Dean Chance arrived in the California organization as a foundational piece of the original 1961 roster, debuting as a 20-year-old with a high-ceiling repertoire. Known for a unique, back-to-the-plate delivery that baffled hitters’ timing, he quickly transitioned from a young prospect to the premier arm of the expansion era.

Chance first demonstrated his ability to handle a full workload during a historic 1962 rookie campaign. That summer, he recorded a 14-10 record with a 2.96 ERA and earned a third-place finish in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. He showed the organization he was a foundational professional by tossing over 200 innings and appearing in 50 games, providing the staff with the veteran-like poise required for a second-year team. While he faced a high-frequency of losses in 1963, his underlying efficiency remained high, serving as the essential lead-in to his record-shattering 1964 season.

In 1964, Chance was the best hurler in the game.  At just 23 years old, he won the Cy Young Award and led the American League in wins (20), ERA (1.65), and shutouts (11). He demonstrated a specialized ability to dominate elite competition, particularly the Yankees, and finished fifth in the MVP balloting. He remained a consistent winner over the next two seasons, recording 27 more victories and maintaining a sub-3.15 ERA before a 1966 trade sent him to the Minnesota Twins.

Chance compiled 74 wins and 857 strikeouts with the Angels.

Francisco Rodriguez arrived in the California organization as an amateur free agent in 1998, a right-hander with a high-ceiling delivery that would soon alter the franchise's trajectory.

Debuting in September 2002, Rodriguez immediately established a reputation for elite strikeout capability.  Despite having only five regular-season appearances to his name, he evolved into a tactical weapon in October, making 11 relief appearances and securing five wins throughout the playoffs. He showed the organization he was a foundational winner by maintaining a sub-1.000 WHIP across three rounds, providing the bullpen depth needed to secure the franchise's first World Series title. This breakout served as the lead-in to 2004, where he transitioned from a setup role to the full-time closer.

The period between 2005 and 2008 represented the peak of Rodriguez’s efficiency and individual recognition. During this stretch, he led the American League in saves three times and earned three consecutive All-Star selections. In 2008, he recorded a major-league record 62 saves, shattering the previous mark set by Bobby Thigpen. He showed the organization he was a foundational superstar by finishing in the top four of the Cy Young voting three times (2004, 2006, 2008) and winning the Rolaids Reliever of the Year Award twice.

Following the 2008 season, Rodriguez signed with the New York Mets, thus leaving the Halos.  With the team, K-Rod recorded 208 saves, 587 strikeouts, and a 2.35 ERA.

Troy Glaus arrived in the California organization as the third overall selection in the 1998 draft out of UCLA. Known for his immense physical stature and light-tower power, he was installed as the starting third baseman in 1999 and immediately demonstrated that his collegiate success would translate to the professional ranks. For seven seasons in an Angels uniform, Glaus served as the premier power threat in the lineup.

In 2000, he evolved into the most prolific power hitter in the American League, belting a franchise-record 47 home runs and leading the circuit in the category. He showed the organization he was a foundational superstar by pairing that power with a 1.008 OPS and earning the first of back-to-back Silver Slugger Awards. He followed that with 41 home runs in 2001, providing the high-frequency production required to maintain his status as a top-five finisher in the AL MVP voting.

The 2002 campaign saw Glaus transition into a legendary figure during the franchise's first championship run. After recording his third consecutive 30-home run regular season, he demonstrated a focused intensity throughout the postseason, belting seven home runs and batting over .300 in every series. He showed the organization he was a foundational winner by hitting .385 with three home runs in the World Series, earning the World Series MVP and the Babe Ruth Award. His tactical impact was never clearer than in Game 6, when his go-ahead double capped a historic five-run comeback to force a deciding Game 7.

After the 2004 season, Glaus signed a lucrative contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. While injuries had limited him to just 58 games in his final year with the Angels, he left behind a statistical footprint that reflected his status as the greatest power-hitting third baseman in team history, departing with 182 home runs and 507 RBIs while wearing the Halo.

John Lackey joined the Angels organization as a second-round pick in 1999 out of Grayson County College, a big right-hander who would quickly become the backbone of the rotation. He reached the major leagues in 2002 and immediately made history as a rookie, where in a winner-take-all Game 7 against the Giants, he became the first rookie in 93 years to start and win a World Series clincher, tossing five innings of one-run ball.

Between 2003 and 2006, he bridged the gap to his elite 19-win peak by proving he could handle a heavy workload year after year. He recorded at least 14 wins in three of those four seasons and consistently sat near the top of the league leaderboard in starts. 

In 2005, he reached the 199-strikeout mark, a career-best at the time, while posting a 3.44 ERA. He followed that with another 190 strikeouts in 2006, providing the steady production required to lead the staff through the transition following the departures of veteran arms like Jarrod Washburn. This stretch of reliable, high-volume pitching served as the essential lead-in to his 2007 ERA title and cemented his status as the unquestioned ace of the staff.

John Lackey’s departure from Anaheim following the 2009 season was primarily a matter of the organization’s hesitation to match the market’s valuation of his longevity. While Lackey had been the anchor of the staff for nearly a decade, the Angels management grew wary of his long-term durability after he missed the first six weeks of both the 2008 and 2009 seasons due to recurring elbow and forearm issues.

The tension began to surface during spring training in 2009 when the club offered Lackey a three-year extension worth approximately $40 million. Lackey, who had previously signed a team-friendly deal to help the club remain competitive, viewed the offer as a sign that the front office did not see him as a top-tier ace. He made it clear that he would not accept another hometown discount and entered free agency seeking a contract that reflected his status as a workhorse.

The Boston Red Sox eventually stepped in with a five-year, $82.5 million contract, an offer that included both more money and more guaranteed years than the Angels were willing to provide. With the Angels, Lackey compiled a 102-71 record, 1,201 strikeouts, and the 2002 World Series Game 7 victory.

Mark Langston landed in Anaheim as a high-profile free agent in 1990, returning to the West Coast after a whirlwind season that saw him traded from Seattle to Montreal. Known for a blistering heater and a devastating pickoff move, the left-hander arrived with the heavy expectations of a franchise looking for a front-line starter to lead them back to contention. For eight seasons, he anchored the Angels' rotation, evolving from a raw power pitcher into a refined southpaw.

Langston’s tenure in a California uniform took a massive leap forward during the 1991 season. After a rocky debut year in Orange County, he found his groove with a 19-8 record and a 3.00 ERA, earning his first All-Star nod in four years. This resurgence proved he was more than just a high-priced rental; he was a workhorse capable of silencing the best lineups in the American League. His performance that summer garnered a sixth-place finish in the Cy Young race.

Langston was defined by a rare blend of pitching prowess and defensive mastery. Between 1991 and 1995, Langston was a vacuum on the mound, capturing five consecutive Gold Gloves for his ability to shut down the opposition's bunting and running game. He remained a perennial threat in the mid-summer classic, earning All-Star honors in 1992 and 1993 while consistently racking up high inning totals. Even as the league's offensive numbers began to skyrocket, he maintained a sharp edge, eventually fanning 1,112 batters during his stay with the Halos. He provided a veteran presence that gave the club a chance to win every fifth day, regardless of the shifting roster around him.

Following the 1997 season, the veteran hurler moved on to San Diego. He left the organization with 88 wins, 1,112 strikeouts, and five consecutive Gold Glove Awards.

Frank Tanana arrived in Anaheim as a left-handed lightning bolt, a pitcher whose early velocity was so pure it rivaled the thunder of his teammate, Nolan Ryan. While history often places him in the shadow of the "Express," Tanana was a statistical giant in his own right, providing a specialized brand of southpaw dominance that the American League had rarely seen.

Tanana’s rise in California began with a 1973 debut, but he reached a career-defining breakout in 1975. That season, the 21-year-old left-hander led the American League with 269 strikeouts and a league-best strikeout-to-walk ratio, signaling his transition from a young prospect to an elite rotation force. He possessed a focused intensity on the mound, pairing a blistering fastball with a devastating curve that made him a nightmare for hitters across the junior circuit. He provided high-frequency power, recording over 240 strikeouts in three consecutive seasons while keeping his ERA well under the 3.00 mark.

In 1977, Tanana reached a career peak, leading the American League in ERA (2.54) and pitching bWAR (8.3). Despite these massive numbers, the traditional voting of the era overlooked his dominance, placing him ninth in the Cy Young race while favoring relievers and high-win starters. He showed the organization that a pitcher could lead the league in efficiency and workload simultaneously, as he also led the AL in shutouts (7) that year. He demonstrated craftsmanship, proving that his left-handed delivery was every bit as lethal as the right-handed heat coming from the other side of the Angels' rotation.

Everything culminated in 1979, when Tanana provided the veteran-like poise that helped California reach its first-ever postseason. However, the heavy workload of his early twenties began to take a physical toll; a bout of tendinitis forced a tactical shift, as he moved away from his power-pitching roots and began to navigate a different plateau as a finesse artist. He was eventually dealt to the Red Sox before the 1981 season, leaving Anaheim with 102 wins and 1,233 strikeouts.

Chuck Finley arrived in Anaheim as a high-velocity southpaw with a localized storm of a split-finger fastball. While he began his journey in the bullpen, he quickly evolved into the most durable workhorse in the history of the franchise. For fourteen seasons, Finley was the left-handed anchor of the Angels' rotation, a player whose longevity and competitive fire allowed him to surpass the win totals of every legend who preceded him in a Halo uniform.

Finley’s ascent in California began with a transition from a relief prospect to a frontline starter in the late eighties. He reached a career-defining breakout in 1989, his first full season in the rotation, where he won 16 games with a 2.57 ERA and earned his first All-Star nod. He followed this with an even more dominant 1990 campaign, winning 18 games and proving that he could maintain elite efficiency over a heavy workload. He possessed a focused intensity and a sharp splitter that made him a nightmare for right-handed hitters, signaling his transition from a young arm into a true franchise pillar.

The core of his tenure was defined by a remarkable professional resilience. After navigating a difficult plateau in 1992, Finley returned to his status as the club's undisputed ace. He reached a new level of consistency between 1993 and 1999, recording at least 10 wins every single season and returning to the All-Star Game in 1995 and 1996. He was a model of physical resilience, routinely logging over 200 innings and leading the American League in starts during the 1996 season. He showed the organization that a pitcher could become a legend through sheer, unadulterated volume, eventually amassing a franchise-record 2,675 innings pitched.

Everything culminated in the late nineties as Finley rewrote the Angels' record books. He reached a career peak for strikeouts in 1998, fanning 212 batters and proving that his stuff hadn't lost its bite even as he entered his mid-thirties. However, the reality of the era’s shifting landscape led to a departure following the 1999 season, when he signed with Cleveland as a free agent. He left Anaheim as the all-time leader in wins (165) and innings, a statistical footprint that has stood the test of time against some of the greatest pitchers in the game’s history.

The story in Anaheim reached its final chapter in 2009 when the Angels inducted him into their Hall of Fame.

The arrival of Nolan Ryan in Anaheim in 1972 is often cited as the greatest trade heist in baseball history. While the Mets sought a veteran bat in Jim Fregosi, the Angels acquired a lightning bolt in a glove. Ryan didn't just find his footing in California; he transformed into the "Ryan Express," a high-velocity phenomenon that spent eight seasons redefining what was physically possible on a major league mound. While he is a legend in Texas, his years in an Angels uniform were his most explosive, marked by a relentless pursuit of strikeouts and a refusal to let anyone put the ball in play.

Ryan’s tenure in California began with an immediate major turning point for his career trajectory. After years of struggling with his control in New York, he landed in the American League and instantly became its most terrifying outlier. In his 1972 debut season with the club, he reached a new level of dominance, winning 19 games and leading the league with 329 strikeouts and a microscopic 5.3 hits per nine innings. He possessed a focused intensity that turned every start into a potential historical event, a style that reached a career peak just one year later. In 1973, Ryan fanned 383 batters, moving past Sandy Koufax to set the modern single-season strikeout record—a milestone that remains the gold standard of the live-ball era.

The middle of his run was defined by a steady-state of sheer power. Between 1972 and 1974, he averaged over 20 wins and 360 strikeouts per season, cementing his status as the premier flamethrower in the sport. He was a model of physical resilience, famously throwing 235 pitches in a single 13-inning start in 1974, only to return to the mound three days later. Even during a slight dip in his win totals in 1975, he remained a high-frequency threat, leading the American League in strikeouts nearly every year of the late seventies. He showed the organization that a pitcher could become a franchise pillar through intimidation and raw speed, eventually amassing 2,416 punchouts in just eight seasons with the club.

His time in Anaheim also saw him master the art of the no-hitter, tossing four of his record seven gems while wearing the Halo. He reached a crescendo of efficiency in 1977 and 1979, earning two more All-Star nods and proving his arm hadn't lost a tick of its specialized heat. Despite his status as a local icon and a five-time All-Star, the reality of the era’s burgeoning free agency led to his departure. Following the 1979 season, Ryan returned to his home state to sign with the Houston Astros, leaving California as the most prolific strikeout artist in the history of the franchise.

The story in Anaheim reached its closing punctuation in 1992. In a ceremony held while he was still an active player for the Rangers, the Angels retired his number 30 and inducted him into their Hall of Fame.

Shohei Ohtani arrived in Anaheim not merely as a player, but as a myth in the making. He was a once-in-a-century anomaly, a two-way titan who promised to bridge the gap between the modern era and the sepia-toned legends of the Deadball age. For six seasons, he turned every afternoon into a laboratory for the impossible, redefining the limits of human athletic achievement. He pitched with the fire of a desert sun and hit with the force of a tectonic shift, a phenomenon whose individual light was often the only thing keeping the franchise from total darkness.

Ohtani’s ascent began with a 2018 debut that felt like a fever dream. He reached an immediate, high-frequency impact, launching 22 home runs while maintaining a 3.31 ERA over ten starts, a duality that secured him Rookie of the Year honors. However, the physical toll of his ambition led to a sudden plateau; surgery silenced his arm in 2019, and the 2020 campaign saw his production dip into a worrying valley during the shortened season. Yet, he possessed a focused intensity that suggested he was merely recalibrating, a belief vindicated in 2021 when he authored a season that hadn't been witnessed since the days of Babe Ruth.

The core of his tenure was defined by three years of unrivaled, dual-threat dominance. In 2021, Ohtani reached a career summit, blasting 46 home runs and stealing 26 bases while simultaneously striking out 156 batters. He was the unanimous MVP, a statistical outlier who proved he could lead a rotation and a lineup at the same time. He followed this in 2022 by nearly capturing the Cy Young, finishing fourth in the voting with 219 strikeouts while still smacking 34 home runs. He showed the organization that he was a force without peer, a model of efficiency who was effectively two Hall of Fame players occupying a single jersey.

Despite this individual brilliance, the Angels’ front office oversaw a period of tragic stagnation, effectively wasting the prime of a player who was doing everything humanly possible to carry the club. Everything culminated in 2023, a year where Ohtani reached a new peak of offensive destruction, leading the league in home runs (44) and slugging (.654) while winning his second unanimous MVP. As the team imploded around him, the organization made desperate, short-term trades in a fruitless attempt to manufacture a playoff run and entice him to stay. The reality of the situation reached a cold final chapter following the season; Ohtani chose to remain in Los Angeles, but he traded the red of Anaheim for the blue of the Dodgers.

He left the Angels with 171 home runs, 608 strikeouts, and two MVP trophies, a legacy of unmatched individual glory set against a backdrop of organizational failure.

Vladimir Guerrero brought a rare, unbridled energy to Anaheim, joining the Angels in 2004 as the most coveted free agent in the game. His arrival was the result of a somber reality in Montreal, where a cash-strapped Expos franchise was tragically forced to watch its greatest superstar walk away because it simply could not afford to keep him. After establishing a Hall of Fame trajectory in Canada, the Dominican-born outfielder provided the Halos with a high-velocity offensive engine that redefined the organization's ceiling. For six seasons, he patrolled right field with a specialized ability to drive any pitch into the gaps of Angel Stadium, proving that a single superstar could transform a competitive roster into a perennial powerhouse.

Guerrero’s impact was immediate in his debut 2004 campaign. He secured the American League MVP award by batting .337 with 39 home runs and 126 RBIs, a high-frequency display of power and contact that carried the team to a division title. This initial splash signaled a transition from a National League star to the definitive face of the Angels' organization. He showed the front office that he was the foundational piece they had lacked, providing the veteran-like poise and game-breaking talent required to anchor the heart of the order.

The bulk of his Anaheim years were characterized by elite efficiency and a reputation for statistical dominance. Between 2004 and 2007, Guerrero was a statistical force of nature, earning four consecutive All-Star selections and finishing in the top ten of the MVP voting each year. He reached a career peak for reliability during this stretch, never falling below 27 home runs or 108 RBIs in a single season. Despite a free-swinging approach that defied traditional coaching, he remained a model of offensive precision, maintaining a .319 batting average in a Halo uniform. He possessed a focused intensity that made him a nightmare for opposing pitching staffs, famously hitting home runs on pitches that nearly bounced in the dirt.

Guerrero eventually signed with the Texas Rangers following the 2009 season. In 2017, when he was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame, he was soon followed by his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the first player to represent the franchise.

Tim Salmon arrived in Anaheim as a third-round pick who quickly proved he belonged in the heart of the order. For fourteen seasons, he anchored right field with a specialized blend of patience and power, becoming the most productive homegrown hitter in the first half-century of the franchise. While he often flew under the national radar, Salmon provided the Halo with dependability that made him the cornerstone of the lineup during the transition from the California to the Anaheim era.

Salmon’s emergence in Anaheim began with a historic 1993 campaign that set the standard for his entire career. After a brief look the previous September, he took over the starting role and responded with 31 home runs and 95 RBIs, earning the American League Rookie of the Year award in a unanimous vote. This performance signaled a transition from a promising prospect to a premier offensive threat, a style defined by his ability to pair a .283 batting average with a disciplined eye. He showed the organization that he was a foundational piece of the roster, providing a focused intensity that would define his decade-long peak as the most dangerous bat in the clubhouse.

In 1995, he reached a career peak for all-around production, batting .330 with 34 home runs and winning a Silver Slugger. He followed this with a run of consistency that saw him reach the 30-homer milestone five times and drive in at least 100 runs in two separate seasons. Even as the team cycled through different managers and rosters, Salmon remained a statistical force, finishing his career with eight seasons of a .500 slugging percentage or better. He possessed a specialized ability to drive the ball to all fields, maintaining a career on-base percentage of .385 that reflected his mastery of the strike zone.

Everything culminated in the historic 2002 postseason, where Salmon served as the emotional lead-off for the franchise’s first World Series title. In the twilight of his journey, he provided the veteran-like poise required for a championship run, famously hitting two home runs in a crucial Game 2 victory against San Francisco. He continued to contribute until his retirement following the 2006 season, leaving the game as a rare lifer who spent his entire professional life in one uniform. He exited with 299 home runs and 1,016 RBIs, a statistical footprint that made him the club's all-time leader in nearly every major offensive category at the time of his departure.

In 2015, he was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame.

Bobby Grich redefined the expectations for a second baseman in Anaheim, joining the California Angels as a marquee free agent following the 1976 season. For ten years, he anchored the infield with a specialized blend of elite defensive range and a disciplined, high-impact approach at the plate. While he had already established himself as a premier American League force in Baltimore, Grich provided the Angels with a weapon that helped transform the expansion-era club into a perennial contender in the AL West.

Grich’s journey in a California uniform reached a historic peak during the 1979 and 1981 campaigns. After several seasons of steady production, he transitioned into a premier power threat, launching 30 home runs and driving in 101 runs to help lead the Angels to their first-ever division title in 1979. This performance signaled his transition from a defensive specialist to a foundational piece of the team’s core, earning him an eighth-place finish in the MVP voting. He showed the organization that a middle infielder could be a primary source of run production, a rarity in an era that prioritized small-ball at the position.

The bulk of his Anaheim years were characterized by elite efficiency and a reputation for statistical outliers. In the strike-shortened 1981 season, Grich reached a career peak for individual dominance, leading the American League in home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS+. He possessed a focused intensity that allowed him to thrive in high-leverage situations, earning his first Silver Slugger and his sixth career All-Star selection. Despite the physical toll of his aggressive style of play, he remained a model of offensive efficiency, recording 1,103 hits and 154 home runs in a California uniform. He provided the steady-state leadership and veteran-like poise that stabilized the roster through multiple postseason runs.

In 1988, he became the inaugural inductee into the Angels Hall of Fame.

In the modern history of the Anaheim Angels, Mike Trout hasn't just been a superstar; he has been a living, breathing rebuttal to the idea that the "Golden Age" of baseball is behind us. Arriving as a teenager in 2011, he transitioned from a highly touted prospect into a generational force with a speed that caught the league off guard. While he carries himself with a quiet, unassuming dignity, his performance on the grass at Angel Stadium has been a loud, unrelenting display of five-tool mastery. He is the standard by which all other modern outfielders are measured, a player whose true value often feels too massive for a traditional box score to contain.

Trout’s tenure in Anaheim began with a 2012 campaign that fundamentally altered the expectations for a rookie. That summer, he didn't just win the American League Rookie of the Year; he orchestrated a historic debut of production, leading the league in runs (129) and stolen bases (49) while batting .326 with 30 home runs. He finished as the MVP runner-up, a result that signaled the start of a decade-long residency at the top of the ballot. He was a model of specialized excellence, capturing the first of nine Silver Sluggers and proving that a centerfielder could provide the power of a cleanup hitter while maintaining the range of an elite sprinter.

The hallmark of his craftsmanship was a relentless, high-frequency dominance that saw him finish in the top five of the MVP voting for nine consecutive seasons. Trout captured the American League’s highest individual honor three times (2013, 2016, 2019), navigating the 2010s as the most efficient run-producer in the sport. He possessed a specialized ability to impact every phase of the game, blending a triple-digit walk rate with a .582 career slugging percentage. Whether he was famously leaping over the centerfield wall to rob a home run or providing the steady-state offensive engine for the Halos, he competed with a focused intensity that made him a perennial All-Star.

His presence in the organization has been defined by professional resilience as he transitions into the later chapters of his career. Despite a series of high-leverage injuries that limited his availability in the early 2020s, Trout continued to deliver flashes of his classic form. 

As the 2026 season gets underway, Trout stands as the undisputed heartbeat of the franchise. He has already secured his status as the greatest player in the history of the club, moving into second place on the Angels' all-time hits and RBI leaderboards during the previous campaign. While his role shifted more toward the designated hitter spot in 2025 to preserve his health, his impact on the field remains a tactical marvel. He showed the organization that when you have the discipline of a scientist and the physical tools of a titan, you don't just play the game, you become its defining figure.

Entering the 2026 season with the Angels, Trout has compiled 1,754 hits, 404 home runs, and 1,018 RBIs while maintaining a career .406 on-base percentage.

Jered Weaver arrived in Anaheim as a local legend from Long Beach State, a "Dirtbag" with a tall frame and a cross-fire delivery that looked like a tangle of limbs to opposing hitters. He didn't just meet the high expectations placed on him as a first-round pick; he embraced the role of the homegrown ace, providing the Angels with a decade of grit and specialized command. For eleven seasons, Weaver was the heartbeat of the rotation, a pitcher who famously prioritized his loyalty to the franchise over a bigger payday elsewhere.

Weaver’s ascent in Anaheim began with a historic surge in 2006. After a dominant minor league run, he reached a career-defining breakout by winning his first nine decisions, tying an American League record. He finished his rookie year with 11 wins and a 2.56 ERA, signaling a transition from a top-tier prospect to a reliable rotation pillar. He possessed a focused intensity on the mound that allowed him to overcome a lack of elite velocity, relying instead on a specialized ability to hide the ball and disrupt a hitter's timing. By 2010, he had reached a new gear, leading the American League with 233 strikeouts and establishing himself as one of the premier arms in the game.

The core of his tenure was defined by a three-year run of elite, top-tier dominance. Between 2010 and 2012, Weaver reached a career peak, earning three consecutive All-Star selections and finishing in the top five of the Cy Young voting each year. His 2011 campaign was a model of efficiency, as he posted an 18-8 record with a 2.41 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. He followed this in 2012 by recording his first 20-win season and throwing a masterful no-hitter against the Twins—a performance that served as the definitive high point of his time in a Halo uniform. He showed the organization that a pitcher could dominate through guile and craftsmanship, even as his average fastball speed began to reach a natural plateau.

Everything culminated in 2014, when Weaver reached an unrivaled mark for leadership by leading the American League in wins (18) for the second time. However, the heavy workload of his prime years eventually led to a physical decline. In 2015 and 2016, his efficiency dropped as his velocity dipped into the low 80s, forcing him to navigate a difficult plateau where he relied almost entirely on movement and deception. He spent his final professional season in San Diego in 2017, but his heart remained in Anaheim, where he had already surpassed legends like Nolan Ryan on the franchise's all-time wins and starts leaderboards.

Weaver had 150 wins and 1,596 strikeouts in an Angels uniform.

Francisco Rodriguez would become one of the game’s better closers and best known almost immediately when he debuted for the Anaheim Angels in 2002.  He played only five regular season games that year, and as the team’s set-up man, he played a vital role in their World Series win. 

Nicknamed K-Rod, he would go to his first All-Star Game in 2004, where he would strike out 123 batters in only 84 Innings.  He would become the Angels’ closer, and he would lead the American League in Saves in 2005, 2006 & 2008, the latter seeing him set a record of 62.  Rodriguez would then sign with the New York Mets and was an All-Star again in 2009.  He would have years of struggles, but rebounded with two more All-Star seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Rodriguez retired with 437 Saves and was in the top five in Cy Young voting three times in his career.