10/22/02 – Pacific Bell Park, San Francisco - 2002 World Series Game 3

After going 1-1 at home in their first World Series, the Angels had to win at least one in San Francisco. In a postseason in which the Angels exhibited a knack for coming up with big innings, they provided two such innings in this game. With a flurry of hits, the Angels batted around in both the third and fourth innings - the first team to ever do so in consecutive innings in World Series history.

Down 1-0 as they entered the third, David Eckstein drew a walk. Darin Erstad followed with a double to right. Tim Salmon reached on an error, allowing Eckstein to score. Garret Anderson flied out to left. Troy Glaus rapped a single to left, scoring Erstad. Scott Spiezio ripped a triple to right-center scoring both Salmon and Glaus. Adam Kennedy struck out. Bengie Molina was intentionally walked to get to the pitcher, a strategy foreign to AL ball clubs. It worked as Ramon Ortiz grounded out to end the inning. But former World Series MVP Livan Hernandez, who owned a perfect 6-0 record in the postseason, was forced to throw 42 pitches in the inning, setting the stage for the fourth inning.

In the fourth, Eckstein grounded out. Erstad singled to center. Salmon drew a walk. Erstad and Salmon then pulled a double heist, stealing second and third. Anderson grounded out to first, allowing Erstad to score. With two outs, Dusty Baker went to his bullpen. Bad move! Glaus drew a walk. Spiezio dropped a single into shallow right, scoring Salmon. Kennedy sent Witasick’s second pitch right back to him, and Glaus scored on the ensuing scramble to recover the ball. Molina followed with a single to right, scoring Spiezio. Ortiz struck out looking, once again ending the threat.

With an 8-1 lead after four, the Angels cruised to a 10-4 win on 16 hits, reclaiming home field advantage despite setting a WS record with 15 runners left on base in a nine inning game. Hernandez lost his first postseason decision even though Barry Bonds becoming the first player in history to homer in his first three Series game.

#15 10/02/82 – Anaheim Stadium - 1982 A.L. West Title

After winning their ’79 divisional title, the Angels suffered through two straight losing seasons. Without Tanana and Ryan, there was a lot more cryin’. But in 1982, the Angels went out and brought in some new talent. The biggest coup was snatching free agent RF Reggie Jackson away from the Yankees. Reggie only went on to lead the AL in home runs (39 HR with 101 RBI) as the Angels stormed back into first place. Other key additions included 3B Doug DeCinces (.301, 30 HR, 97 RBI) and Gold Glove catcher Bob Boone, who helped guide the pitching staff to the league’s second best ERA.

On the second to last day of the season, the Angels held a slim lead over the Royals in the A.L. West. Facing Charlie Hough’s knuckleball, every starter in the Angels’ lineup got at least one hit. In the first, the Angels scored two on a double by Brian Downing, a single by Rod Carew, and a home run by Reggie after Carew was caught stealing.

The Rangers scored three in the second, chasing Angels’ starter Ken Forsch; but Bobby Grich tied it up again in the bottom of the second with a leadoff home run. The Angels threatened to score more, loading the bases without any outs, but Carew grounded into a 1-2-3 double play and Fred Lynn lined out to end the threat.

 In the fourth, Texas took the lead on a solo home run by Pete O’Brien. The Angels responded in the fifth with a walk to Carew, and a two-run homer by Lynn. They tacked on another run in the eighth when Don Baylor doubled, and Tim Foli knocked him in. Luis Sanchez closed it out with three scoreless innings, giving the Angels a 6-4 victory that clinched their second divisional title!

Despite failing to close out the Brewers in the ALCS, this Angels team was considered one of their best. When the Angel fans voted on the Angels’ 40^th anniversary team, most of the offense looked as if it came straight from the ’82 team’s line-up.

#16 07/13/79 - 07/15/79 – Anaheim Stadium – Halos Sweep Yankees to Stay in First

            The Angels were clinging to a one-game lead in the AL West when the two-time defending world champion Yankees strutted into town for a three game series right before the All-Star break.

            In the first game of the series, the Angels roughed up the Yankees’ Luis Tiant for six runs through eight innings. Meanwhile, the Angel’s ace, Nolan Ryan, took a no-hitter into the ninth. With one on (Munson reached on an error), and one out, Reggie Jackson rapped a singled to center to break up the no-hit bid. Munson then scored on a sacrifice fly. The “Express” then struck out Chambliss to polish off his one-hit gem and beat the Yanks 6-1, preserving the Halo’s one-game lead.

            In the second game of the series, the Bronx Bombers busted out for five runs in the fourth to take an early lead off Don Aase. They added another run in the fifth to make it 6-0. The Angel bats got to work in the sixth, scoring two off Tommy John with RBI singles by Brian Downing and Joe Rudi. In the bottom of the eighth, they scored two more with solo home runs by Don Baylor and Joe Rudi off ace reliever Goose Gossage. Reggie padded the Yankee lead with an RBI single in the ninth, but MVP Don Baylor answered with a three run homer off Gossage in the bottom of the frame to knot the score at 7-7 and send the game into extra innings. Finally, in the bottom of the twelfth, Downing led off with a double to right. Rudi bunted him to third. Then he scored the winning run on Merv Rettenmund’s single to right.

            In the final game of the series, the Yankees again jumped out to an early lead with two run homers by Chambliss and Spencer. In the third, Bobby Grich singled to left off Ron Guidry to score Jim Anderson. In the seventh, Grich came up with two on and one out. This time he doubled to center, knocking in Anderson and Rick Miller, and shaving the deficit to one, 4-3. In the bottom of the ninth, with one on and two outs, Grich stepped up to bat yet again. This time he hammered a two-run home run to win it, 5-4. The Angels swept the Yanks and went into the All-Star break with a two-game lead in the West. Perhaps most important of all, they gained the confidence that they could beat anybody – a quality that helped them down the stretch to win their first division title.

#17 1964 season – Dean Chance’s Cy Young Season

In 1964, Dean Chance pitched perhaps the greatest single season in Angels’ history. He led the league with 20 wins, a 1.65 ERA, 15 complete games, 11 shutouts (T8th all-time), and 278 1/3 innings. His totals also included 207 strikeouts, a 1.006 WHIP, and even 4 saves.

Chance pitched 3 shutout innings in the All-Star game, but didn’t really catch fire until after the break, when he won 9 straight games, including six shutouts. His six 1-0 victories that year tied a ML record for the most such victories in a season.

Perhaps most amazing of all, in five games against the Yankees, Chance went 4-0, allowing only one run in 50 innings of work against the best team in baseball. In the one game he didn’t win, Chance pitched 14 shutout innings, allowing only 3 hits, and striking out 12 in what he considered the greatest outing of his career.

At a time when only one Cy Young Award was awarded among all major league pitchers, his brilliant performance even outshone Sandy Koufax. He won the award with 85% of the vote, becoming the youngest pitcher to win the award. It was the only year Koufax failed to win the award during his most dominant stretch from 1963-1966.

#18 1979 season – Don Baylor’s MVP Season

In 1979, Don Baylor led the Angels to their first divisional title with the team’s best offensive year to date. He got off to a blistering start, hitting an AL record 28 RBI in the month of April. “Groove” became so proficient at driving players in, that radio host Dick Enberg started referring to his RBI as “runs Baylored in.”

In one game (8/25/79) that epitomizes his season, Baylor set a team record by smashing 8 RBI (since surpassed), going 3 for 7 with 2 home runs, a double, and 3 runs scored, helping the Halos crush Toronto 24-2.

Baylor finished the season with 36 HR, a team record and league leading 139 RBI, a LL 120 runs, 22 stolen bases, and a .296 BA to capture 20 of a possible 28 first place MVP votes; the first Angel to win the award. He also won two “Player of the Month” Awards – in May and July – and made the All-Star team. Most important of all, he led the Angels into October for the first time in their history.

#19 2004 season – Vladimir Guerrero’s MVP Season

In 2004, Vladimir Guerrero (who signed with the Angels as a free agent over the winter) carried the Angels to their first divisional championship in 18 seasons. Vladi’s monster night of the season came on June 2 against the Red Sox. Facing Sox ace Pedro Martinez and company, Guerrero went 4-for-4 with 2 HR, a double, 2 runs, and 9 RBI. His three run blast against Mike Timlin in the sixth put the Angels up for good as they coasted to a 10-7 win.

Even more important was his torrid September, in which he batted .371 with 10 HR, 23 RBI, and 24 runs scored to win the AL Player of the Month Award. During the final week alone, he batted .560 with 6 home runs, 9 runs, and 11 RBI against the Rangers and the A’s as the Angels went from one game down to winning the division by a single game.

Vladi finished the year with 39 HR, 126 RBI, a team record and league leading 124 runs, a LL 366 total bases, 15 stolen bases, and a .337 BA. He received 21 of 28 first place votes to win the Angels’ second MVP Award. He also made the All-Star team and won a Silver Slugger Award.

#20 2000 season – Yankee Stadium, N.Y. - Darin Erstad’s Record-Breaking Season

In Y2K, Darin Erstad put together one of the greatest offensive performances in Angels’ history. He set Angels’ team records with a league leading 240 hits, a .355 BA, 366 total bases, and 121 runs scored (since broken). He also hit 25 HR, stole 28 bases, and broke a ML record with 100 RBI out of the leadoff spot. Erstad played in the All-Star game and won both the Golden Glove and Silver Slugger Awards.

His signature game came on 8/18/00 in an extra inning victory over the Yankees. The Angels came back from an 8-3 deficit in the ninth to tie the game. With a runner at third base in the bottom of the 10^th, Erstad made a full extension dive, snagging the third out to save the game. He then hit a HR in the 11^th to win it, going 2 for 5 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored in the 9-8 victory.

#21 1986 season – Anaheim Stadium - Wally World

In 1986, a young rookie named Wally Joyner was called on the take the place of future Hall of Famer Rod Carew. If Wally was nervous, he didn’t show it. In the first eight weeks of the season, the rookie 1B went on a tear.

On May 26, against the Yankees, the Bronx bombers were leading 7-6 in the ninth, with Dave Righetti on the mound. With two outs, and Brian Downing on first, Joyner belted his league leading 16^th home run of the year to put the Angels up 8-7. The win evened the Halos record at 22-22, ending a 5 game losing streak, and pulled them to within a ½ game of first place.

Anaheim Stadium (particularly the right field bleachers) was unofficially renamed “Wally World” as the fans started chanting his name and flashing Wally World signs every time he came to bat. Joyner was so popular, that he became the first rookie voted onto the All-Star team as a starter by the fans. He added to his legacy when he tied for first with Darryl Strawberry in the HR Derby. When his extended set rookie card hit stores later that month, it was worth more than its weight in gold, as collectors snatched it up by the dozen hoping to strike it rich.

A staph infection sapped his strength during the second half of the season, and eventually sidelined him in the playoffs. Nevertheless, Wally finished with a .290 BA, 22 HR, 82 runs, and 100 RBI (including a rookie record 14 game-winning RBI) to finish second in the Rookie of the Year voting after helping the Angels win their third ever divisional title with a record of 92-70. Perhaps the loss of Joyner, and his youthful exuberance, was the biggest factor in the Angels’ collapse to Boston over the last three games of the 1986 ALCS.

In any case, Wally’s megawatt smile, smooth swing, superb defense, and timely hitting made 1986 a year to remember.

#22 09/13/08 – Angel Stadium of Anaheim - K-Rod’s Saves Record

2008 was a banner season for the Angels. Not only did the Angels win 100 games for the only time in franchise history, but Francisco Rodriguez saved a Major League record 62 of them.

On 9/13/08, K-Rod came in to hold a 5-2 Angels’ lead over the Seattle Mariners in the top of the ninth. After allowing a hit and a walk, he got a force out at second for the first out. Then, true to his nickname, he struck out the final two hitters to record his 58^th save of the season, breaking Bobby Thigpen’s record.

During Frankie’s record setting year, he led the league with 76 games pitched and a team record 69 games finished, made the All-Star team, and finished third in the Cy Young balloting.

#23 2000 season – Edison Field - Troy Glaus’s 47 Home Runs

In 2000, Troy Glaus set the Angels’ single-season records with a league leading 47 HR and a .604 SLG%. At the time, the 47 homers set a record (since broken) for the most HR by an AL 3B. He also scored 120 runs, smashed 102 RBI, and batted .284 to make the All-Star team and win the Silver Slugger Award.

Not only did Glaus break the team record, Troy was the leader of a quartet of Angels sluggers to become the first AL foursome to hit 30+ HR in the same season - together with Mo Vaughn (36), Garret Anderson (35) and Tim Salmon (34). In all, the 2000 Angels shattered the team record with 236 home runs.

En route to those prolific feats, Glaus, Vaughn, and Salmon combined their power to accomplish another ML first. On Apr. 21, in a game against the Devil Rays, Vaughn and Salmon led of the bottom of the 4^th with back-to-back homers that tied the game at two runs a piece. Two batters later, Glaus blasted a two-run shot to give the Halos the lead. Then in the 9^th, with the game tied 6-6, the threesome did it again – each one hammering their own nail in the Devil Rays’ coffin. Not only did the Angels win the game 9-6, the three Angels became the first trio of teammates in history to homer in the same inning twice in the same game.

#24 08/21/07 – Angel Stadium of Anaheim - Garret Anderson’s 10 RBI vs. NYY

Clinging to a slim lead over Seattle in the AL West in late August, the Angels hosted the ever dangerous New York Yankees. Facing former ace Mike Mussina, Garret Anderson proceeded to put on one of the greatest offensive displays of all-time.

In the first, Garret knocked in two runs with one of his trademark doubles. In the second, he doubled again, scoring Guerrero with two outs. He came around to score on Gary Matthews’s single that chased Mussina.

With a 7-1 lead, it appeared that the Angels had the game well in hand; but the very next inning, the Yanks put up a four spot, narrowing the gap to two. Naturally, G.A. came up with two on and two out in the bottom of the inning with a chance to extend the lead. With the count full, he blasted a 3-run home run to deep right-center.

After a groundout in the fifth, Anderson came up with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth. If there were any lingering doubts about the game’s final outcome, Garret immediately put them to rest. This time he drilled a line drive over the right field fence for a grand slam. He himself crossed the plate for his record breaking tenth RBI of the game, and a commanding 18-5 lead.

Although he grounded out in his final at-bat, G.A had the night of his life, going 4-for-6 with 2 HR, 2 doubles, 3 runs, and a franchise record 10 RBI to bomb the Bronx Bombers 18-9. The win preserved a two game lead over the Mariners en route to the Angels’ third divisional title in four years.

#25 06/18/86 – Anaheim Stadium - Don Sutton’s 300th Win

Don Sutton started his 21^st Major League season with 295 career victories. On June 18, the Angels were battling for first place, a game and a half behind the Texas Rangers. Don Sutton took the mound in Anaheim Stadium against those same Rangers in hopes of cutting that deficit to a mere half game.

In the first inning, the Angels scored three runs on three singles and a pair of walks. Ruppert Jones tacked on another run with a solo home run in the fifth.

In the seventh inning, Sutton gave up a solo home run to Pete Incaviglia. But Brian Downing got the run back with a solo home run of his own in the bottom of the frame.

Sutton took the mound in the ninth with a 5-1 lead, and a chance to make history. Scott Fletcher led off with a fly ball to center. Oddibe McDowell followed with a fly ball out as well. Sutton then struck out Gary Ward for the final out of the game – a three-hit complete game that was his ticket to Cooperstown.

Sutton would go on to win 15 games in ‘86, with a very respectable 3.74 ERA, as the Angels won their third divisional title. Sutton finished his career with 324 total wins (28 as an Angel), which was good enough for 12^th place on the all-time list. He was enshrined at Cooperstown in 1998.

#26 08/04/85 – Anaheim Stadium - Rod Carew’s 3000th Hit

Rod Carew played the first twelve years of his Hall of Fame career for the Twins, winning seven batting titles. He played the last seven for the Angels, posting a career .314 batting average in Anaheim. It seems poetic that he stroked his 3,000^th career hit in a 6-5 win over the Twins.

In the first inning, Carew came to bat with 2,999 career hits. Unfortunately, he grounded the ball back to Twins’ pitcher Frank Viola for an out. In the third, Rod stepped up to the plate again. With one out, and a runner on first, he lined a slider into leftfield for #3000. The Angels would go on to win the game 6-5, building a four game lead in the AL West.

It was a magical moment for the Angel first baseman who was putting the final touches on his Hall of Fame career. Rod, the first foreign born member of the 3,000 hit club, would retire at the end of the season with 3,053 career hits and a .328 career batting average. Not only was Carew immortalized in Cooperstown, both clubs retired his number.

#27 09/17/84 – Anaheim Stadium - Reggie Jackson’s 500th Home Run

Before the steroid era hit, 500 home runs guaranteed your election into the Hall of Fame. Reggie Jackson hit his 500^th while in the thick of the pennant race, in a key game against the Kansas City Royals.

Reggie stepped up to the plate to lead off the seventh inning. The Royals’ Bud Black was pitching a dandy, and was leading 7-0. Reggie smashed Black’s first offering deep to right for #500 – 17 years to the day after he hit his first career home run. Unfortunately, it was the only run in a 10-1 loss to the Royals.

Reggie would ultimately hit 25 homers on the season, and the Angels would finish tied for 2^nd place - three games behind Kansas City. Reggie retired after the 1987 season with 563 home runs – 123 of them with the Angels.

#28 08/18/09 – Progressive Field, Cleveland - All 9 Angels Finish at .300+ BA

The game appeared to be your typical 5-4 victory. At first glance, it didn’t appear to be special in any way except that it produced the first victory of Trevor Bell’s career.

But then you take a closer look at the game end batting averages of the nine Angels in the line-up: Chone Figgins, 3B - .308; Bobby Abreu, RF - .310; Juan Rivera, LF - .310; Vladimir Guerrero, DH - .313; Kendry Morales, 1B - .303; Torii Hunter, CF - .307; Maicer Izturis, 2B - .300; Mike Napoli, C - .300; and Erick Aybar, SS - .313.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, this was the first time a team had finished a game with its entire line-up batting .300+ at least 100 games into the season since 1934. Alas, it would only last for that one game. Napoli, who went 2 for 4 in the game to reach the .300 plateau, would see his batting average steadily drop over the final month and a half and end up at .272. In fact, the only Angels who would end up at .300+ at season’s end were: Morales (.306), Aybar (.312), and Izturis (.300). Nevertheless, the Angels would bat a team record .285 on the season (including a record .297 with runners in scoring position). They also scored a team record 883 runs with a record 1,604 hits on their way to 97 wins, and their third straight divisional championship.

#29 1993 season – Tim Salmon’s ROY Award

In 1993, Tim Salmon became the Angels’ first and only Rookie of the Year, and did so by a unanimous vote. Despite a slow start, the 1992 Minor League Player of the Year ended up batting .283, with a .382 OB%, a .536 SLG%, 35 doubles, 31 home runs, 93 runs, and 95 RBI. He set Angel rookie records for home runs, doubles, extra base hits (67), and walks (82). He also led the league in putouts for a RF with 334.

On May 23, in a game that epitomized his value to the team, Salmon went 3 for 4 with a single, a double, a home run, 2 runs scored, and 4 RBI. All 4 RBI were knocked in with two outs as the Angels beat the Rangers 6-2. Prior to the game, Salmon was hitting .256 with only 6 home runs. From there, the notorious slow starter picked up the pace to finish with a bang!

Although the Angels had an off year in ’93, Salmon was a rare bright spot. And he was no flash in the pan either. Salmon would play his entire career for the Angels and finish as the team’s all-time leader in several categories, including career home runs with 299.

#30 2005 season – Bartolo Colon’s CY Award Season

In 2005, the Angels won back-to-back A.L West titles for the first time in their history; finishing with a record of 95-67. This time, Bartolo Colon led the way with a 21-8 record, a 3.48 ERA, 157 strikeouts, and a career low 43 walks.

The Angel All-Star’s most dominant game of the year probably came on May 1, when he went battled the Twins’ ace Johan Santana. Santana was unbeaten on the season, and the Angels were clinging to a one game lead in the West. Bartolo stepped up to the challenge, pitching 7 1/3 scoreless innings, while allowing only 2 hits and striking out seven to help secure a 2-1 victory and preserve the Angels’ narrow lead.

By the end of the season, the big right-hander was the league’s only 20 game-winner and garnered 17 of 28 first place votes (the only pitcher named on every ballot) as he become the second Cy Young Award winner in franchise history.

Unfortunately, Bartolo was injured in his second start during the postseason, missing the ALCS completely as the Angels fell to the White Sox after defeating the Yankees in the ALDS. Still, his dominant season will go down as one of the best in Angels’ history.