This Nolan Express or "Nuke"

Angels' Nolan Ryan awlays threw a lot of pitches. In 1972, 73, 74, 76, 77, and 78, Ryan led or tied for the lead of the American League in both strikeouts and base on balls. In 1975, it was the Angels own Frank Tanana who replaced Ryan as the strikeout leader of the American League. You could say he had a little "Nuke" in him. Thank goodness Bull Durhams Crash Davis wasn't the catcher. He would demand for more ground balls because strikeouts are fascist and ground balls are more democratic.

1962 All-Star pairs

The first members of the Los Angeles Angels to start in an All-Star Game were outfielder Leon Wagner and second baseman Billy Moran in 1962. What some may not know was that there were two All-Star games in 1962, one in Washington DC and one in Chicago at Wrigley Field. Both Leon and Billy started both games. In game one, President John F. Kennedy threw out the first pitch and would share some words with an older but still All-Star caliber Stan Musial.

 

 "A couple years ago they told me I was too young to be president and you (Stan Musial) were too old to be playing baseball. But we fooled them." - President John F. Kennedy

The first game the National League won 3-1 on the pitching of Don Drysdale and Juan Marichal while Maury Wills picked up the MVP. It was the first All-Star Game MVP given out, and Wills entered the game in the 6th inning.

Game 2 at Wrigley was a whole different ball game with the American League winning 9-4. Four home runs were hit in the game including one by Leon Wagner in the 4th inning off Art Mahaffey in the 4th inning landing Wagner the MVP in Chicago. This would be the last win in the All-Star battle for the AL for the next decade.

Ryne Duren and Ken McBride were named to the All-Star team in 1961, but neither appeared in the game that year.

Perci Time

Closer Troy Percival holds the team mark with 316 career saves in 10 seasons while with the Halos, converting more than 86% of his save opportunities. He came up with the Angels in 1995 and became the regular closer in 1996 replacing another great closer Lee Smith. Percival would have 36 saves that season. What not many people know is he was drafted by the Angels in 1990 as a catcher. The switch from behind the plate to the mound came when coaches started noticing he threw the ball harder back to the mound then it was coming in. Perci was a four time All-Star and a World Series champion.

Innings Eater

Chuck Finley is the Angels' all-time leader in innings pitched with 2,675. Surprisingly, he has none of the Angels' top-10 seasons in terms of innings pitched; he barely cracked the top-20. Here is the list of the top 10 innings pitched seasons in Angels history. You will notice a trend with Nolan Ryan. Also you will see some of them did it as teammates

1. Nolan Ryan                   332.2            1974
2. Nolan Ryan                   326.0            1973
3. Bill Singer                     315.2           1973
4. Nolan Ryan                   299.0            1977
5. Frank Tanana                288.1            1976
6. Nolan Ryan                   284.1            1976
7. Nolan Ryan                   284.0            1976
8. Dean Chance                 278.1            1964
9. Alex Messersmith         276.2            1971
9. Clyde Wright                 276.2            1971

18. Mark Langston            256.1            1993
19. Chuck Finley               251.1            1993

Palm Springs Training

Before moving Spring Training to Tempe Arizona in 1993, the primary home for the Angels during the pre-season was in Palm Springs at Palm Springs Stadium. Originally a polo ground built in 1949, the field would host Pacific Coast League baseball games through the 50's and into the 60's.  The Palm Springs Angels would use it as their home in the Class-A California League from 1986-93. Why Palm Springs you ask? Well that is where Gene Autry lived and he wanted his team close to him. He purchased the polo ground area and build a 5,000 seat stadium inside. The Angels would eventually move from California to Arizona since they were the only ones left in the golden state. But for 32 years, local fans got to see their favorite Angels close to home as they prepared for the season. The move to Tempe Diablo Stadium wasn't much of an upgrade for a while besides the amount of space. A stadium that was built in 1968 was home to the Seattle Mariners until the Angels came in. It needed upgrades and it wasn't until 2006 when $20 million worth of renovations was put in. Now its one of the nicest facilities in the Cactus League.