The 1982 California Angels
May 16, 2012 by Derek Bain · 3 Comments
Two consecutive years of disappointment prompted the Angels ownership to react with a sense of urgency in the 1982 off-season. They made a big splash in the free agent pool, and several key trades positioned the franchise within reach of their first World Series appearance. Jackson and DeCinces Gene Autry outbid George Steinbrenner for Reggie [...]
The 1981 California Angels
March 8, 2012 by Derek Bain · Leave a Comment
The clouds that swirled over the 1980 Angels threatened the skies in the subsequent season. When the storms finally relented, the Angels had fired manager Jim Fregosi and gutted their roster, turning over half of their lineup, and only two pitchers remained from the 1979 American League Western division championship squad. Wheelin’ and Dealin’ California [...]
The 1980 California Angels
February 25, 2012 by Derek Bain · 4 Comments
The California Angels won the American League West in 1979 with a 88-74 record. The long-suffering franchise had accumulated a talented core of veteran ballplayers through free agency (Don Baylor, Bobby Grich, Joe Rudi) and trades (Rod Carew, Brian Downing, Dan Ford, Nolan Ryan). 1B/DH Willie Aikens (1975 first-round draft pick) and 3B Carney Lansford [...]
The 1984 Fleer Baseball Card Set
January 28, 2012 by Derek Bain · Leave a Comment
My baseball card addiction began in 1984. I picked up a few packs of 1984 Fleer cards at a Little League game, and I was hooked. Each pack contained 15 cards, along with a team logo sticker. I’d just started to appreciate the game of baseball, and the cards brought me closer to the game. [...]
