In almost 50 years as a Major League Baseball franchise, the California Angels have achieved great success since their start in 1961. From their first game victory by a 7-2 margin against the Baltimore Orioles on April 11, 1961, to their 2002 World Series Championship, their have been a number of highlights worth remembering. Here are just a few great moments in their history:
In 1961, after winning their opening game at Baltimore Memorial Stadium, the California Angels continued on to the best record of an expansion team in major league baseball history with a 70-91 record and .435 winning percentage.
In 1964, the California Angels pitcher Dean Chance was named the youngest winner of the Cy Young Award for his 20-9 record with a 1.65 ERA.
In 1973, Nolan Ryan became the 5th Major League pitcher to throw two no-hitters in one season. The first happened against the Kansas City Royals on May 15th, and the second happened July 15th against the Detroit Tigers. Over 291 games with the California Angels, Ryan’s record was 138-121 with a 3.06 ERA.
In 1979, the Angels made it to the postseason for the first time before exiting in the ALCS in four games against the Baltimore Orioles.
In 1984, Reggie Jackson became the 13th baseball player to hit 500 home runs while a member of the California Angels. That same year, Angel pitcher Mike Witt became the 13th pitcher in Major League history to toss a perfect game.
In 1985, Rod Carew became the 16th player to get 3,000 hits. He played for seven years with the Angels, including the game against the Minnesota Twins where he got career hit number 3,000 against pitcher Frank Viola. Later, he would serve as the team’s hitting coach for eight years.
In 1986, pitcher Don Sutton won his 300th career victory on the mound of Anaheim Stadium against the Texas Rangers.
In 1988, the Angels used the 8th pick of the draft to take a one handed pitcher from the University of Michigan named Jim Abbott, who became one of only three pitchers in the 1980s to win their first game in the Major Leagues.
In 2002, the California Angels were named World Champions after defeating the San Francisco Giants in a seven game World Series following playoff victories over the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins. The championship was even more magical because of the incredible transformation from the start of the season. At the start of April, their record after 20 games was a franchise worst 6-14, 10.5 games behind Seattle.
In 2004, the California Angels played before a franchise record 3,375,677 fans at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Originally opened as Anaheim Stadium in 1966, and renamed Edison International Field in 1998 after a $100 million renovation, the stadium came to be known as Angel Stadium at the end of 2003. Prior to playing at Anaheim Stadium, the Angels spent a year at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles and four years with their home field at Dodger Stadium.
