The 24 best players in Los Angeles Angels history

Mike Trout has lengthy been thought of one of the best lively participant in Main League Baseball–and when he is wholesome, it is sort of troublesome to dispute that. Since being drafted by the Angels within the first spherical of the ’09 draft the resume Trout has put collectively is truthfully arduous to consider. The Millville, NJ native reached the Majors late in 2011 however formally his rookie season was the ’12 marketing campaign when he slashed .326/.399/.564 with 30 homers and 49 steals and simply received the Rookie of the Yr. Since then, Trout has received three AL MVP awards in ’14, ’16, and ’19, has been an all-star ten occasions, and earned 9 Silver Sluggers. He is given the Angels seven seasons with 30 or extra homers, has pushed in over 90 runs 5 completely different occasions, and has stolen greater than 30 bases 3 times. Trout led the American League in runs in 4 of 5 seasons from ’12-’16, and so far in 2023 is already nicely on his method to one other terrific marketing campaign. The 31-year-old will undoubtedly be a primary ballad Corridor of Famer when he is carried out, and I can promise you no different Los Angeles Angels participant will ever put on quantity 27. Within the meantime, Trout and the Halos each hope there’s much more of this story but to be written. 

Chuck Finley spent the primary 14 seasons of his 17-year Main League profession in southern California with the Angels and was an enormous piece of their pitching employees for a very long time. The southpaw is that this group’s all-time chief in begins (379), wins (165) and innings (2,675), and he’ll perpetually have his fingers throughout this workforce’s leaderboard. Throughout his time with the Halos, Finley represented the membership in 4 all-star video games, gave LA over 200 innings in eight seasons, and led the Majors with 13 full video games in 1993.

Shortstop Jim Fregosi performed his first 11 Main League seasons with the Angels and was simply one of the crucial full gamers ever to put on the membership’s uniform. The San Francisco, CA native took the sector 1,429 occasions with the Halos, slashing .268/.340/.403 with 404 extra-base hits and 546 RBI. He represented the Angels in six all-star video games, received a Gold Glove in 1967, and led the American League with 13 triples in ’68. In December of 1971, Fregosi was on the forefront of one of many greatest trades within the Angels historical past, going to the Mets in alternate for Nolan Ryan and three different players–a deal that will pay enormous dividends as Ryan can be on this checklist. The membership retired his quantity 11 in 1998. 

The Angels chosen outfielder Tim Salmon within the third spherical of the 1989 draft, and it turned clear fairly shortly that that they had a distinction maker on their palms. The Grand Canyon College product performed all 1,672 of his Main League contests in a Halos uniform, and slashed .282/.385/.498 with 299 dwelling runs, 1,016 RBI, and 339 doubles. He was the AL Rookie of the Yr in 1993, earned a Silver Slugger in ’95, and completed within the high ten within the American League’s MVP voting twice. Inexplicably, regardless of homering over 30 occasions in 5 seasons and knocking in over 95 runs 5 separate occasions the right-handed swinging Salmon was by no means chosen to an all-star workforce. He did, nonetheless, win a World Collection ring in 2002 when the Angels defeated the Giants in an thrilling seven sport Fall Basic, and Salmon performed an enormous half, homering twice and hitting .346 within the sequence. 

Righty Nolan Ryan is Main League Baseball’s all-time strikeout king, and far of that work was carried out as a member of the California Angels within the Seventies. The flamethrower took the mound 291 occasions for the Halos and received 138 video games with a 3.07 ERA—the greatest profession mark he had with any of his 4 groups. Ryan went to 5 all-star video games with the Angels, led the Majors in punchouts in six of his eight seasons with the workforce, and gave California an unbelievable 156 full games–40 of which had been shutouts. Ryan was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 1999.  The Angels retired his quantity 30 in ’92. 

Brian Downing spent the overwhelming majority of his 20-year profession in southern California with the Angels, first as a catcher and later out on the grass in left subject. No matter the place he performed defensively, the Los Angeles, CA native was an vital piece of the Angels offense for a very long time, slashing .271/.372/.441 with 222 homers, 846 RBI, and 282 doubles in 1,661 video games with the membership. Downing homered over 20 occasions in six completely different seasons whereas with the Angels, led the American League by strolling 106 occasions in 1987, and was a member of the AL all-star workforce in ’79. 

Righty Jered Weaver spent 11 seasons with the Angels and was the workforce’s greatest beginning pitcher for many of his time in Anaheim. In 322 begins for the Halos, Weaver earned 150 wins and pitched to a 3.55 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP, whereas placing out 1,598 hitters in 2,025 innings. He was an all-star three seasons in a row from ’10-’12, led the Majors with 233 punchouts in 2010, and gave the Angels over 200 innings 4 occasions. In 2011 he was the runner-up to Detroit’s Justin Verlander within the American League Cy Younger voting. 

Infielder Bobby Grich spent the primary seven seasons of his profession in Baltimore earlier than signing a free-agent contract with the Angels forward of 1976 season, and he should have favored southern California as a result of he by no means left to play in one other metropolis once more. In ,222 video games with the Halos Grich slashed .269/.370/.436 with 357 extra-base hits, 557 RBI, and 27 steals. He certified for 3 all-star video games whereas with the Angels, earned a Silver Slugger in ’81, and completed eighth within the AL MVP voting in 1979. 

The Angels chosen left-hander Frank Tanana thirteenth total within the 1971 draft popping out of a highschool exterior of Detroit, MI, and it should not come as a shock that later in his profession he jumped on the alternative to return to his hometown as a free agent. However the first a part of Tanana’s Main League story was clearly written in Anaheim, the place for eight years, he gave the Angels a dependable and constant upper-echelon starter. In 225 outings, the southpaw received 102 video games and pitched to a powerful 3.08 ERA in 1,615.1 innings. He was an all-star 3 times, received the ERA title in 1977, and led the Main Leagues in strikeouts in ’75. Tanana by no means received the award however completed within the high 10 of the American League Cy Younger voting 3 times whereas with the Angels, and as an entire his most efficient seasons actually got here in southern California. 

Candy-swinging Darin Erstad was probably the greatest pure hitters of his technology, and for over a decade the Angels had been fortunate sufficient to observe him apply these bat-to-ball expertise in Anaheim. In 1,320 video games with the Halos the Jamestown, ND native slashed an exceptional .3286/.341/.416 with 114 homers, 625 RBI, 279 doubles, 30 triples, and 170 stolen bases. He received three Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger, and in 2000 led the Main Leagues with 240 hits. It is awfully shocking Erstad was chosen to solely two all-star video games, and much more gorgeous that his .355 batting common in 2000 wasn’t ok for a batting title. Most significantly to his Angels legacy, although, Erstad was an enormous piece of Anaheim’s World Collection-winning workforce in ’02. 

Second baseman Howie Kendrick loved vital success late in his profession whereas with the Nationals, nevertheless it was in Anaheim the place he first lower his tooth. In 9 seasons with the Halos the right-handed hitter slashed a powerful .292/.332/.424 with 357 extra-base hits, 501 RBI and 95 stolen bases. He was an all-star in 2011 when he crushed a career-high 18 lengthy balls, and together with shortstop Erick Aybar who will probably be mentioned later on this gallery, fashioned a flashy double play mixture for this membership for a very long time. 

Southern California native Garret Anderson was the Angels 4th spherical decide within the 1990 draft and whereas it took him someday to succeed in the large leagues, when he did it turned obvious slightly shortly that the Halos didn’t miss on the choice. Anderson, a left-handed swinging outfielder, would go on to slash .296/.327/.469 throughout 15 seasons with the Angels, whereas blasting 272 homers, driving in 1,292 runs, and doubling 489 occasions. He was chosen to characterize Anaheim in three all-star video games, received two Silver Slugger Awards, and led the American League in doubles in each ’02 and ’03. Anderson drove in over 116 runs for the Halos annually from 2000-2003, received the ’03 Residence Run Derby and was an enormous a part of the Angels World Collection successful membership in ’02. 

It is really inconceivable {that a} workforce that is employed each Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani for the final six years has had completely nothing in the way in which of success. Ohtani is really a once-in-a-lifetime expertise, an elite offensive weapon in addition to a bona fide primary beginning pitcher. During the last two full Main League seasons Ohtani has blasted 80 dwelling runs and pushed in 195 runs. Whereas on the mound going 24-11 with a 2.70 ERA in 51 begins. The 28-year-old has received AL Rookie of the Yr, AL MVP, made two all-star video games and received a Silver Slugger so far in his profession and he is solely getting began. 

Southpaw Mark Langston loved a profitable 16-year profession on the sport’s highest degree, and roughly half of his appearances got here in an Angels uniform. With the Halos he took the ball 210 occasions and earned 88 wins, whereas pitching to a 3.97 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP in 1,445.1 innings. The San Diego, CA native represented Anaheim in three all-star video games, earned 5 Gold Gloves, and 1991 he even completed sixth within the AL Cy Younger voting. 

John Lackey turned a polarizing determine in Boston, St. Louis, and Chicago after leaving the Angels, nevertheless it’s vital to do not forget that it was in southern California the place he first started blossoming right into a high-caliber beginning pitcher. In eight seasons in Anaheim the right-hander went 102-71 with a 3.81 ERA in 1,501 innings. He helped the Angels win the World Collection as a rookie in 2002, received the ERA title in ’07, and wore a Halos cap in his lone all-star sport look. Lackey led the American League in full sport shutouts 3 times whereas with the Angels, and gave the membership over 198 innings in 5 straight seasons from ’03-’07. 

Shortstop Erick Aybar wasn’t precisely a family identify throughout his decade-long run with the Angels, however that is to not say he wasn’t an enormous a part of Anaheim’s workforce whereas he was there. The switch-hitter slashed .276/.315/.378 in a Halos’ uniform with 313 extra-base hits, 417 RBI, and 141 stolen bases. He received a Gold Glove award in 2011, made the all-star workforce in 2014, and was persistently a useful and reliable defender at a premium place in the course of the Angels infield. 

Free-swinging outfielder Vladimir Guerrero had firmly established himself as one of the crucial deadly offensive gamers within the sport throughout his eight seasons with the Expos, and the Angels had been completely elated so as to add him as a free agent in January of 2004. He rewarded them immediately, crushing 39 homers and driving in 126 runs in his first season on the west coast en path to being named the MVP of the American League. Guerrero would find yourself homering over 27 occasions and driving in additional than 100 runs in every of his first 4 campaigns with Anaheim and led the AL with 124 runs scored in 2004. He represented the Angels in 4 all-star video games, received 4 Silver Sluggers, received the 2007 Residence Run Derby and slashed .319/.381/.546 in an Anaheim uniform. Guerrero was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 2018 and at the moment his son, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is likely one of the most harmful right-handed hitters within the sport. 

Third baseman Troy Glaus was chosen by the Angels third total within the ’97 draft popping out of UCLA and he reached the large leagues 13 months later. At his apex the right-handed slugger was one of the crucial harmful energy hitters within the American League, as he crushed 29 or extra homers yearly from 1999-2002–including an AL-high 47 in 2000. Glaus drove in over 100 runs for the Angels 3 times, made three all-star groups, and received two Silver Sluggers, however his remaining two years on the west coast had been marred by accidents. In six complete seasons with Anaheim Glaus slashed .253/.357/.497 with 182 dwelling runs, 515 RBI, and 165 doubles. The spotlight of his profession was undoubtedly the 2002 World Collection, through which he hit three homers and drove in eight runs on his method to being named the MVP of a Fall Basic his workforce would finally seize in seven video games. 

Utilityman Chone Figgins performed six completely different positions throughout his eight seasons in Anaheim with the Angels, however wherever he lined up defensively he was usually an offensive asset. In 936 video games with the membership, he slashed .291/.363/.388 with 232 extra-base hits, 341 RBI, and most notably, 280 stolen bases. In his heyday Figgins possessed game-wrecking pace, and he truly led the Majors with 62 thefts in 2005. The Leary, GA native was by no means a lot of an influence hitter however he impressively reached double digits in triples twice whereas with the Angels, and it is truthfully perplexing that he certified for just one all-star sport throughout his profession. Figgins first reached the large leagues late in 2002 however that was principally simply to make sure he’d be postseason eligible, and in October Anaheim usually used him as a pinch-runner. He ended up incomes a World Collection ring with the Angels that fall. 

Proper-hander Mike Witt pitched for the Angels for primarily all the Eighties, and whereas he was not precisely a star, he did fill a useful function for this workforce for a decade. In 314 outings for the membership (272 begins), Witt labored to the tune of a 3.76 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP, whereas placing out 1,283 hitters in 1,965.1 innings and incomes 109 victories. He made the all-star workforce in each ’86 and ’87 and gave California over 200 innings six occasions. 

Heart fielder Torii Hunter had received seven straight Gold Gloves in Minnesota earlier than coming to Anaheim, and whereas he earned two extra in his first two seasons with the Angels, as he bought deeper into his 30’s a few of his vary out on the grass began to desert him. However with the Halos Hunter made up for that by turning into a extra prolific offensive participant than he’d been earlier in his profession. In his 5 seasons with the Angels the Pine Bluff, AR native slashed .286/.352/.462 with 105 homers, 432 RBI, 147 doubles, and 60 stolen bases. He received a Silver Slugger Award in 2009, represented Anaheim in two all-star video games, and drove in over 90 runs for the Angels 3 times. 

Jarrod Washburn was the Angels’ second-round decide within the 1995 draft popping out of the College of Wisconsin, and three brief years later he emerged as an vital piece of the membership’s pitching employees. Washburn would find yourself spending the primary eight seasons of his Main League profession in southern California, successful 75 video games with the Halos and pitching to a 3.93 ERA. He by no means certified for an American League all-star workforce, regardless of as soon as ending 4th within the AL Cy Younger voting, however for eight years he persistently took the ball each fifth day and gave his workforce an opportunity to win. Washburn earned a World Collection ring with the Angels in 2002. 

Left-handed swinging heart fielder Jim Edmonds performed the primary seven of his 17 Main League seasons with the Angels, and whereas at the moment he could also be most remembered for his exploits in St. Louis, let’s not neglect how prolific he was early in his profession. In 709 video games with the Halos he slashed .290/.359/.498 with 121 homers, 408 RBI and 161 doubles. He represented Anaheim within the 1995 all-star sport and earned two Gold Gloves with the workforce, and his two-way prowess propelled him to stardom with the Cardinals later in his profession.  

Throughout his prime there merely was not a greater defensive participant within the Main Leagues than shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who flashed his defensive prowess in Anaheim from 2016-2020. With the Angels he earned two Gold Gloves and even completed eighth within the AL MVP voting in ’17. Offensively he slashed .281/.328/.394 in 561 video games with the Halos, whereas contributing 157 extra-base hits and driving in 238 runs. He left the Angels to affix the Twins in free company in 2021.