#15 Frank Tanana, LHP (1973-1980)

Frank was picked by the Angels in the 1^st round of the 1971 amateur draft. He came up briefly in the 1973 season, and joined the starting rotation in 1974. As a rookie, Frank was named The Sporting News’ AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year. Tanana, together with teammate Nolan Ryan, formed the nucleus of the Angels’ pitching staff of the ‘70s – often referred to as Tanana & Ryan, then two days of cryin’. He won at least 14 games every year from ’74-’78, and had an ERA under 3.00 with at least 200 strikeouts every season from ’75-’77. In recognition of his efforts, Tanana made three straight All-Star teams, and finished in the top ten in the Cy Young voting three times. He won the AL Player of the Month Award three times (9/76, 5/77, & 4/78). The highlight of his Angel career had to be pitching a complete game to clinch the AL West title in ’79 only a few weeks after returning from the DL. Tanana also pitched an Angel record 14 straight complete games, including a LL 7 shutouts, in 1977. Unfortunately, the physical stress from that feat likely caused a career-altering injury that would force him to change his style from a flamethrower to a finesse pitcher. Nevertheless, he would go on to win 240 games in his career.

Frank set the Angels’ single season record with a LL 0.988 WHIP in 1976. He finished among the team’s Top Ten single season leaders in:

- WAR for pitchers (3x – ’75, ’76, ‘77)

- ERA (twice – ’76, ‘77)

- Wins (once – ‘76)

- WHIP (twice – ’76, ‘77)

- H/9 IP (once – ‘76)

- K/9 IP (once – ‘75)

- Innings pitched (once – ‘76)

- Strikeouts (twice – ’75, ‘76)

- CG (3x – ’75, ’76, ‘77)

- SHO (twice – ’75, ‘77)

- K/BB (3x - ’75, ’76, ‘77)

* League leader years highlighted

Frank was traded with Jim Dorsey and Joe Rudi to the Red Sox for Fred Lynn and Steve Renko following the 1980 season. After pitching 8 seasons at the Big A, Tanana ranks among the Angels’ career Top Ten with:

- a 34.2 WAR for pitchers (3^rd)

- a 3.08 ERA (5^th)

- 102 wins (T4th)

- a .567 W/L % (9^th)

- a 1.166 WHIP (3^rd)

- 8.140 H/9 IP (10^th)

- 2.351 BB/9 IP (5^th)

- 1,615.3 innings (4^th)

- 1,233 strikeouts (4^th)

- 218 games started (5^th)

- 92 complete games (2^nd)

- 24 shutouts (2^nd)

- 2.922 K/BB (2^nd)