Meet the Angels P art of the fun of playing baseball is getting your uniform dirty The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim know this better than tter than grass anyone After a game their uniforms are full of dirt and grass stains and even a rip or two That’s because the Angels play y with the same passion they had as kids Talent and skill get a player to the big leagues It takes effort and heart for a team to win That is what the Angels are all about Their fans love them for giving everything they’ve got This book tells the story of the Angels Their part of the country is known for its warm weather and relaxed lifestyle But playing the Angels is no vacation When teams s step on the field in Anaheim they know it’s time to get their their uniforms dirty too because the Angels always play to win The Angels celebrate their 2002 championship At times like these the players seem more like happy kids than grown-ups 5
Glory Days D uring the 1950s and 1960s Major League Baseball moved west for the first time In 1958 the Giants and Dodgers of the National League NL moved from New York to California Three years later the American League AL also added a new team in California the Los Angeles Angels They shared a ballpark with the Dodgers for four seasons In 1965 the team changed its name to the California Angels A year later they moved south to the city of Anaheim During the 1960s the Angels did a good job finding young talent They amazed the experts when they finished third in the AL in 1962 Their leading hitters during this decade included Jim Fregosi Buck Rodgers Bobby Knoop Jose Cardenal Jay Johnstone and Rick Reichardt Among their top pitchers were Dean Chance Jim McGlothlin and Bob Lee 6
In the years that followed the Angels relied more and more on pitching Andy Messersmith Clyde Wright Nolan Ryan and Frank Tanana were all big winners in the 1970s But the team needed better hitting before it could compete for a championship To strengthen their offense the Angels turned to veterans such as Rod Carew Bobby Grich and Don Baylor They helped the team reach the top of the AL West in 1979 The Angels won the AL West crown again in 1982 Their roster included several more experienced players including Reggie Jackson LEFT This trading card shows the 1961 Angels ABOVE Fans mob the Angels after the team’s AL West championship in 1982 7
