#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.