Top 50 Los Angeles Angels
In 1951, Los Angeles had no Major League Baseball teams.
In 1961, they had two.
The Los Angeles Angels came into existence in 1961 as an expansion team, and while they were (and are) still secondary to the Dodgers, the constant name changes didn't help. They went from the Los Angeles Angels (1961-65) to the California Angels (1965-96), Anaheim Angels (1997-2004), Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2005-15), and back to the Los Angeles Angels.
The team did not go to their first postseason until 1979, and in 2002, they won their first Pennant, which is, to date, the only one they have captured. They made the most of their lone World Series appearance, winning it all.
This list is up to the end of the 2025 season.
Note: Baseball lists are based on an amalgamation of tenure, traditional statistics, advanced statistics, playoff statistics, and postseason accolades.
Ervin Santana joined the California organization as an amateur free agent in 2000. This Dominican right-hander was known for his powerful fastball and slider, which were expected to be the backbone of the rotation for years. He made his debut in 2005, quickly fitting into a clubhouse fresh off a world title and showing signs of a top-tier starter. Over eight seasons with the Angels, he displayed a unique lot of "feast or famine" dominance, indicating that although he lacked consistent performance, his raw talent could overpower any lineup. In his first two summers in the rotation, he established himself…
Don Baylor joined Anaheim in 1977 as a key signing during the early free-agency period. He was a muscular slugger whose presence marked a bold new era for the team. Although he is now well-known for his later roles as a manager and hitting coach, his playing days in California were characterized by a particular kind of power-driven middle-of-the-order intimidation. Baylor’s 1979 season is among the most successful in the team's history. That summer, he proved his skill in driving in runs at an exceptional pace, leading the American League with 139 RBIs and scoring 120 runs. He demonstrated his…
Kirk McCaskill arrived in Anaheim in 1985, a Canadian multi-sport athlete who chose baseball over hockey. Though not as famous as some 1980s pitchers, he offered the California Angels reliable technical skill vital for their mid-1980s success. McCaskill helped the Angels win the 1986 division, winning 17 games with a 3.36 ERA. He showed durability, recording ten complete games and proving he was more than a supplemental starter for a championship team. After two sub-par seasons, McCaskill had his best season, where he went 15-10 with a 2.93 ERA that was good enough for fifth in the American League. While…
Fred Lynn arrived in Anaheim in 1981 via a blockbuster trade from the Red Sox, a move that sent shockwaves through the league as the Angels looked to pair a legitimate superstar with their burgeoning core. Having already achieved legendary status in Boston as the first man to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season, Lynn carried the weight of massive expectations into Orange County. The first part of his tenure was marked by a difficult transition that challenged the patience of Anaheim fans. In the shortened 1981 season, Lynn showed an unusual lack of…
Debuting with the Angels in 1966, Clyde Wright arrived as a wiry southpaw with a specialized repertoire that took a few years to fully calibrate. While he spent his first four seasons bouncing between the rotation and the bullpen, even suffering through a miserable one-win campaign in 1969, he transformed into a technical marvel practically overnight. Wright demonstrated flashes of high-quality potential during his 1966 debut, but he quickly became a professional mainstay in the "swingman" category, oscillating between spot starts and high-leverage relief. It wasn't until he perfected a screwball during winter ball, reportedly at the suggestion of teammate…
Scot Shields was initially seen as a low-ceiling prospect after the 38th round but defied expectations to become a key reliever in the franchise's most successful era. He served as the vital "bridge" to Troy Percival and Francisco Rodriguez for ten seasons, demonstrating that a specialized sinker can outweigh a high draft pick. Debuting in 2001, Shieldshe played a supporting role on the 2002 World Series Championship team; it was his work over the following years that cemented his legacy. Shields demonstrated a high-frequency ability to enter games with runners on base and neutralize threats with a heavy sinker that…
An unheralded 2010 eighth-round pick out of Arizona State, Kole Calhoun was a stocky outfielder who looked more like a specialized power-hitter than a fleet-footed defender. However, he quickly proved that he was a high-frequency engine of energy, earning the nickname "Red Baron" for his fiery red hair and a playing style that bordered on reckless abandon. After a brief introduction to the majors, Calhoun displayed a high-caliber breakout in 2014, his first full season as a starter. He demonstrated a high-frequency ability to reach base and provide specialized pop from the leadoff spot, batting .272 with 17 home runs.…
Bobby Knoop arrived in Anaheim in 1964 as a defensive specialist who quickly turned second base into a specialized fortress. While his offensive numbers fit the classic "dead ball" mold of the era, he provided the early Angels with a brand of technical brilliance in the field that made him an immediate professional mainstay. In his rookie year, Knoop demonstrated a high-frequency ability to take the field, playing in all 162 games and proving to be a reliable defensive engine from day one. He quickly earned a reputation as a technical master of the double play, with manager Bill Rigney…
Chili Davis’ arrival as a free agent after the 1987 season in Anaheim was a homecoming of sorts, a move driven by a desire to escape the notorious elements of San Francisco. Having grown up in Los Angeles after moving from Jamaica as a child, Davis had become a star for the Giants but grew increasingly frustrated with the "cold and windy" conditions at Candlestick Park. Davis’ first season with the Angels saw 21 homers and 93 RBIs but also a franchise-record 19 errors in right field. By 1990, back problems and defensive issues led to a switch to DH,…
A sixth-round pick, Gary DiSarcina was labeled with a reputation for "grinding it out," a descriptor that followed him through every stage of his career. While he lacked the flashy offensive numbers of many modern shortstops, he provided the California Angels with a brand of defensive stability and quiet leadership that became the organization's heartbeat for over a decade. Debuting for the club in 1989, DiSarcina seized the starting role in 1992. DiSarcina demonstrated a specialized ability to anchor the infield, quickly proving to be a reliable partner for the veteran staff. Although he had no discernible power game (only…
David Eckstein came to SoCal in late 2000 as a waiver claim from the Red Sox, a transaction that initially barely registered as a blip on the radar. At 5' 6" and drafted in the 19th round, he didn't fit the physical profile of a major league shortstop, but he immediately provided a brand of high-frequency hustle that fundamentally changed the energy of the clubhouse. After earning a spot on the 2001 Opening Day roster, Eckstein showed the ability to generate chaos on the basepaths, batting .285 with 29 stolen bases. He quickly proved to be a professional mainstay, finishing…
Spending the first six years of his career as a California Angel, Gary Pettis was a blur of speed that immediately redefined the limits of what a center fielder could cover. Drafted as a late-round flyer, he operated as a specialized defensive wizard whose legs were his greatest asset both on the paths and in the grass. After a brief introduction to the big leagues, Pettis seized the starting center field job in 1984 and turned the position into a highlight-reel theater. He demonstrated a high-caliber ability to track down fly balls that seemed destined for the wall, using his…