Sports in Orange County, California facts for kids
Orange County, California, is a lively place for sports! It's home to many sports teams and exciting competitions. The city of Anaheim in Orange County hosts two big professional sports teams. These are the Los Angeles Angels for baseball and the Anaheim Ducks for ice hockey.
Contents
Major League Sports Teams in Orange County
Orange County has some fantastic professional sports teams. These teams play in the biggest leagues in the country.
Baseball: Los Angeles Angels
The Major League Baseball team here is the Los Angeles Angels. In 2002, when they were called the Anaheim Angels, they won the World Series! Their manager at the time was Mike Scioscia.
Later, in 2005, the team's owner, Arte Moreno, wanted to change their name. He wanted them to be called the "Los Angeles Angels." This was to connect with the larger Los Angeles area. However, their agreement with Anaheim said "Anaheim" had to be in the name. So, they became the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The city of Anaheim wasn't happy about this. They even went to court, but the team owner won.
Ice Hockey: Anaheim Ducks
Orange County's National Hockey League team is the Anaheim Ducks. They won the famous Stanley Cup in 2007! They beat the Ottawa Senators to become champions. They also almost won the Stanley Cup in 2003. They played a tough seven-game series against the New Jersey Devils.
Football and Basketball Teams
The National Football League used to have a team in Orange County. The Los Angeles Rams moved away in 1995. Later, the Chargers moved to Los Angeles. They set up their main office in Costa Mesa, Orange County. But they play their games in Los Angeles County.
The Los Angeles Clippers basketball team also played some games here. From 1994 to 1999, they played at the Honda Center. Then they moved to the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Exciting Sports Competitions
Orange County hosts many cool sports events. People from all over come to compete here.
Beach Sports in Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach is famous for its beach sports. Every year, it hosts the U.S. Open of Surfing. This is a huge event for surfers. It also holds the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball tournaments. Skateboarders love the Vans World Championship of Skateboarding held here. The USA Water Polo organization also has its main office in Huntington Beach.
Golf: The Toshiba Classic
The Toshiba Classic is a big golf tournament. It's part of the PGA Champions Tour. This event happens every March. It takes place at The Newport Beach Country Club. Famous golfers like Fred Couples and Nick Price have won here. The tournament helps raise money for the Hoag Hospital Foundation.
Orange County and the 1984 Olympics
Several places in Orange County were used for the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games. The Olympic torch even traveled through the county!
- Mission Viejo, Orange County – cycling (road race)
- California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton – handball
- Coto de Caza, Orange County – modern pentathlon (fencing, riding, running, shooting)
- Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim – wrestling
Other Professional Sports Teams
Beyond the major leagues, Orange County has other professional teams. They play in different sports.
Tennis: Orange County Breakers
The Orange County Breakers play in Mylan World TeamTennis. They moved away for a bit but came back to Newport Beach in 2015. They are the only professional tennis team in the area. The Breakers won a championship in 2004. Many famous players have been on their team. These include Maria Sharapova and Pete Sampras.
Soccer: Orange County SC
Orange County SC is a United Soccer League team. It's the only professional soccer club in Orange County. Their first season was in 2011. They did well, reaching the playoff quarter-finals.
Roller Derby and Rugby League
The Orange County Roller Derby started in 2006. This flat track league competes against teams from all over. In 2010, they built a special banked track at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena.
The Orange County Outlaws are a rugby league team. They formed in 2010. They play their home games at LeBard Stadium in Costa Mesa.
Past Sports Teams in Orange County
Orange County has been home to many sports teams over the years. Some teams have moved or stopped playing.
Baseball Teams of the Past
Professional baseball had a short run here after World War II. The Anaheim Valencias played in 1947 and 1948. They played their games at La Palma Park.
Former Basketball Teams
The Anaheim Arsenal was an NBA D-League team. They played from 2006 to 2009 at the Anaheim Convention Center. They later moved to Massachusetts.
Another team, the Anaheim Amigos, played in the American Basketball Association in the 1960s. They also played at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Football Teams of the Past
The Anaheim Piranhas were an Arena Football League team. They played in 1996 and 1997. The team stopped playing due to money problems.
The Southern California Sun was a football team in the World Football League. They played in Anaheim in 1974 and 1975. Their home stadium was Anaheim Stadium.
Soccer Teams of the Past
The California Surf played in the North American Soccer League. They played from 1978 to 1981 at Anaheim Stadium.
Another soccer team was the Los Angeles Salsa. They played in the American Professional Soccer League in 1993 and 1994. They played some games at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium.
Other Past Sports Teams
The Anaheim Storm was a National Lacrosse League team. They stopped playing in 2005. This was because not enough people came to their games.
The Anaheim Bullfrogs were a Roller Hockey International team. They played from 1993 to 1999.
