#7 Chuck Finley, LHP (1986-1999)

Chuck was drafted by the Angels in the 1984 draft. He climbed the ladder to Anaheim during the 1986 season, contributing to the division winners with a 3-1 record and a 3.30 ERA out of the bullpen. On July 29, 1997, the four-time Angel All-Star passed Nolan Ryan as the Angels all-time leader in wins. Because of his exceptional sinkerball, Chuck sometimes had third strikes dropped by his catchers, allowing the runner to reach first. As a result, he is the only pitcher in ML history to strike out 4 batters in an inning multiple times in his career – twice with the Angels, and once with the Indians. From July 1, 1997 – May 2, 1998, Chuck set a team record by winning 14 consecutive decisions.

Finley’s best season was 1990, when he won 18 games, with a 2.40 ERA (6^th), and a 7.5 WAR for pitchers (7^th) to finish 7^th for the Cy Young Award. Throughout his career, he was a solid starter, consistently finishing among the league leaders in starts, innings and strikeouts, and had a LL 13 CG in ‘93.

Chuck pitched 14 years (1^st) with the Angels, before signing with Cleveland for the 2000 season. He is the Angels’ career leader with:

- 165 wins

- 2,675 innings

- a 49.2 WAR for pitchers

- 11,398 batters faced

- 379 starts

Finley also ranks among the Angels’ all-time career Top Ten with:

- 7.237 K/9 IP (6^th)

- 436 games pitched (3^rd)

- 2,151 strikeouts (2^nd)

- 57 complete games (4^th)

- 14 shutouts (T4th)

- 2 postseason games finished (T8th)

#8 Darin Erstad, 1B, OF (1996-2006)

Darin was the first pick of the 1995 amateur draft. He made his debut the very next year, finishing sixth for the ROY Award despite playing less than half of a season. Darin was the heart and soul of the 2002 team that won the World Series, leading them with hustle and grit. He batted .339 in 29 postseason games as an Angel, and cranked out a ML record 25 hits in the ’02 postseason. His Game 6 homer in the ’02 World Series kept the momentum going following Spiezio’s three-run shot, and set the stage for Glaus’s two-run double to win it. It was almost poetic that Erstad caught the final out of Game 7 to clinch it. The two-time Angel All-Star ranks among the all-time ML postseason leaders with:

- a .388 BA (T5th, career LDS)

- a .643 OB% (’04 - T9th, single LDS; 9^th, single PS)

- 71 AB (’02 – T7th, single PS)

- 18 singles (’02 – T3rd, single PS)

Defensively, Erstad was without peer! He won Gold Gloves in ’00, ’02, and ’04 - the first player to ever win a GG in both the infield and the outfield - and holds the top three franchise marks (all LL) in defensive WAR (including 3.8 in ’02). He led the AL with 452 putouts (CF) in ’02, and his career .997 fielding % in CF and .996 F% in OF are MLB records.

Although critics sometimes complain that his offensive numbers were sporadic, a lot of that had to do with nagging injuries resulting from his full throttle style of play. In any case, Erstad cranked out one of the greatest offensive seasons in Angels’ history when he won a Silver Slugger Award in 2000. That year he set several Angels’ single season records with a .355 BA, a league-leading 747 plate appearances, a LL 240 hits, a LL 170 singles, 366 total bases, and 305 times on base. He also set other Top Ten season marks with a 7.7 WAR (T2nd), a 0.951 OPS (7^th), a LL 676 AB (2^nd), 121 runs (2^nd), and a .709 offensive win % (10^th). He also set a ML record with 100 RBI out of the leadoff spot. Although his other seasons never quite matched his production in ’00, he could usually be counted on for 150+ hits, 80+ runs, and 20+ stolen bases. I would also wager that he is the unofficial career leader in “Rally Monkey hits.”

Darin was signed by the White Sox as a Free Agent following the 2006 season. After 11 seasons in Anaheim, Darin is the Angels’ career leader with:

- a 13.9 Defensive WAR

- a 136.5 Power-Speed mark

- 18 postseason runs

- 40 postseason hits

- 9 postseason doubles

- 4 postseason SB

Erstad ranks among the Angels’ career Top Ten with:

- a 28.0 WAR (6^th)

- 1,320 games (5^th)

- 5,258 at bats (4^th)

- 818 runs (4^th)

- 1,505 hits (4^th)

- 2,186 total bases (4^th)

- 1,082 singles (2^nd)

- 279 doubles (4^th)

- 30 triples (6^th)

- 625 RBI (4^th)

- 419 walks (7^th)

- 170 stolen bases (4^th)

- 1,959 times on base (5^th)

- 423 extra base hits (4^th)

- 39 sacrifice flies (T8th)

- 40 intentional walks (9^th)

- 6,326 putouts (3^rd)

- a .995 F% (T3rd)

- 29 postseason games (T3^rd)

- 127 postseason PA (3^rd)

- 3 postseason HR (T5^th)

- 12 postseason RBI (T6^th)

- 5 postseason walks (T9^th)

- 58 postseason TB (T2^nd)

- a .339 postseason BA (3^rd)

- a .368 postseason OB% (6^th)

- a .492 postseason SLG% (6^th)

- a .860 postseason OPS (5^th)

#9 Bobby Grich, 2B (1977-1986)

Bobby signed a Free Agent deal with the Angels after the 1976 season. Grich had an All-Star year with the Angels in 1979, belting 30 HR and 101 RBI to help the Angels win their first divisional championship, and even finish 8^th in the MVP voting. In the strike-shortened 1981 season, he led the AL with 22 HR, 16.0 AB/HR, and a .543 SLG% to win a Silver Slugger Award. During his tenure with the club, Bobby’s clutch hitting and smooth defense at second (he led the AL with a .997 fielding % in ’85), earned him a place on three All-Star squads, and helped the Angels win their first 3 AL West titles (’79, ’82, & ’86).

            Grich played 10 years in Anaheim before retiring as the team’s all-time greatest second baseman in 1986. The Angels wouldn’t return to the postseason until after they finally acquired Adam Kennedy to anchor second base almost a decade and a half later. Bobby, who was deservedly the first inductee in the Angels’ Hall of Fame, is the team’s career leader with:

- 1,097 games at 2B

- 859 DP turned

Grich ranks among the Angels’ career Top Ten with:

- a 35.0 WAR (4^th)

- a .370 OB% (6^th)

- 1,222 games (6^th)

- 4,100 at bats (6^th)

- 601 runs (6^th)

- 1,103 hits (6^th)

- 1,788 total bases (6^th)

- 746 singles (8^th)

- 183 doubles (8^th)

- 154 home runs (7^th)

- 557 RBI (7^th)

- 630 walks (3^rd)

- 357 extra base hits (7^th)

- 1,774 times on base (6^th)

- .593 offensive win % (7^th)

- 41 HBP (7^th)

- 78 sacrifice hits (7^th)

- 3,597 assists (2^nd)

Grich’s Top Ten single season performances include:

- a .414 OB% (’83, 8^th)

- a .751 offensive win % (’81, 3^rd)

- 19 sacrifice hits (’78, T3rd)

#10 Troy Percival, RHP (1995-2004)

Percival was drafted by the Angels in the 1990 amateur draft. He made his big league debut in 1995, going 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA as a RP to finish 4^th in the ROY voting. In 1996, “Percy” became the team’s closer, saving 36 games with a 2.31 ERA, and making his first All-Star team. Over his career, Percy has finished among the Angels’ single-season Top Ten leaders in saves (3x), and games finished (twice).

Percy’s best season was probably 2002, when he saved 40 games, with a 4-1 record, a 1.92 ERA, and a 1.118 WHIP to finish 15^th in the MVP voting as the Angels went on to win the World Series. Troy, who recorded a 2.79 ERA and 0.931 WHIP during the ’02 postseason, was on the mound for the final pitches of the ALDS victory over the Yankees, the ALCS victory over the Twins, and the World Series victory over the Giants. The four-time All-Star ranks among the ML all-time postseason leaders with:

- 3 saves (T2nd, single WS; T7th, career WS)

- 2 saves (T7th, single LDS)

- 7 saves (T1st, single PS; T10th, career PS)

Despite K-Rods saves record in ’08, Percy still ranks as the Angels’ greatest closer. Percy signed as a Free Agent with the Detroit Tigers following the 2004 season. After 10 seasons at the Big A, Troy is the Angels’ career leader with:

- 316 saves

- 579 games

- 10.43 K/9 IP

- 6.03 H/9 IP

- a 1.101 WHIP

- 466 games finished

- a 23.2 WPA (pitchers)

- 9 postseason games finished

- 7 postseason saves

Percy also ranks among the Angels’ career Top Ten with:

- a 2.99 ERA (3^rd)

- 2.688 K/BB (6^th)

- 9 postseason games pitched (T6^th)

#11 Troy Glaus, 3B (1998-2004)

The Angels drafted Troy in the 1^st round of the 1997 amateur draft. He made it up to Anaheim during the 1998 season. In 2000, Glaus set several Angels’ single season records with a .604 SLG%, a LL 47 home runs, and 12.0 AB/HR. His record setting season also included a 7.6 WAR (4^th), a .284 BA, 1.008 OPS (2^nd), 120 runs (T3rd), 102 RBI, 340 TB (5^th), 85 extra base hits (2^nd), 112 BB (2^nd), 274 TOB (T5th) and he led AL 3B with 349 assists to make the All-Star team and win the Silver Slugger Award. He followed that up with another monster season on 2001: 161 games (T6th), 41 HR (2^nd), 100 runs, 108 RBI, 81 XBH (4^th), 107 BB (3^rd), and 14.3 AB/HR (3^rd), once again making the All-Star team and winning another Silver Slugger award.

Although Troy’s numbers dropped off slightly in 2002, he played a major role in helping the Angels win their only World Series. On 09/15/02, Glaus tied the Angel record for most HR in a game (3). Then, in October, Glaus’s postseason numbers were simply awesome. In the 2002 World Series alone he batted .385/.467/.846, with 3 HR, 8 RBI, and 7 runs to claim World Series MVP honors. His performance ranks him among the all-time ML postseason (PS) leaders with:

- a .846 SLG% (4^th, career WS)

- a 1.313 OPS (4^th, career WS)

- 22 TB (T7th, single WS)

- a .788 SLG% (2^nd, career LDS)

- a 1.139 OPS (4^th, career LDS)

- 3 HR (T5th, single LDS)

- a .756 SLG% (3^rd, career PS)

- a 1.154 OPS (7^th, career PS)

- 15 runs (8^th, single PS)

- 47 total bases (T1st, single PS)

- 7 HR (T3rd, single PS)

Overall, Glaus batted at least .300 in each of the four postseason series he participated in as an Angel, and racked up 9 HR, 16 RBI, and 18 runs scored.

The three-time Angel All-Star is definitely the greatest 3B in Angels’ history. Glaus signed with the Diamondbacks as a Free Agent following the 2004 season. In parts of 7 seasons, Glaus is the team’s career leader with:

- 778 games at 3B

- 16.3 AB/HR

- 18 postseason runs

- 9 postseason HR

- 59 postseason TB

- a .427 postseason OB%

- a .819 postseason SLG%

- a 1.246 postseason OPS

Glaus ranks among the Angels’ career Top Ten with:

- a 20.6 WAR for pitchers (9^th)

- a .497 SLG% (4^th)

- a .854 OPS (4^th)

- 523 runs (9^th)

- 1,473 total bases (10^th)

- 182 home runs (4^th)

- 470 walks (6^th)

- 354 extra base hits (8^th)

- 1,442 assists (10^th)

- 19 postseason games (T8^th)

- 82 postseason PA (8^th)

- 25 postseason hits (4^th)

- 5 postseason doubles (T2^nd)

- 1 postseason triple (T2^nd)

- 16 postseason RBI (3^rd)

- 9 postseason walks (3^rd)

- a .347 postseason BA (2^nd)

#12 Wally Joyner, 1B (1986-1991, 2001)

Wally was drafted by the Angels in the 1983 amateur draft. He replaced Rod Carew at first base for the 1986 season, and sparked the playoff run with a dazzling rookie campaign in which he became the first rookie in ML history voted onto the All-Star team, finished 2^nd in the Rookie of the Year voting, and transformed Angels’ Stadium into Wally World. He led the majors in home runs for the first couple of months of the season, and tied for first in the annual HR derby. He finished the season batting .290 with 22 HR and 100 RBI. In the playoffs that year, Joyner was batting .455 with a .909 SLG% through three games before being sidelined with a staph infection. Over his career, Joyner compiled a .485 career LCS OB%, which ranks 9^th all-time. The loss of their star first baseman may have been the difference in the Angels’ collapse vs. the BoSox.

Joyner’s sophomore season was even better – hitting .285 with 34 HR (T10th) and 117 RBI (T7th). He also tied the Angel record with 3 HR in a game (10/03/87). After that, his power numbers dropped significantly; but he continued to produce both offensively and in the field. He led the AL in putouts in ’88, ’89, and ’91, assists (1B) in ‘88.

After the 1991 season, Wally signed as Free Agent with the Royals. He returned as a Free Agent for the first three months of the 2001 season before promptly retiring when it became obvious that his best days were behind him. After 6 ½ playing for the Halos, Wally is the team’s career leader with:

- 7,686 putouts

- 879 games at 1B

Joyner ranks among Angels’ career Top Ten with:

- a .286 BA (10^th)

- 1,511 total bases (9^th)

- 175 doubles (10^th)

- 532 RBI (9^th)

- 304 extra base hits (10^th)

- a .592 offensive win % (9^th)

- 46 sacrifice flies (5^th)

- 49 intentional walks(4^th)

- 784 DP turned (3^rd)

- a .994 F% (T6th)

Joyner’s Top Ten single season performances with the Angels include:

- 34 HR (’87, T10th)

- 117 RBI (’87, T7th)

- 12 sacrifice flies (’86, T2nd)

- 14 IBB (’88, T5th)

- 12 IBB (’87, T10th)

* League leader years highlighted

#13 Rod Carew, 1B (1979-1985)

Before the 1979 season, the Angels sent four players to the Twins in exchange for perennial All-Star Rod Carew in hopes that Rod would finally get the Halos into October. Although it was Don Baylor who put up the MVP numbers, Carew did his part, batting .318 and scoring 78 runs despite missing 52 games with assorted injuries. After that, Carew just continued to hit. He was named an All-Star in his first six seasons with the Angels, and won AL Player of the Month honors in 6/80 & 5/83. He batted .319 with 88 runs as they won the division again in ‘82.

            In 1985, the final season of his career, Carew rapped out his 3000^th hit – the crowning moment of his Hall of Fame career. After 7 seasons in Anaheim, Rod retired. Carew was inducted into both the MLB Hall of Fame & the Angels’ Hall of Fame in 1991, and his #29 was retired by the club. His record proves that he was the best Angel at getting on base. His .393 OB% ranks #1 all-time. Carew also ranks among the Angels’ career Top Ten with:

- a .314 batting average (2^nd)

- 968 hits (10^th)

- 405 walks (9^th)

- 788 singles (7^th)

- 1,378 times on base (9^th)

- a .592 offensive win % (8^th)

- 60 sacrifice hits (6^th)

- 45 intentional walks (T6th)

- 676 DP turned (5^th)

- 6,587 putouts (2^nd)

            - 4 postseason doubles (T7^th)

            - 2 postseason steals (T6^th)

Carew’s Top Ten single season marks for the Angels include:

- a .339 BA (’83, 2^nd)

- a .331 BA (’80, 6^th)

- a .419 OB% (’79, 5^th)

- 16 sacrifice hits (’82, T6th)