As the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim complete their 55th season, I decided to add to my blog by choosing the 55 greatest Angels based on their uniform numbers (as well as runner-ups where applicable). FYI - Some of the players assigned to a number might be better known for another number (ie. Aybar #2); but if another number that they wore didn't have another strong candidate, I assigned them to that number instead. Choosing #27 was the hardest. How do you choose between two of the five greatest Angels of all-time. By the end of his career, Trout should be the clear-cut winner. But has he already surpassed Vladi - who led the Angels during the franchise's greatest five year stretch to date? I finally just awarded a tie. #25 had three worthy candidates, and may be the most controversial choice. The other really controversial one will be #40. Finally, I didn't choose anyone at 3 numbers between 1-55 in order to add 3 numbers greater than 55. In any case, here is my list:
1 - Bengie Molina (C) - .273 BA, 63 HR, 362 RBI, 250 R, 2 SB
2 - Adam Kennedy (2B) - .280 BA, 51 HR, 353 RBI, 435 R, 123 SB
3 - Mickey Rivers (OF) - .280 BA, 5 HR, 122 RBI, 220 R, 126 SB; RU - Johnny Ray (2B)
4 - Bobby Grich (2B) - .269 BA, 154 HR, 557 RBI, 601 R, 27 SB; RU - Sandy Alomar (2B)
5 - Brian Downing (C/OF) - .271 BA, 222 HR, 846 RBI, 889 R, 27 SB; RU - Albert Pujols (1B)
6 - Chone Figgins (UTIL) - .291 BA, 31 HR, 341 RBI, 596 R, 280 SB; RU - J.T. Snow (1B)
7 - Buck Rodgers (C) - .232 BA, 31 HR, 288 RBI, 259 R, 17 SB; RU - Rick Burlson (SS)
8 - Bob Boone (C) - .245 BA, 39 HR, 318 RBI, 286 R, 11 SB; RU - Kendrys Morales (1B)
9 - Dick Schofield (SS) - .232 BA, 48 HR, 280 RBI, 404 R, 99 SB
10 - Rex Hudler (2B) - .293 BA, 30 HR, 87 RBI, 107 R, 29 SB & announcer
11 - Jim Fregosi (SS) - .268 BA, 115 HR, 546 RBI, 691 R, 71 SB; RU - Doug DeCinces (3B)
12 - Mark Langston (SP) - 3.97 ERA, 88 W, 1112 K, 1.309 WHIP
13 - Maicer Izturis (UTIL) - .276 BA, 33 HR, 297 RBI, 360 R, 87 SB; RU - Lance Parrish (C)
14 - Mike Scioscia (MGR) - Mike has led the Angels to 1,416 wins, 1 championship and 6 AL West titles.
15 - Tim Salmon (OF) - .282 BA, 299 HR, 1116 RBI, 986 R, 48 SB; RU - Kirk McCaskill (SP)
16 - Garret Anderson (OF) - .296 BA, 272 HR, 1,292 RBI, 1,024 R, 78 SB; RU - Jack Howell (3B)
17 - Darin Erstad (OF/1B) - .286 BA, 114 HR, 625 RBI, 818 R, 170 SB; RU - Alex Johnson (OF)
18 - Orlando Cabrera (SS) - .281 BA, 25 HR, 215 RBI, 266 R, 68 SB
19 - Fred Lynn (OF) - .271 BA, 71 HR, 270 RBI, 257 R, 12 SB
20 - Don Sutton (SP) - 4.16 ERA, 28 W, 231 K, 1.199 WHIP; RU - Gary Pettis (OF)
21 - Wally Joyner (1B) - .286 BA, 117 HR, 532 RBI, 469 R, 29 SB; RU - Juan Rivera (OF)
22 - David Eckstein (SS) - .278 BA, 17 HR, 170 RBI, 340 R, 82 SB
23 - Scott Spiezio (1B) - .268 BA, 58 HR, 268 RBI, 253 R, 18 SB; Doug Corbett (RP)
24 - Chili Davis (OF) - .279 BA, 156 HR, 618 RBI, 520 R, 28 SB; Bruce Kison (P)
25 - Troy Glaus (3B) - .253 BA, 182 HR, 515 RBI, 523 R, 49 SB; RU - Don Baylor (OF)/Jim Edmonds (OF)
26 - Gene Autrey - Team Owner, and designated 26th man, for the team's first 38 years
27 (tie) - Vladimir Guerrero (OF) - .319 BA, 173 HR, 616 RBI, 544 R, 52 SB
- Mike Trout (OF) - .304 BA, 139 HR, 397 RBI, 477 R, 113 SB
28 - Albie Pearson (OF) - .275 BA, 24 HR, 167 RBI, 374 R, 61 SB; RU - Bert Blyleven (SP)
29 - Rod Carew (1B) - .314 BA, 18 HR, 282 RBI, 474 R, 82 SB; RU - Bobby Knoop (2B)
30 - Nolan Ryan (SP) - 3.07 ERA, 138 W, 2,416 K, 1.294 WHIP; RU - Devon White (OF)
31 - Chuck Finley (SP) - 3.72 ERA, 165 W, 2,151 K, 1.369 WHIP; RU - Dean Chance (SP)
32 - Erick Aybar (SS) - .276 BA, 48 HR, 417 RBI, 572 R, 141 SB
33 - Gary Disarcina (SS) - .258 BA, 28 HR, 355 RBI, 444 R, 47 SB; RU - CJ Wilson (SP)
34 - Bryan Harvey (RP) - 2.49 ERA, 126 S, 365 K, 1,121 WHIP; RU - Rudy May (SP)
35 - Casey Kotchman (1B) - .274 BA, 31 HR, 165 RBI, 140 R, 8 SB
36 - Jered Weaver (SP) - 3.40 ERA, 138 W, 1,495 K, 1.159 WHIP; RU - Ramon Ortiz (SP)
37 - Mark Trumbo (1B) - .250 BA, 95 HR, 284 RBI, 218 R, 18 SB; RU - Donnie Moore (RP)
38 - Clyde Wright (SP) - 3.28 ERA, 87 W, 571 K, 1.253 WHIP; RU - Geoff Zahn (SP)
39 - Mike Witt (SP) - 3.76 ERA, 109 W, 1,283 K, 1.317 WHIP; RU - Bob Lee (RP)
40 - Troy Percival (RP) - 2.99 ERA, 316 S, 680 K, 1.101 WHIP; RU - Frank Tanana (SP)
41 - John Lackey (SP) - 3.81 ERA, 102 W, 1,201 K, 1.306 WHIP
42 - none
43 - Garrett Richards (SP) - 3.65 ERA, 39 W, 491 K, 1.255 WHIP; RU - Ken Forsch (SP)
44 - Reggie Jackson (DH) - .239 BA, 123 HR, 374 RBI, 331 R, 14 SB; RU - Mike Napoli (C)
45- Kelvim Escobar (SP) - 3.60 ERA, 43 W, 566 K, 1.264 WHIP
46 - Don Aase (P) - 3.91 ERA, 39 W, 27 S, 369 K, 1.435 WHIP
47 - Howie Kendrick (2B) - .292 BA, 78 HR, 501 RBI, 534 R, 95 SB; RU - Andy Messersmith (SP)
48 - Torii Hunter (OF) - .286 BA, 105 HR, 432 RBI, 396 R, 60 SB
49 - none
50 - Jimmie Reese (Coach) - The longtime coach didn't play for the Angels, but had his number retired.
51 - Joe Saunders (SP) - 4.29 ERA, 54 W, 392 K, 1.392 WHIP
52 - Jim Abbott (SP) - 4.07 ERA, 54 W, 607 K, 1.419 WHIP
53 - Brendan Donnelly (RP) - 2.87 ERA, 23 W, 295 K, 1.166 WHIP; RU - Bobby Abreu (OF)
54 - Ervin Santana (SP) - 4.33 ERA, 96 W, 1,167 K, 1.300 WHIP
55 - none
56 - Jarrod Washburn (SP) - 3.93 ERA, 75 W, 699 K, 1.275 WHIP; RU - Kole Calhoun
57 - Frankie Rodriguez (RP) - 2.35 ERA, 208 S, 587 K, 1.114 WHIP
62 - Scot Shields (RP) - 3.18 ERA, 46 W, 21 S, 631 K, 1.244 WHIP
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