#1 - Oct. 27, 2002: Champions
of baseball
By
Geoff Bilau, Angelswin.com Senior Editor
By
now, most Angels fans can recite Rory Markus' call
verbatim:
"Here's
the pitch to Lofton. Fly ball, center field. Erstad
says he's got it. Erstaaaaaad MAKES THE CATCH! The
Anaheim Angels are the champions of baseball!"
When
the Angels' unofficial team captain settled under
and clasped his glove around that most precious
of final outs, it was the culmination of many things:
an incredible World Series comeback; a riveting
postseason run; an unprecedented 99 win regular
season; the antidote for heartbreaking collapses
in 1995, 1986 and 1982; a delivery on the promise
of 1979; and the realization of a dream first dared
to be dreamt in 1961.
The
textbook version is simply that the Angels reached
the pinnacle of their sport 42 seasons after their
pursuit began. But to the fans, players, coaches
and front office people who followed the Angels
for any significant amount of time, of course the
emotions run immensely deeper.
For
me, it actually required a season or two of separation
before I could truly appreciate the significance.
Don't get me wrong; I was as elated as anybody when
the confetti and streamers came raining down upon
us following Erstad's catch.
But
maybe I'd already spent all the emotion I could
spare the day before, when I witnessed the birth
of my first child and the rebirth of the Angels
World Series hopes all within a span of about six
hours. Or perhaps it was because even before the
first pitch, the Game 7 victory truly seemed like
a foregone conclusion following the previous night's
drama; and when was ANYTHING positive for the Angels
a given during their first 41 seasons?
And
that's what struck me after the World Series championship
had really sunk in - it happened, and it could happen
again. Previously, I honestly wasn't sure it ever
would. Now, I believe it will again.
And
while I think the moment when I first knew they
were actually going to play in the World Series
will always rank as the most emotional high in my
years of being an Angels fan, in retrospect I'm
so glad they went ahead and won it all while they
were there. I mean all the greatest stories have
a happy ending, don't they?
Champions
of baseball … yeah, that'll do.
Here's
how other contributors to our Top-50 Greatest Moments
list feel about No. 1:
It
is hard to describe exactly what I felt when Erstad
squeezed Kenny Lofton's fly ball for the final out.
I was relatively calm from the first pitch of the
game until the Angels had finally won. After the
complete swing in emotion I felt watching Game 6,
I was too exhausted to work up any emotion for Game
7.
For
the entire postseason, I had either been in attendance
or at my favorite watering hole to celebrate every
moment with other fans. I needed a break. So, I
watched the entirety of Game 7 alone; poetic in
a sense because growing up none of my friends or
family members felt the same way about the game
of baseball, and there was certainly no one that
loved the Angels as much as I did. It wasn't my
intention to watch the game alone. I just didn't
feel like sharing that moment with anyone else.
Had
I been there or watched the game with friends I
doubt I'd have noticed - I was focused on each pitch,
nothing else existed but the game. When the final
out was made, I felt accomplished. Not that I had
anything to do with the victory, but that my fanship
had finally paid off. The years of suffering through
bad teams and monumental collapses proved worth
it. I felt like a champion.
-
Adam Dodge, Angelswin.com Senior Writer
I
had always told my friends, "Just once, I just
need to see it happen one time." It was worth
the wait. Sticking through thick and thin with the
Angels had paid off. All the sadness and anger from
the past were washed away in one lazy fly ball to
Darin Erstad.
I
was fortunate enough have tickets to Game 7. When
the final out was made, I was standing in center
field, over by the rock pile. I momentarily lost
my mind. I let out a loud primal scream and leapt
into the air a few times.
-
Eric Denton, Angelswin.com Senior Writer
When
Kenny Lofton drove that ball to right-center field,
my heart leapt with both uncertainty and joy, thinking
it could either be '86 all over again or the burying
of what seemed to be the franchise's October curse.
When
Darin Erstad pulled it down, I picked up my best
friend's 16-year-old son and spun him around like
a baton, as I have never in my life experienced
such combined joy and adrenaline from what was essentially
a routine outfield put-out: tears of joy, ear to
ear smiles about my living room and a moment in
my life's history that words cannot describe.
To
me, this was the Greatest Moment in Angels baseball.
Buried were the thoughts of any curse. Born anew
was a World Series Championship for fans to claim,
who throughout the years have expressed love and
passion for the club. And on this grand night, destiny
paid back some respect to Angels fans around the
world.
-
Chuck Richter, Angelswin.com Founder and Executive
Editor
Editor's
note: I'd like to thank all of the writers who contributed
to this monumental project the past 50 days. It
was quite an undertaking while simultaneously working
full time, managing a Little League team and looking
after a family of six, but was it ever worth it!
Here's
to the memories and debates we hope our list inspired
and to the making of many more outstanding top-50
worthy moments in the seasons to come.
Thanks
for reading!
#2
- Oct. 26, 2002: The swing that changed a franchise
By
Adam Dodge, Angelswin.com Senior Writer, and Geoff
Bilau, Angelswin.com Senior Editor
It
was just one swing out of hundreds of thousands
in the Angels' 47-year history, but it produced
three of the biggest runs and, in one instant, shifted
an entire franchise's momentum. With one swing,
hopeless became hopeful.
When
Scott Spiezio coaxed that ball over the short wall
in right field, just far enough to elude the reach
of Giants right fielder Reggie Sanders, there was
an immediate sense that it would prove the most
important hit in Angels history. Around 24 hours
later, it was no longer just a sense - it was truth.
Game
6 of the 2002 World Series was do or die for the
Anaheim Angels, who were facing elimination, down
three games to two against the San Francisco Giants.
Entering
the bottom of the seventh inning, with the Giants
leading 5-0, the Angels appeared prepped for their
casket. The team had shown little life offensively,
thoroughly stifled by starter Russ Ortiz, and the
Giants' greatest strength, their bullpen, rested
and ready.
Garret
Anderson led off the seventh inning with routine
groundball to second base. The Angels had just eight
outs remaining to prevent a very disappointing end
to their season.
The
next batter, Troy Glaus, finally gave the Angels
and their fans something to cheer about when he
singled to left field on Ortiz's next pitch. And
when Brad Fullmer followed with a single of his
own, the Angels had the beginnings of a rally.
What
happened next proved to be one of the most second-guessed
managerial decisions in World Series history - and
that's putting it mildly.
With
two on and one out, Giants' manager Dusty Baker
made his way out to the mound. The trip was no doubt
to talk strategy, and since it was late into an
elimination game it made sense that the manager
would forgo sending the pitching coach on such a
critical mound visit. After all, Ortiz had dominated
the Angels for 6.1 innings and had not yet thrown
100 pitches. Surely Baker would allow him to work
through a little bit of trouble in the seventh,
especially with a five-run lead.
But
Baker had other thoughts. To everyone's surprise,
he raised his right hand toward the bullpen. He
was bringing in right-handed fireballer Felix Rodriguez
to face previously anonymous Angels first baseman
Scott Spiezio.
Baker
had pulled his starting pitcher, though he'd not
given up a run while scattering just four hits and
walking two. What's more, with Ortiz already a step
away from the pitching rubber and on his way to
the dugout, Baker reached back, symbolically grabbing
his pitcher's right arm to stop him. A curious Ortiz
accepted a gift - the "game ball," which
he no doubt deserved, but that the ball was given
to him on the mound for millions to see was what
created controversy. It no doubt stuck in the craw
of the Angels and their fans.
Spiezio
would have his hands full. Rodriguez was one of
the best relievers in baseball, as evidenced by
the .163 average he allowed to opposing batters
during the 2002 postseason. Spiezio, however, was
working on a special October of his own, one that
saw him tie the postseason record for RBI with 19.
After
a first pitch ball, Spiezio fouled off three consecutive
Rodriguez fastballs perfectly placed on the outside
corner. Rodriguez evened the count at 2-2 when he
missed with his fifth pitch. On the sixth pitch
of the at-bat, Spiezio put a great swing on a fastball,
fouling it straight back, prompting a rare prophetic
statement from FOX announcer Tim McCarver, who cautioned,
"If you make a mistake away, it's a single.
If you make a mistake in, it's 5-3."
After
Rodriguez' next pitch went wide, making the count
full, he did, indeed, miss in. On the eighth pitch
of the at-bat, Spiezio took a low and in fastball
high and deep into the right field corner. Sanders
drifted back methodically, tracking the towering
fly ball. When it left the bat, it appeared Spiezio
just missed it, but the ball continued to carry,
taking Sanders all the way to the warning track;
then over it and to the wall. He reached up and
over the short wall, but to no avail. The ball had
disappeared into a mob of suddenly reinvigorated
Angels fans.
Spiezio,
who stopped his trot at first base to watch the
fate of his hit - to wish and to pray - showed little
emotion as he restarted his jog around the bases,
a subtle fist shake sufficing.
The
fans were another story. Edison Field exploded with
roars and cheers, which could no doubt be heard
miles away. The Angels - a team of grinders, who
had come back time and time again throughout the
regular and post-seasons - had trimmed the Giants'
once seemingly insurmountable lead to 5-3. And though
its not the kind of thing that shows up on the scoreboard,
had stolen away from the Giants every last bit of
momentum.
From
hopeless to hopeful; and following the Angels' half
of the eighth and the Giants' futile ninth, from
hopeful to absolutely sure the Angels would now
win the series.
But
then, it was only one swing, right?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ANA/ANA200210260.shtml
#3
- Oct. 13, 2002: "He has homered THREE times!"
By
Geoff Bilau, Angelswin.com Senior Editor
Chances
are had you asked a diehard Angels fan if he or
she would have been satisfied with a nondescript
5-2 victory prior to Game 5 of the 2002 ALCS, the
answer would have been "Absolutely!" After
waiting 41 years to see an American League pennant
flying over Anaheim Stadium, few fans were going
to be picky about how it got there.
The
Angels, however - especially second baseman Adam
Kennedy - had a special treat in store for their
long-suffering faithful. Kennedy, who hit just seven
homers during the 2002 regular season, launched
three round trippers over the right field wall,
the third igniting a 10-run seventh inning that
carried the Halos into their first World Series
with a 13-5 victory over the Twins.
Kennedy's
first home run, leading off the third inning off
Joe Mays, shaved the Twins 2-0 lead in half. When
he connected again in the fifth, following Scott
Spiezio's leadoff shot, Kennedy briefly gave the
Angels a 3-2 lead.
The
twins retook the lead with three in the top of the
seventh, and with Johan Santana on the mound appeared
to have perhaps blown an opportunity to end the
series at home.
But
Spiezio and Bengie Molina led off the bottom half
with singles and rather than sending up right handed
Benji Gil to pinch hit for Kennedy, manager Mike
Scioscia allowed the lefty swinger to bat. On Santana's
first pitch, Kennedy squared around to bunt - a
textbook Scioscia move - but fouled off his attempt.
With
44,835 fans expecting another bunt attempt, Kennedy
got the green light to swing away and fouled it
off. After taking a ball, Kennedy lofted Santana's
1-2 offering, a hanging curveball, deep over the
tall wall in right center field for his third home
run of the game, a three-run shot to give the Angels
a 6-5 lead.
Kennedy
became only the fifth player in Major League history
to homer three times in a playoff game, joining
Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and George
Brett, and former Pirate Bob Robertson in the very
exclusive club.
"I
don't care if I have another one," Kennedy
said. "This is it right here, the biggest game
of my life. Everybody dreams of this. I was in the
right spot today."
For
good measure, Kennedy's teammates proceeded to thoroughly
pile on the Twins beleaguered bullpen, scoring seven
more runs off three relievers who followed Santana,
Kennedy adding a single later in the inning.
Kennedy
finished the game 4-for-4 with three runs and five
RBI, earning him series MVP honors - some fine hardware
for his trophy case, but nothing compared to being
remembered as the man whose bat sent the Angels
to their first World Series. That is simply unforgettable.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ANA/ANA200210130.shtml
#4
- Oct. 27, 2002: "Garret Anderson clears the
bases!"
By
Adam Dodge, Angelswin.com Senior Writer
After
an incredibly emotional come-from-behind victory
of historic proportions in Game 6 of the 2002 World
Series - one which saw the Anaheim Angels force
a deciding Game 7 at Edison Field - the home team
had every ounce of momentum on its side.
The
Angels entered the bottom of the third inning tied,
1-1, with the San Francisco Giants. Though the scoreboard
said it was clearly not make or break time, the
guts of 44, 598 fans in the stadium and millions
more watching on television said otherwise. Every
pitch delivered in the World Series seems to hold
the collective fate of everyone with a rooting interest.
David
Eckstein led off the third with a single to left
field off of Giants starter Livan Hernandez, who
won Game 7 of the 1997 World Series for the Florida
Marlins. Darin Erstad followed with a single of
his own to left in front of Tim Salmon, who was
hit by a Hernandez off-speed pitch, loading the
bases for team MVP Garret Anderson.
Anderson,
who finished fourth in American League MVP voting
in 2002, had a remarkable season, finishing with
a .306 batting average, 29 home runs and 123 RBI.
But his World Series performance had been a modest
one entering his second at-bat of Game 7.
The
stage had been set for Anderson, who needed to just
put the ball in play to give his team a lead. He
did two better, driving a Hernandez high fastball
down the right field line and into the corner. Eckstein,
Erstad and Salmon all scored on the double, giving
the Angels a 4-1 lead.
Anderson
had cleared the bases! Arguably the greatest Angel,
GA had collected his greatest moment.
The
Angels would not score another run in the 2002 season.
But three rookie pitchers and their outstanding
closer made sure they didn't need to.
#5
- Sept. 25, 1979: Angels win first ever division
title
By
Geoff Bilau, Angelswin.com Senior Editor
"The
Angels one out away from their first championship
ever. Porter at the plate, he waits. The pitch from
Frank … swing and a ground ball hit to Carew.
He bobbles it, recovers, throws to Tanana …
IN TIME! The 19-year wait is over, they've done
it: The Angels are the champions of the West!"
In
light of all the recent success the Angels have
enjoyed this decade - a World Championship and division
titles in three of the past four seasons - it's
sometimes easy to forget just how difficult a struggle
it was for the franchise to win its first.
But,
oh, did they ever struggle; not only through losing
seasons - and there were plenty of those, 13 of
the first 17 to be exact - but also debilitating
injuries and clubhouse unrest. The Angels even suffered
the tragedy of not one, but two players' deaths
during their first two heartbreaking decades. In
18 previous seasons, they'd gone through eight managers,
four general managers and played in three different
home parks.
But
finally, in 1979, with a rallying cry of "Yes
We Can!" the Angels buried their demons (well,
some of them anyway) and on Sept. 25, behind a dominant
complete game by Frank Tanana, they won the American
League West in front of 40,631 jubilant fans at
Anaheim Stadium.
And
true to fashion for this franchise, it still didn't
come easily: Nolan Ryan, Rod Carew and Willie Aikens
each missed significant time with injuries and Tanana
was limited to 17 starts. But manager Jim Fregosi,
hired in the middle of the 1978 season, days after
retiring as a player, held it all together.
"We've
been ready for it for an awfully long time around
here and I'm just thrilled to death to be part of
it," said Fregosi, who spent 13 of the team's
first 19 seasons in an Angels uniform. "These
players have been absolutely fantastic all season.
They've gone out under really some tough situations,
some tough conditions, they've battled all year
long and I just couldn't be prouder of them."
Great
offensive seasons from Don Baylor, later named the
AL MVP, Bobby Grich, Dan Ford and Brian Downing,
along with a solid season from Ryan and the emergence
of Dave Frost carried the Angels to the title, which
was a watershed moment for the Angels franchise
despite the fact the team would go on to lose the
ALCS, 3-1, to the Orioles.
"The
biggest thing we had to overcome was that we had
never won a division," Fregosi said. "No
matter how good the talent was, there seemed to
be a black cloud hanging over the team - injuries,
people getting hurt. Overcoming that was special
to me. Once a team has won, the team knows it could
do it."
It
would be another 23 years before the Angels would
win it all, but in 1979 they took that first, all-important
step.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CAL/1979.shtml
#6
- Oct. 5, 2002: Angels beat Yanks, win first postseason
series
By
Adam Dodge, Angelswin.com Senior Writer
Fresh
off of a Game 3 come-from-behind win, one in which
the Anaheim Angels erased a 6-1 deficit against
the New York Yankees in the 2002 American League
Division Series to take a 2-1 series lead, the Angels
entered Game 4 looking to close out the Bronx Bombers
at home for the franchise's first ever postseason
series win.
Once
again, the Angels had their opponents on the ropes,
facing elimination. It had become, of course, a
familiar site for Angels fans. The team had already
played six such games in their history.
In
1982, the then California Angels were up two games
to none on the Milwaukee Brewers in the best-of-five
ALCS. With three chances to beat the Brew Crew and
advance to the World Series, the Angels failed -
losing all three games.
In
1986, the Angels again found themselves on the cusp
of reaching their first World Series. But up three
games to one on the Boston Red Sox and just one
strike away, closer Donnie Moore gave up a two-out,
two-strike, two-run homerun to Dave Henderson, relinquishing
a 5-4 lead in Game 5 of the ALCS. Boston went on
to win the game, as well as Games 6 and 7 in Fenway
Park.
With
such a short, yet heart-wrenching postseason history,
many of the 45,067 in attendance on Oct. 5, 2002,
were waiting to see how the Angels would let this
opportunity slip through their fingers.
With
the Angels down, 2-1, entering the bottom of the
fifth inning, tension was high. David Wells was
8-1 in his postseason career and was pitching well
for the Yankees on this afternoon.
Then,
something amazing happened. The Angels put together
one of the greatest offensive innings in Major League
postseason history.
Shawn
Wooten led off the fifth with a homerun to left-center
field to tie the game, 2-2. Then, after a Bengie
Molina fly-out, Benji Gil recorded the first of
five consecutive Angels' singles with a shot into
centerfield.
After
a Troy Glaus fly ball out, the Angels connected
for four more hits in a row, including Wooten's
and Gil's second hits of the inning.
When
it was all said and done, the Angels had plated
eight runs on a record-tying 10 hits in the inning.
Anaheim
- Bottom of 5th
David Wells pitching for New York
S
Wooten homered to left center
B Molina flied out to right
B Gil singled to center
D Eckstein singled to right, B Gil to third
D Erstad singled to shallow center, B Gil scored,
D Eckstein to second
T Salmon singled to left center, D Eckstein scored,
D Erstad to third
G Anderson singled to right center, D Erstad scored,
T Salmon to third
T Glaus flied out to shallow right
S Spiezio singled to left, T Salmon scored, G Anderson
to second
R Mendoza relieved D Wells
S Wooten singled to right center, G Anderson scored,
S Spiezio to third
B Molina doubled to deep left, S Spiezio and S Wooten
scored
O Hernandez relieved R Mendoza
B Gil singled to center, B Molina to third
D Eckstein flied out to center
8
Runs, 10 Hits, 0 Errors
With
a 9-2 lead, the Angels needed only 12 outs to erase
the franchise's playoff demons.
New
York scratched across single runs in the sixth,
seventh and ninth innings to close the deficit to
9-5, but when Nick Johnson lifted a weak pop-up
to deep shortstop, and David Eckstein promptly squeezed
it for the game's final out, jubilation ensued.
The
Angels had beaten the mighty Yankees three games
to one for their first playoff series win in the
franchise's history.
"It's
been a long time coming for myself and this organization,
a lot of blood, sweat and tears,'' said Salmon in
the clubhouse. "To finally come through and
do it, it's just special.
"Nobody
gave us a chance against the Yankees. Maybe we caught
them on a bad week, I don't know. You can't say
enough about how our club's playing,"
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ANA/ANA200210050.shtml
#7
- Oct. 20, 2002: Salmon blasts give Angels first
WS victory
By
Chuck Richter, Angelswin.com Senior Editor
The
scene: Edison Field, Game 2 of the 2002 World Series,
Angels down 0-1 in the series to the San Francisco
Giants.
After
7 1/2 seesaw innings, the Angels and Giants stood
deadlocked, 9-9. Until Salmon broke it with a sledgehammer,
crushing his second home run of the game to put
the Angels ahead for good.
Typical
of Salmon, despite his own heroism his was not the
home run he was gushing about afterward. Salmon
was still marveling at the one hit by Barry Bonds
in the ninth that sailed some 485 feet into the
sea of red in right field.
"That
was the farthest ball I've ever seen hit in this
ballpark, for sure," Salmon said. But the Angels'
always-humble right fielder trumped that mammoth
shot with the drive that counted the most, a two-out,
two-run shot that proved the difference in the Angels
11-10 victory and knotted the series at one game
apiece.
"We
knew there was going to be a hero in the dugout,"
Salmon said, "and tonight it was me."
Until
2002, no active player in the majors had gone longer
than Salmon - 1,388 games - without reaching the
postseason. But that wasn't a well-known fact because
Bonds had been the center of attention, especially
since it was his first World Series, too.
But
Salmon put the spotlight squarely on himself on
this night by helping the Halos to their first-ever
World Series win.
"I
think I made the most of my opportunities. It was
awesome," Salmon said. "The way the game
went back-and-forth was unbelievable."
Salmon
ended up going 4-for-4 with a walk, while driving
in four runs and scoring three. He capped his performance
with a drive into the Anaheim bullpen in left field
that left Bonds hanging over the top of the fence.
A joyous sight indeed!
Earlier
in the game, Salmon's first two-run homer gave the
Angels a 7-4 lead in the second inning. They led,
5-0, after the first inning before the Giants rallied
with some fireworks of their own.
But
as Salmon circled the bases and fireworks exploded
overhead after connecting on a 93 mph fastball,
ultimately it was the Giants' Felix Rodriguez angrily
tugging on his cap.
After
Troy Percival gave up the ninth inning two-out blast
to Bonds, the crowd of 44,584 roared as Benito Santiago
popped out harmlessly to Adam Kennedy at second
to end it.
"It
was too much Salmon," Bonds said after the
game. "It's phenomenal. He did everything any
player could do in one game except steal home."
Salmon
will no doubt be remembered for many highlights
and accomplishments as an Angel: 1993 AL Rookie
of the Year, the sliding catches in right field,
the force that he was with the lumber, the Texas
Ranger beat downs or his last game played, retiring
an Angel for life and the ceremonial send off from
the fans in Anaheim.
But
for me, this game, with all that was riding upon
it, was the highlight of Salmon's career and clearly
one of the "Greatest Moments in Angels Baseball."
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ANA/ANA200210200.shtml
#8
- Aug. 29, 1986: Schofield leads a grand comeback
By
Geoff Bilau, Angelswin.com Senior Editor
It
is the biggest ninth inning comeback in Angels history,
and shortstop Dick Schofield not only sparked it
- he also ended it with one explosive swing of the
bat.
With
the Angels holding onto a 4.5 game lead over Texas
for the division title, the Rangers had already
applied some pressure with a 5-2 victory in Chicago
earlier that Friday night.
The
Angels, meanwhile, were getting trounced by the
visiting Detroit Tigers, trailing 8-1 after five
uninspiring innings. Heading into the bottom of
the ninth, Detroit's lead stood at 12-5 and it appeared
the Angels division bump would soon shrink to 3.5
games.
The
rally started innocently enough, with Schofield
beating out an infield single to short off Tigers
reliever Randy O'Neal, who was beginning his third
inning of work. After Rick Burleson lined out, Wally
Joyner drew a walk. When Brian Downing singled to
load the bases, Detroit closer Guillermo "Willie"
Hernandez, the 1984 MVP and Cy Young winner, began
to warm in the bullpen - just in case.
Jack
Howell doubled to right field, scoring Schofield
and Joyner, and Tigers manager Sparky Anderson had
seen enough. He called on Hernandez, even though
Detroit still led 12-7.
Hernandez,
however, would prove no more effective, promptly
giving up consecutive RBI singles to George Hendrick
and Bobby Grich, pulling the Angels within three
runs. But when Gary Pettis grounded into a fielder's
choice at second, California was down to its final
out. Up stepped Ruppert Jones, pinch hitting for
Jerry Narron. Jones worked a walk from Hernandez,
loading the bases for the man who started the rally:
Schofield.
Incredibly,
the Angels typically light-hitting shortstop - he
of the 56 home runs in 1,368 career games - lofted
a Hernandez splitter straight down the left field
line; a ball that kept carrying … carrying
… carrying … just fair over the short
wall and just out of the reach of Dave Collins'
leaping attempt.
It
was a grand slam - a walk-off grand slam, in fact,
capping an eight-run ninth that ignited frenzy among
those fans from the original 32,992 in attendance
that actually remained.
The
Angels would maintain their 4.5 game lead on the
Rangers, who got no closer than five the rest of
the season. It was the signature victory of the
Angels' 1986 division championship season and one
that fans, even 22 years later, still recall fondly
any time the team rallies in the ninth.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL198608290.shtml
#9
- Jan. 11, 2004: Angels sign Vladimir Guerrero
By
Adam Dodge, Angelswin.com Senior Writer
It's
rare that a sports event that occurs away from the
field of play would make any sort of top "anything"
list. The vast majority of the moments highlighted
on our list took place on the baseball diamond,
because those are the moments that are most celebrated
and seldom forgotten by fans.
However,
on Jan. 11, 2004, when ESPN Radio affiliate KSPN's
update man Dave Denholm announced that the Anaheim
Angels had reached an agreement on a five-year contract
with free-agent slugger Vladimir Guerrero, it incited
a reaction from fans on par with a postseason series
victory.
It
had been expected that the Montreal Expos' four-time
All-Star right fielder would sign with the Mets,
Dodgers or Orioles. There hadn't been a whisper
that the Angels were even interested in the National
League's best kept secret.
As
the story goes, then Angels General Manager Bill
Stoneman made a call to Guerrero's agent, Arn Tellem,
to inquire about Rafael Palmeiro.
"How
about Vlad?," the agent responded.
Stoneman,
surprised that Guerrero was interested in the Angels,
approached Angels owner Arte Moreno with the idea.
Three days later, Moreno had a new face for the
franchise he'd acquired just eight months earlier..
Though
he'd already gained credibility among fans by making
other waves during the off-season with the signings
of Jose Guillen, Kelvim Escobar and Bartolo Colon,
Moreno removed any doubt that he truly meant business
with the Guerrero signing.
And
what a signing it was. Guerrero won the American
League MVP award in 2004, carrying the Angels on
his back down the stretch to their first division
title in eighteen years. In his four years with
the Angels, the quiet superstar has averaged a remarkable
.327 batting average, 33 homeruns and 119 RBI per
season while the Angels have won three division
titles.
#10
- Aug 21, 2007: GA has a night to remember
By
Eric Denton, Angelswin.com Senior Writer
Angels
fans thought Vladimir Guerrero's nine RBI game against
the Red Sox in 2004 was truly one for the ages,
and rightfully so. But a very familiar face showed
them in 2007 they hadn't seen anything yet.
Garret
Anderson, who had been slowed by injuries over the
course of the last few seasons, produced the single
greatest individual offensive game in the history
of Angels baseball - against MLB's premiere franchise,
the New York Yankees - 4-for-6 with two doubles,
two home runs (a 3-run shot and a grand slam), three
runs scored and a franchise record 10 RBI.
In
the first inning, Anderson rocked a two run double,
scoring Orlando Cabrera and Chone Figgins. His next
at bat, in the second inning, Anderson doubled again,
scoring Guerrero and giving him three RBI in two
plate appearances.
Then
in the third inning, with Figgins and Jeff Mathis
on first and second, Anderson drilled an Edwar Ramirez
pitch over the right field wall for his first home
run of the game and three more RBI, giving him six
in three at-bats.
Batting
in the fifth, he grounded out to second. But then
in the sixth, with Howie Kendrick, Cabrera and Guerrero
filling the bases, Anderson hit a towering shot
into the right field pavilion for his eighth career
Grand Slam, receiving an enthusiastic standing ovation
from the 44,264 Anaheim faithful as he rounded the
bases. And they would not return to their seats
until Anderson climbed out of the dugout and tipped
his cap.
"It
took me 13 years to get that one," Anderson
said of the ovation and curtain call. "I don't
see myself playing for 26 years. It's nice when
the fans appreciate you. I think it's the first
one I've had, and it was kind of a shock."
In
the eighth, Anderson came to bat with two outs and
Angels on first and third, but he grounded out to
short and wound up one RBI shy of Tony Lazzeri's
AL record 11, set May 24, 1936. (The MLB record
of 12 is held by two men: Jim Bottomley, Sept. 16,
1924, and Mark Whiten, Sept. 7, 1993.)
"It
was an incredible night for Garret," Angels
manager Mike Scioscia said.
Heading
into the 2008 season, Anderson is the all-time franchise
leader in RBI with 1,208 - No. 125 all-time in MLB.
He is 88 RBI shy of cracking the top-100.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALA/ALA200708210.shtml
