Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Tickets

2013 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Preview
Check back in the Spring for the Angels 2013 Season Preview.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM INFORMATION:
Founded: 1961
Location: Anaheim, California
Stadium: Angel Stadium
Conference: American League
Division: West Division
Rivals: Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners
Notable Players: Nolan Ryan, Dave Winfield, Rod Carew
Los Angeles Angels World Series Title: 1 - 2002
Los Angeles Angels NL Championships: 1 - 2002

The Los Angeles Angels were one of the first Major League expansion teams in over 60 years when they began play in 1961. Unfortunately, the team didn't have a home of their own to start off, so the Angels spent their first year in a minor league stadium, shared Dodgers Stadium with their cross-town rivals for a few seasons and finally moved into their own venue in 1966. The team has changed its name various times over the years, playing as the California Angels from 1965-96, the Anaheim Angels from 1997-2004 before finally settling on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The team has won one World Series championship and has a rich history of Hall of Fame talent that has made them a consistent contender in the American League.

After many middling seasons in the late '60s and early '70s and constant competition with the Dodgers for the Los Angeles market, the Angels finally launched their first big postseason run in 1979. Coming off Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan setting the team's strikeout record and Don Baylor capturing the AL MVP award, the Angels were hot heading into the playoffs. The team knocked off the Kansas City Royals in the first round, but fell to the Baltimore Orioles in the league championship series.

The Angels reached the American League Championship Series in 1982 and 1986 as they continued to fight for a bid in the World Series. Angels fans finally got their wish in 2002 when the team entered the postseason as a wild card, facing the always dangerous New York Yankees. It was the heroics of closer Francisco Rodriguez that would put the clamp on the Yankees' potent scoring threats and the team shocked the AL by beating the Yanks in four games. After making quick work of the Minnesota Twins in the ALCS, the Angels were set for an all-California World Series against the San Francisco Giants. The series proved to be one of the most enthralling in recent memory, as World Series MVP Troy Glaus would hit a go-ahead double in Game 6 to propel the Angels to an easy win in Game 7.

With the signing of star first baseman Albert Pujols during the 2011 offseason and numerous division championships over the late 2000s, the Angels seem poised to repeat their postseason success and regain their status as one of the most dangerous teams in the American League.

See Also:
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Playoff Tickets
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Preview History