Los Angeles Angels

• Lee, Rangers Tune Up for Playoffs
• David Ortiz Blasts Sox Past Angels
• NL Gains First All-Star Win since 1996
• Sox Blast Angels Back in Boston
• Yanks Celebrate Rings, Win Over Angels
• MLB Hot Stove Report
• Yankees Claim AL Pennant
• Yankees Take Control In Anaheim
• Angels Notch Win in Extras This Time Around
• 2009 ALCS Preview

Los Angeles Angels Information

In 1961, the American League announced that an expansion team would be placed in the city of Los Angeles, California. It was not until 1979 when the Angels won their first American League West Division Championship. The Angels accomplished this feat with the help of Nolan Ryan, the Ryan Express, and AL MVP Don Baylor.

The 1980's brought a decade of frustration. In 1982, a team led by Reggie Jackson, the Angels was one game away from reaching the World Series. Again, in 1986 the Angels left their fans in dismay. With a 3-1 series lead against the Boston Red Sox and a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth, the Angels pitchers surrendered a couple of long balls. The Sox went on to take the series from the Angels, leaving a scar on the franchise that did not heal.

The 1990's were even worse. The Angels played sub-.500 baseball for the majority of the decade. In 2002, the fate of what was now known as the Anaheim Angels essentially did a 180 degree turnaround. Led by Troy Glaus and rookies Francisco Rodriguez and John Lackey, the Angels won the World Series, defeated Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants in 7 games. In 2005, the team officially changed its name to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, wanting to be more closely associated with the well-known city of Los Angeles.

In recent years the Angels have been on a roll, winning the AL West in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The club then proceeded to beat out the Red Sox in the ALDS, only to fall in the Championship Series to the New York Yankees.

In 2010, the Angels had a disappointing season, coming in third place to the Rangers and Athletics with an 80-82 record. 2011 saw the Angels make a better run, but they still came in second to the Rangers at 86-76.

The off-season has been a big one for the Angels. After the season ended, the team promised their fans to be better and they delivered by signing free agents Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson to huge deals. With these tremendous acquisitions, the Angels are poised to give the Rangers and the rest of the AL West a lot of competition in the 2012 season.