Gene Autry became the owner of the Los Angeles Angels and they began play in 1961. Gene Autry named the new franchise the Los Angeles Angels. The origins of the name date back to 1892, when it was first used by a Los Angeles franchise in the California League. The Angel moniker has always made sense for Los Angeles teams, since "The Angels" is a literal English translation of the Spanish "Los Angeles." It was also a nod to the long-successful PCL team that played in Los Angeles from 1903 through 1957. O'Malley still owned the rights to the Angels name even after moving the team to Spokane to make way for the Dodgers, so Autry paid O'Malley $300,000 for the rights to the name.
On January 3rd 2003 baseball announced that the Los Angeles Anaheim Angels formally known as the Anaheim Angels. The city of Anaheim who currently owns the Angel Stadium, there was a breach of the contract which made many people angry at Disney. There was a verdict on February 9, 2006 which resulted in a the Angels in keeping the team with the new name Los Angeles Angels. In 2004 they acquired free agent Vladimir Guerrero who won the American League most valuable player award. Also in 2004 the Angels mounted a spirited comeback to overcome the division leading Oakland Athletics in the last week and clinching the title in the next-to-last game. That brought them to the American League division series in which Boston Red Sox swept them to go on to win the World Series since 1918.
In 2005 Angels had another great season they went on to win their division doing so with five games left in the rear season. They also made up Laos and back-to-back years. Then they went onto the league championship series and played the Chicago White Sox and loss to them in the controversial five games.
Los Angeles Angels Cool Facts:
Founded: 1961 (American League expansion)
Formerly known as:
Los Angeles Angels (1961 to September 1, 1965)
California Angels (September 2, 1965 to November 18, 1996)
Anaheim Angels (November 19, 1996 to January 2, 2005)
Home ballpark: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Uniform colors: Red, Dark Red, Navy Blue, and Silver.
Logo design: Red "A" including dark red shading along the outside of the left side, inside the right side and bottom of the cross of the "A." A silver halo circles the top of the "A," outlined and filled with navy blue. The same navy blue outlines the "A" as well as the halo.
Playoff appearances (6): 1979, 1982, 1986, 2002, 2004, 2005
Los Angeles Angels Ticket Information
