www abdopublishing com Published by Abdo Publishing a division of ABDO PO Box 398166 Minneapolis Minnesota 55439 Copyright 2015 by Abdo Consulting Group Inc International copyrights reserved in all countries No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher SportsZone is a trademark and logo of Abdo Publishing Printed in the United States of America North Mankato Minnesota 052014 092014 Editor Matt Tustison Copy Editor Nicholas Cafarelli Interior Design and Production Carol Castro Cover Design Christa Schneider Photo Credits Mark J Terrill AP Images cover 4 36 43 top and middle Paul Shane AP Images title Lenny Ignelzi AP Images 7 Amy Sancetta AP Images 8 Julie Jacobson AP Images 11 AP Images 12 42 top File AP Images 15 Stf HF AP Images 17 Photo by Focus On Sport Getty Images 18 21 42 middle Getty Images 23 Photo by Ronald C Modra Sports Imagery Getty Images 24 42 bottom Lennox McLendon AP Images 27 Dave Tenenbaum AP Images 29 30 Stephen Dunn Allsport Getty Images 33 Photo by J D Cuban Getty Images 35 Chris Carlson AP Images 39 41 43 bottom Mark Avery AP Images 44 Jae C Hong AP Images 47 Library of Congress Control Number 2014933055 Cataloging-in-Publication Data Wilson Bernie Los Angeles Angels by Bernie Wilson p cm Inside MLB Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 978-1-62403-473-2 1 Los Angeles Angels Baseball team History Juvenile literature I Title GV875 A6W56 2015 796 357’640979496 dc23 2014933055
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 World Champs at Last 4 Chapter 2 City of Angels 12 Chapter 3 Ryan Express Then Team Success 18 Chapter 4 One Strike Away 24 Chapter 5 Under the Radar 30 Chapter 6 The Scioscia Era 36 Timeline 42 Quick Stats 44 Quotes and Anecdotes 45 Glossary 46 For More Information 47 Index 48 About the Author 48
CHAPTER 1 WORLD CHAMPS AT LAST
A fter more than 40 years of waiting the Anaheim Angels and their fans finally got to celebrate a World Series championship On October 27 2002 center fielder Darin Erstad caught Kenny Lofton’s fly ball with two run ners on and two outs in the top of the ninth inning The catch preserved the Angels 4 1 victory in Game 7 over the San Francisco Giants The final out set off a cel ebration worthy of Disneyland which is located just a few miles from the Angels home stadium A World Series championship had finally come to the suburbs of Los Angeles These fans have been waiting a long long time for this said third baseman Troy Glaus the World Series Most Valuable Player MVP We’re all happy to be part of the team to bring it to them Catcher Bengie Molina jumps into closer Troy Percival’s arms as third Catcher Bengie Molina jumps into closer Troy Percival’s arms as third baseman Troy Glaus left celebrates with them after the Angels won the baseman Troy Glaus left celebrates with them after the Angels won the 2002 World Series It was the team’s first world championship 2002 World Series It was the team’s first world championship t WORLD CHAMPS AT LAST 5
