Long before the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants brought the major leagues to California in 1958, professional baseball thrived on the West Coast in the form of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). Minor only in name, the league featured intense rivalries, a huge fan base, and such future Hall of Famers as Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. The Los Angeles Angels won 14 PCL pennants and stood as the league’s premier franchise. This year-by-year chronicle of the Los Angeles Angels from 1903 to 1957 includes an overview of the PCL and a wealth of statistical information, including an all-time player roster, a list of important team records, lineups, and attendance information. Based in part on personal interviews with former Angels players, this history offers a nostalgic look back at the PCL and the early days of baseball in the West.

Richard Beverage is the founder and president of the Pacific Coast League Historical Society and a past president of the Society for American Baseball Research. He is currently secretary-treasurer of the Association of Professional Ballplayers of America, a charitable organization that assists former professional ballplayers who are in need.

Richard Beverage
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 260
Bibliographic Info: 69 photos, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6520-0
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8788-2
Imprint: McFarland

Preface 1

1. The Early Years of the Pacific Coast League      5

2. A New Ball Park and New Owners      7

3. World War I and Another Angels Championship      10

4. The War Is Over and the Tigers Win Twice      12

5. An Angels Pennant and a New Owner      19

6. A New Management Team Takes Over as Red Leaves      22

7. A New Ballpark and a Pennant to Follow      30

8. A Collapse and the Angels Rebuild      39

9. Night Baseball Is Introduced as the Depression Begins      48

10. Depression Baseball      57

11. The Yankees of the West      61

12. The Streak Is Broken and the Stars Leave Town      74

13. Truck Hannah Takes the Helm      83

14. Hannah Is Out and Statz Is In      91

15. As World War II Beckons, the Angels Flounder      101

16. Disaster in Sacramento      107

17. Wartime Baseball and Two Pennants      112

18. A Third Major League? Meanwhile, the Angels Win Another Pennant      123

19. Decline and Fall      135

20. The Angels Fall to the Bottom      142

21. Smilin’ Stan in Charge      153

22. Bill Sweeney Is Back in Town      166

23. Sgt. Bilko and His Gang      171

24. Dodger Blue      183

Epilogue      188

Appendix A: All -Time Los Angeles Angeles Roster      191

Appendix B: Team Batting, Fielding and Pitching      200

Appendix C: Individual Batting and Pitching, by Season and Career      207

Appendix D: Managers and Their Records      239

Appendix E: Paid Attendance      240

Bibliography      241

Index      243

“Highly worthy contribution to this rich legacy”—Nine; “highly regarded”—Whittier Daily News.