History of the Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels were established as an American League franchise team in 1961. The original owner of the team was former cowboy actor/singer Gene Autry. Their best season was in 2008, when they had 100 wins and 62 losses, and their best decade was 2000-2009, when they had eight winning seasons and they went to the postseason six times.

1961-1969

Although the Angels' first season (1961) was a losing one, with a record of 70-91, it was a decent start for a franchise team. The following year they had a winning season but they finished in third place in the American League, far behind the league leader, the New York Yankees. Their next winning season came in 1964, but they still didn't make the postseason. They played their games in Wrigley Field in Los Angeles in 1961, but they moved to Dodger Stadium the following year.

In 1966, the Los Angeles Angels moved to Anaheim and their name changed to the California Angels, a name that stuck until 1997. They also moved their home games to Angel Stadium. The move and name change, however, did not help the Angels move up in the league. Their last winning season in their first decade came in 1967. The most wins they had was in 1962 when they won 86 games and lost 76.

The Angels had one manager, Bill Rigney, from 1961 through part of 1969. He was replaced in 1969 by Lefty Phillips, who continued to manage the team through 1971.

Some of the key players for the Angels in their first decade included Gold Glove winners shortstop Jim Fregosi and second baseman Bobby Knoop. In 1964, they had Dean Chance, the American League Cy Young award winner. That season he led the AL in wins and ERA.

1970-1979

The Angels started off the new decade with a winning season in 1970. However, their next winning season didn't come until 1978. In 1979, they finally had a team that was good enough to win a division title. It was their best season in that decade with 88 wins and 74 losses. Under the leadership of manager Jim Fregosi, the Angels won the American League West division title but they lost the American League pennant series three games to one to the Baltimore Orioles.

From 1970 through 1979, the Angels were led by seven different managers. Fregosi was preceded by Lefty Phillips in 1970 and 1971, Del Rice in 1972, Bobby Winkles in 1973 and 1974, future Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams from 1974 through part of 1976, Norm Sherry in 1976 and 1977, and Dave Garcia in 1977 and 1978. Fregosi took over from Garcia in 1978 and continued to manage the team through part of 1981.

Key players for the Angels during their second decade included future Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan (1972-1979). They also had Don Baylor (1977-1982), who led the AL in RBIs in 1979. He won the AL MVP award that year.

1980-1989

In 1982, the Angels had a new manager, Gene Mauch, and another future Hall of Famer, Reggie Jackson, on the team. That season, they won their second American League West division title. However, they lost the AL Championship Series to the Milwaukee Brewers in five games.

The Angels continued to have winning seasons from 1983 through 1985, but they didn't make the playoffs. In 1986, they again won the AL West division title. Once again, they lost the ALCS, this time to the Boston Red Sox in seven games.

Gene Mauch managed the Angels in 1981 and 1982 and again from 1985 through 1987. John McNamara followed him, managing the team in 1983 and 1984. Cookie Rojas managed them in 1988. After having losing seasons in 1987 and 1988, they hired a new manager, Doug Rader, in 1989. He continued to manage the team through part of 1991.

Key players for the Angels in the 1980s included future Hall of Famer Rod Carew (1979-1985). They also had a power hitter in Bobby Grich (1977-1986), who won a Silver Slugger award in 1981 and led the American League in home runs that season. On September 30, 1984, Mike Witt pitched a perfect game for the Angels.

1990-1999

In the 1990s, the Angels suffered many setbacks. The team was eventually sold to the Disney Company and, in 1997, they became the Anaheim Angels. Although they had winning seasons in 1995, 1997, and 1998, they didn't go to the postseason during the decade. Their best season was in 1998, when they had 85 wins and 77 losses.

The Angels had seven managers from 1990 through 1999. Doug Rader was the first, followed by Buck Rodgers from 1991 through part of 1994. John Wathan also managed the team in 1992, and Marcel Lachemann took over from Rodgers in 1994, managing the Angels through 1996. Joe Maddon had his first chance to manage in the major leagues in 1996, managing the Angels in 22 games. He managed the team again in 29 games in 1999. The team's last manager during this decade was Terry Collins, who led the team from 1997 through 1999.

Although the Angels weren't very successful from 1990 through 1999, they did have some outstanding players, including future Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Blyleven (1989-1990, 1992). In 1993, right fielder Tim Salmon won the AL Rookie of the Year award, and two years later, he won a Silver Slugger award.

2000-2009

In 2000, the Angels hired Mike Scioscia to manage the team and by 2002, he turned them into a winning team. They finished the season with 99 wins and 63 losses and won the American League Wild Card. They then went on to defeat the New York Yankees in the American League division series, three games to one, and the Minnesota Twins in the American League pennant race (four games to one). They played against the San Francisco Giants in the World Series and they won the series in seven games.

The ownership of the team changed hands in 2003, and in 2005, the new owners changed the team's name one more time to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Under Scioscia's leadership, and with strong players like outfielders Vladimir Guerrero (Hall of Fame, 2018), Garrett Anderson (Silver Slugger award in 2002 and 2003), and Torii Hunter, and pitchers Jered Weaver, John Lackey, and Ervin Santana, the Angels won the AL West division title in 2004, 2005, and 2007-2009.

In 2004, 2007, and 2008, the Angels lost the AL Division Series, all three times to the Red Sox. They defeated the Yankees in 2005, but then lost the ALCS to the Chicago White Sox. In 2009, they finally defeated the Red Sox in the ALDS (3-0) but they lost the ALCS to the Yankees. Their best season was 2008, when they had the best record in baseball with 100 wins and 62 losses.

Scioscia was the Angels' first really successful manager and he was awarded with two AL Manager of the Year awards. He received his first one in 2002 and the second one in 2009.

2010-2018

The Angels started the current decade strong, with winning seasons in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015. They had the best record in baseball in 2014, with 98 wins and 64 losses. That season, they went to the playoffs and lost the ALDS in three games to the Kansas City Royals. The Angels have struggled in the last few years, finishing 2016, 2017, and 2018 with losing records.

Key players have been added to the Angels' starting lineup in the last eight years. The year 2012 brought two major forces to the team - one a veteran, Albert Pujols, on a 10-year contract, and Mike Trout, perhaps the best position player currently in major league baseball. Trout won the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2012 and two years later, he won the AL MVP award. In the 2017 off-season, the Angels signed Shohei Ohtani, a player who is not only an ace pitcher but also a power hitting DH.

Mike Scioscia stepped down as manager of the Angels on September 30, 2018. The team finished the 2018 season in fourth place in the AL West division with 80 wins and 82 losses. Brad Ausmus will be taking over for Scioscia in 2019.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Los Angeles Angels
Baseball Reference - Los Angeles Angels