Los Angeles Angels facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Los Angeles Angels
2025 Los Angeles Angels season
Established in 1961 Based in Anaheim since 1966
Team logo Cap insignia
Major league affiliations
American League (1961–present) West Division (1969–present)
Current uniform
Retired numbers	11 26 29 30 50 42
Colors
Red, navy blue, silver
Name
Los Angeles Angels (2016–present) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2005–2015) Anaheim Angels (1997–2004) California Angels (1965–1996) Los Angeles Angels (1961–1965)
Other nicknames
The Halos The A-Team
Ballpark
Angel Stadium (1966–present) Chavez Ravine Stadium (1962–1965) Wrigley Field (1961)
Major league titles
World Series titles (1)	2002
AL Pennants (1)	2002
AL West Division titles (9)	1979 1982 1986 2004 2005 2007 2008 2009 2014
Wild card berths (1)	2002
Front office
Principal owner(s)	Arte Moreno
President	John Carpino
General manager	Perry Minasian
Manager	Ron Washington

The Los Angeles Angels are a professional baseball team from the Greater Los Angeles area. They play in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team has played its home games at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.

The team started in Los Angeles in 1961. It was one of the first two new teams added to MLB that year. The Angels were also the first MLB team to start in California. Their name comes from an older baseball team called the Los Angeles Angels that played in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The team stayed in Los Angeles until 1966 when they moved to Anaheim.

Because of this move, the team's name changed several times. They were the California Angels from 1965 to 1996. Then they became the Anaheim Angels from 1997 to 2004. In 2005, "Los Angeles" was added back to the name. However, because of a deal with Anaheim, the city's name also had to be included. So, they were called the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim until 2015. The team has been known as the Los Angeles Angels since 2016.

For their first 40 years, the Angels were an average team. But they did win three division titles. Famous players like Nolan Ryan, Rod Carew, and Reggie Jackson played for them. In 2002, under manager Mike Scioscia, they made it to the playoffs for the first time as a Wild Card team. They used this chance to win the 2002 World Series, which is their only championship so far. The Angels are one of only two MLB teams to win the World Series in their first and only appearance.

Over the next seven years, the Angels won five more division titles. This was thanks to players like Vladimir Guerrero, who is now in the Hall of Fame. More fans started coming to their games, making them one of the most popular teams in MLB. Since 2012, their popularity has grown even more with superstars like Albert Pujols, Mike Trout, and Shohei Ohtani. These three players have won five AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards while playing for the Angels. Despite having these amazing players, the team has not been to the playoffs since 2014. They currently have the longest playoff drought in MLB, with 10 seasons in a row without making the playoffs.

As of 2024, the Angels have won 5,021 games and lost 5,115 games.

Team History: How the Angels Started and Grew

The PCL's Angels (1892–1957) played in L.A. at Wrigley Field until the arrival of the Dodgers in 1958. The Angels nickname originates from the PCL franchise.

The name Los Angeles Angels comes from the very first sports team in Los Angeles. This team was called the Los Angeles Angels of the California League. They got their name from the Spanish words "Los Angeles," which means 'The Angels'. This team started in 1892. In 1903, the name continued with the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League.

The current Angels team was started by MLB in 1961. The first owner, Gene Autry, bought the rights to the team name from Walter O'Malley. O'Malley used to own the Los Angeles Dodgers. Autry paid $350,000 for the name. He wanted to continue the history of the popular Pacific Coast League team with his new MLB team. Some players from the old PCL Angels even joined the new MLB Angels in 1961.

When the Angels first started, they played their home games at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. This was the same stadium where the PCL Angels used to play. The Angels were one of two new teams added to MLB in 1961. The other team was the Washington Senators (now the Texas Rangers). In 1962, the Angels moved to the new Dodger Stadium. They played there as tenants of the Dodgers until 1965.

Angel Stadium (enclosed), 1991

The team's founder, Gene Autry, owned the team for 36 years. During his time as owner, the team made it to the playoffs three times. However, they never won the league championship. The team's name changed several times. On September 2, 1965, they changed their name from Los Angeles Angels to California Angels. This was because they were moving to the new Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim for the 1966 season.

When The Walt Disney Company took over the team in 1997, they made big changes to Anaheim Stadium. It was renamed Edison International Field of Anaheim. The City of Anaheim helped pay for the renovations. As part of the deal, the stadium and team names had to include "Anaheim." So, the team was renamed the Anaheim Angels. Under Disney's ownership and manager Mike Scioscia, the Angels won their first league championship and World Series in 2002.

In 2005, the new owner, Arte Moreno, added Los Angeles back to the team's name. To follow the lease agreement with Anaheim, the team was officially called the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Many fans and local governments did not like this change. The city of Anaheim even went to court, but the name change was allowed. The city dropped its lawsuit in 2009. The team often calls itself the Angels or Angels Baseball in its home area. The name Los Angeles does not appear in the stadium, on the uniforms, or on official team items. However, the uniforms have always said "Angels" instead of the city or state name. In 2013, the team planned to drop "of Anaheim" and go back to Los Angeles Angels. This deal was never finished, but most official sources now leave out "of Anaheim."

In 2019, the city of Anaheim voted to sell Angel Stadium and the land around it to a group led by owner Arte Moreno. This deal was later canceled. In 2023, the Angels scored a record 25 runs against the Rockies in one game. They scored 13 runs in just one inning!

Team Culture: Traditions and Fun at the Ballpark

The saying "Win One for the Cowboy" is a big part of Angels history for fans. This refers to the Angels' founder, Gene Autry. He owned the team for 38 years but never saw them win a World Series. The team often came close but lost. When the Angels finally won their first World Series in 2002, Autry had passed away four years earlier. After winning, Angels player Tim Salmon brought out one of Autry's famous white cowboy hats to honor him. Autry's jersey number, 26, was retired to show he was like the "26th man" on the field for the Angels.

The "Big A" at Angel Stadium

Angel Stadium of Anaheim is known as "The Big A." It has a special area in center field called the "California Spectacular." This is a group of fake rocks that look like a desert mountain in California. The California Spectacular has a waterfall and shoots fireworks from the rocks before every game. Fireworks also shoot off when the Angels hit a home run or win a home game.

Every game starts with the song "Calling All Angels" by Train. A video showing great moments in team history plays along with the song. Since 2024, the Angels' home run song has been "Dance With Me" by Blink-182.

After an Angels home win, fans often say "Light That Baby Up!" This refers to the tall, 230-foot letter "A" sign at Angel Stadium. It has a halo on top that lights up every time the Angels win a home game. Other phrases for Angels wins include "Just another Halo victory!" and "And the Halo shines tonight!"

The Angels were the first team in North America to use thundersticks.

The Rally Monkey: A Lucky Charm

The Rally Monkey on the jumbotron at Angel Stadium - 2023

The Rally Monkey is a special mascot for the Angels. It appears on the scoreboard when the Angels are losing or the game is tied, usually from the 7th inning on. The Rally Monkey is shown in funny video clips from movies or pop culture.

The Rally Monkey started in 2000. The scoreboard showed a clip from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and after that, the Angels came back to win the game. Fans loved it so much that the team hired a real monkey named Katie. She is a white-haired capuchin monkey. Katie stars in new video clips for games. When she appears, she jumps up and down to the song "Jump Around" and holds a sign that says "RALLY TIME!"

The Rally Monkey became famous during the Angels' 2002 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. In Game 6, the Angels were playing at home and were behind in the series. They were losing 5–0 in the 7th inning. With the fans cheering for the Rally Monkey, the Angels scored six runs and won the game! This win changed the whole series, and they went on to win the championship in Game 7.

From 2004 to 2009, the Angels made the playoffs five times. This made the Rally Monkey even more popular.

Fan Popularity and Records

The Angels have drawn more than 3 million fans to their stadium every year from 2003 to 2019. Since 2002, at least 2 million fans have attended games each year. From 2010 to 2013, they averaged 40,000 fans per game, even though they didn't make the playoffs. This makes them the second most attended team in MLB, only behind the New York Yankees. In 2019, the Angels were fifth in MLB attendance with over 3 million fans.

As of 2015, Angels fans have set six Guinness World Records. These records are for the largest groups of people wearing blankets, wrestling masks, cowboy hats, wigs, Santa hats, superhero capes, and sombreros. They also set the record for the largest gathering of people with selfie sticks.

In 2009, ESPN magazine named the Angels the number one team in professional sports for "Fan Value." In 2012, ESPN and fan polls ranked the Angels as the fifteenth best sports team overall and the third best among MLB teams. These rankings looked at things like fan attendance, how the team treats fans, winning percentage, ownership, ticket prices, stadium experience, player effort, coaching, and championship history.

Team Look: Logos and Colors Through the Years

The Angels' current wordmark

The Los Angeles Angels have used ten different logos and three different color combinations. Their first two logos showed a baseball with wings and a halo over a baseball field, with the letters "L" and "A." The original team colors were mostly blue with red. These colors were used from 1961 to 1996.

On September 2, 1965, the team changed its name to the "California Angels." This happened before their move to Anaheim in 1966. The logo changed too. For 31 years as the "California Angels," they kept the blue and red colors. However, their logo changed six times. The first logo under this name was like the "LA" logo, but with an interlocking "CA." From 1971 to 1985, the Angels used a logo with the word "Angels" written on an outline of California.

In 1965, a sportswriter named Bud Furillo called the stadium "the Big A." This was because of the tall letter "A" sign with a halo that used to be beyond left-center field. It was the main scoreboard.

Angel Stadium

In 1986, the Angels started using the "Big A" on top of a baseball as their new logo, with a shadow of California in the background. After 1992, the Angels went back to their interlocking "CA" logo. They used this logo from 1993 to 1996.

When The Walt Disney Company took over, the Angels changed their name to the "Anaheim Angels." They also changed their logo and colors. The first Disney logo had a cartoon-like "ANGELS" script with a wing on the "A" over a light blue plate and crossed bats. The team's colors changed to dark blue and light blue. After using the "winged" logo until 2001, Disney changed the Angels' logo back to a "Big A" with a silver halo over a dark blue baseball field. With this logo change, the colors became the team's current ones: mostly red with some dark blue and white.

When the team's name changed to the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim," the logo changed only a little. The words "ANAHEIM ANGELS" and the blue baseball field were removed, leaving just the "Big A."

For the 2011 season, which was the Angels' 50th anniversary, the halo on the 'Big A' logo temporarily changed from silver to old gold. This was a tribute to past Angels logos and the tradition of gold for 50th anniversaries. The uniforms also had the gold halo that season.

During the 50th Anniversary season, players wore throwback jerseys at every Friday home game. These jerseys showed all the different logos and uniforms the team had used before. Also, former Angels players threw the first pitch at every home game that season.

A new patch was added to the uniforms before the 2012 season. It was a red circle with "Angels Baseball" and the team logo inside, along with the year 1961. This year was when the Angels team was started. With this new patch, the Angels' "A" with the halo now appears in three places on the jersey: the right shoulder, the team name, and the left shoulder.

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  Los Angeles Angels logo from 1961-1965

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  California Angels logo from 1966-1970

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  California Angels logo from 1971-1972

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  California Angels logo from 1972-1988

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  California Angels logo from 1989-1992

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  California Angels logo from 1993-1996

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  Anaheim Angels logo from 1997-2001

Team Rivalries: Who Do the Angels Play Against?

The Angels have strong rivalries with other teams in their division, the AL West. These include the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers. The Houston Astros also joined the division in 2013, adding another rival. The Angels also see the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox as rivals. This is because they played against them in seven playoff series in the 2000s. The Los Angeles Dodgers are also a rival because both teams are in the Greater Los Angeles area.

Angels vs. Oakland Athletics

The Angels and Oakland Athletics have been rivals since the A's moved to California in 1969. While not as intense as some other rivalries, these two teams have often competed for the division title. The rivalry was strongest in the early 2000s when both teams were very good. In 2002, the A's won 20 games in a row, taking the division lead from the Angels. The Angels then won the Wild Card spot and went on to win the 2002 World Series. The A's, despite winning 103 games, lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In 2004, both teams were tied for first place going into the last week of the season. The Angels played the A's in Oakland for the final three games. The Angels won two of those games, which knocked the A's out of the playoffs. The Athletics have won more games in the series overall (527-479). The two teams have never played each other in the playoffs.

Angels vs. Seattle Mariners

The Angels and Seattle Mariners have also had a steady rivalry. They often battle for control of the division or a playoff spot. In 1995, the Angels had a big 13-game lead over the Mariners in August. But by late September, Seattle had taken a three-game lead. The 1995 season ended with both teams tied for first place. This led to a special tie-breaker game to decide the division winner.

Both teams continued to fight for playoff spots in the early 2000s. The Mariners won 116 games in 2001, and the Angels won the 2002 World Series in 2002. Even though both teams had some down years, their games often became important battles in the division. Recently, both teams have been trying to make the playoffs with talented players like Julio Rodríguez and Ty France for Seattle, and Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout for the Angels. The Angels lead the series against the Mariners 388-329. They have not met in the playoffs yet.

Angels vs. Texas Rangers

The rivalry between the Angels and Texas Rangers grew because both teams have often been strong in their division. Also, some players have played for both teams, like Nolan Ryan, Mike Napoli, and Vladimir Guerrero. In 2012, there was a small argument between Angels pitcher C. J. Wilson and his former teammate Mike Napoli. This was not the first time there were heated moments between the teams.

The Angels and Rangers are the only two MLB teams to have each pitched a perfect game against the other. Mike Witt pitched a perfect game for the Angels against the Rangers in 1984. Kenny Rogers pitched one for the Rangers against the Angels in 1994.

Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The rivalry with the Los Angeles Dodgers is called the Freeway Series. This is because the two teams' stadiums are linked by freeways, mainly Interstate 5. The Freeway Series is one of four MLB rivalries between two teams in the same big city area.

From 1962 to 1965, the Angels played their home games at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley allowed an American League team in Los Angeles if they played at Dodger Stadium. So, Angels owner Gene Autry signed a deal to rent the stadium. On May 5, 1962, Angels pitcher Bo Belinsky pitched the first no-hitter in Dodger Stadium history.

When interleague play started in 1997, the Angels and Dodgers played each other in regular season games for the first time. In June 1999, a fight broke out between the two teams. Angels pitcher Tim Belcher tagged out Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park, which led to Park punching and kicking Belcher. Park was kicked out of the game and suspended for seven games.

On December 9, 2023, Angels star player Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers. He signed the largest contract in professional sports history.

Broadcasting: How to Watch and Listen to the Angels

The main radio station for the Angels is Orange, California-licensed KLAA 830 AM. This station is owned by the team. Terry Smith has been the play-by-play announcer since 2002, and Mark Langston has been the color commentator since 2012. Before KLAA, most Angels games were on KSPN (710 AM) since 1961. Spanish-language Angels games are on KWKW (1330 AM) with José Tolentino.

Angels games are shown on the cable channel Bally Sports West (BSW). Wayne Randazzo is the play-by-play announcer since 2023, and Mark Gubicza is the color commentator since 2007. Sometimes, Matt Vasgersian and Patrick O'Neal announce games when Randazzo is busy. The Angels share the network with the Los Angeles Kings hockey team. If there's a conflict, games might be on Bally Sports SoCal or KCOP-TV.

The Angels have been with BSW since 1993. The network has changed names many times. Local TV station KTLA showed Angels games from 1964 to 1995. KCAL-TV also showed Angels games from 1961 to 1963 and again from 1996 to 2005. Dick Enberg was a famous Angels announcer from 1969 to 1978. He was known for saying "And the halo shines tonight" after Angels wins. Former announcer Victor Rojas (2010–2020) would say "Light that baby up" after wins, also referring to the "Big A" sign.

Awards and Honors: Celebrating Angels Greats

Gene Autry, team founder and owner (1960–1998)

Retired Numbers: Honoring Legends

The Angels have retired several jersey numbers to honor important people in their history.

Jim Fregosi SS, Manager Retired August 1, 1998 Gene Autry Team Founder Retired October 3, 1982 Rod Carew 1B, Coach Retired August 12, 1986 Nolan Ryan P Retired June 16, 1992 Jackie Robinson All MLB Honored April 15, 1997 Jimmie Reese Coach Retired August 2, 1995

• Number 26 was retired for Gene Autry. It means he was the team's "26th Man," like an extra player.
• Number 42 was retired across all of Major League Baseball in 1997 to honor Jackie Robinson.

Angels Hall of Fame: Team Heroes

Angels infielder and coach Rod Carew was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 1991.

Pitcher Nolan Ryan threw four no-hitters with the Angels and was inducted into the franchise Hall of Fame in 1992.

Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero won an MVP with the Angels in 2004 and was inducted to the team Hall of Fame in 2017.

The Angels started their own Hall of Fame in 1988. They have honored fifteen people, including players and one executive. The entire 2002 World Series team was also inducted.

Key

Year	Year inducted
Bold	Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
	Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame as an Angel

Angels Hall of Fame
Year	No.	Name	Position(s)	Tenure
1988	4	Bobby Grich	2B	1977–1986
1989	11	Jim Fregosi	SS Manager	1961–1971 1978–1981
1990	12, 25	Don Baylor	DH/LF	1977–1982
1991	29	Rod Carew	1B Coach	1979–1985 1992–1999
1992	30	Nolan Ryan	P	1972–1979
1995	50	Jimmie Reese	Coach	1972–1994
2009	5, 9	Brian Downing	DH/LF/C	1978–1990
	31	Chuck Finley	P	1986–1999
2011	26	Gene Autry	Owner/Founder	1961–1998
2012	2002 World Series Team
2013	29	Bobby Knoop	2B Coach	1964–1969 1979–1996, 2013–2018
2015	31	Dean Chance	P	1961–1966
	15	Tim Salmon	RF	1992–2006
	39	Mike Witt	P	1981–1990
2016	16	Garret Anderson	LF	1994–2008
2017	27	Vladimir Guerrero	RF/DH	2004–2009

Baseball Hall of Fame: National Recognition

Several famous players who are in the Baseball Hall of Fame have played for the Angels. The Hall of Fame lists the Angels as the "primary team" for Nolan Ryan. Also, Vladimir Guerrero was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 wearing an Angels cap.

Ford C. Frick Award: Honoring Announcers

The Ford C. Frick Award honors baseball broadcasters. Several announcers who worked for the Angels have received this award.

Minor League Teams: Future Stars

The Los Angeles Angels have six minor league teams. These teams help develop young players for the main MLB team.

Images for kids

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  Los Angeles Angels logo from 1961-1965

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  California Angels logo from 1966-1970

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  California Angels logo from 1971-1972

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  California Angels logo from 1972-1988

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  California Angels logo from 1989-1992

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  California Angels logo from 1993-1996

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  Anaheim Angels logo from 1997-2001

See also

In Spanish: Los Angeles Angels para niños

• List of Los Angeles Angels first-round draft picks
• List of Los Angeles Angels no-hitters
• List of Los Angeles Angels Opening Day starting pitchers
• List of Los Angeles Angels owners and executives
• List of Los Angeles Angels seasons