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The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim entered the league in 1961 as part of an effort by Major League Baseball to capture more markets. The team went 70-91 in the first season, which remains the highest winning percentage for the first season of an expansion team.
The Angels second season surprised many. The team finished in third place with an 86-76 record. The club could not keep up the improvement and quickly sank to the bottom of the league until they upgraded to mediocrity in the ‘70s.The first couple of decades were not without talent. The Angels had pitcher Ken McBride, shortstop Jim Fergosi, outfielder Leon Wagner, and catcher Buck Rodgers in the ‘60s and the powerful pitching combo of Nolan Ryan and Frank Tanana, Warren Spahn, and Johnny Sain in the ‘70s.
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The Angels made the playoffs for the first time after capturing the AL West title in 1979 with an 88-74 record. The team lost to Baltimore in the ALCS and Don Baylor, Bert Campaneris, and Rod Carew followed with two poor seasons.
In 1982, the Angels returned to the playoffs with another AL West title and Reggie Jackson. The club looked well on its way to reaching the World Series for the first time with a 2-0 lead in the ALCS against the Brewers, but became the first team to give three straight wins in a best of five series. The Angels came close again in 1986, but the AL West champions with youngsters Wally Joyner and Chuck Finley could not seal the deal after going up 3 games to 1 in the best of seven series.
Playoff woes haunted the franchise for another 16 years, until 2002, when the Angels by way of the Wild Card shocked the league with an ALDS victory over the Yankees, an ALCS defeat of the Twins, and a World Series triumph over the Giants that took all seven games.
The Angels of the 21st century are built around Vladimir Guerrero, Garrett Anderson, and strong pitching. The club won three division titles in four years from 2004 to 2007. Though the team has lost within the first two rounds each playoff try, the team remains one of the most feared in baseball.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been a perennial playoff team in the American League West over the last five seasons, winning more games than any other team outside of New York and Boston. The team only bulked up this offseason with the addition of starting pitcher Jon Garland and centerfield Torii Hunter. The offseason moves give manager Mike Scioscia another World Series contender.
The pitching staff is perhaps the best in baseball. The team has six possible starters when most teams have problems finding three or four. Scioscia will choose between John Lackey, Kelvin Escobar, Jon Garland, Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana, and Joe Saunders. The bullpen is just as strong with closer Francisco Rodriguez and setup men Scot Shields and Justin Speier.
The powerful offense is anchored around rightfielder Vladimir Guerrero. His triple crown ability is surrounded by newly-acquired Torii Hunter, and designated hitter Garrett Anderson. The infield does not provide much power, but it does provide solid hitting with first baseman Casey Kotchman, second baseman Howie Kendricks, and third baseman Chone Figgins. The Angel Stadium of Anaheim will find itself a contender for years and with the domination of a weak AL West and its soft schedule.
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