- November 18, 2009
- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2006 Anaheim Angels Preview
2005 Overview: Mike Scioscia and his 2005 Anaheim Angels entered the new season ready to defend their 2004 American League West Title. Although the 2004 season ended in a disappointing 3 game ALDS sweep to the World Series Boston Red Sox, the Angels remained poised and confident they could return to the postseason once again. The Angels good fortunes continued in 2005 as they ended clinching the American League West with an impressive 95-67 record. Unfortunately, the 2005 postseason ended in 4 straight losses to the Chicago White Sox as the Angels were eliminated 4-1 in the American League Divisional Playoffs.
When the Angels Sign Manny, Dodger Fans Will See Red & Wear It, Too!
Don't worry about Manny Rodriguez leaving LA. "He has just started putting his name on the map!" says this professional keynote speaker, best-selling author, and sales and negotiation consultant.
An expansion franchise, the club was founded in Los Angeles in 1961 as the Los Angeles Angels, and played their home games at Los Angeles' Wrigley Field (not to be confused with Chicago's stadium of the same name). The team then moved in 1962 to newly built Dodger Stadium, which the Angels referred to as Chavez Ravine, where they were tenants of the Los Angeles Dodgers through 1965.
The team has gone through several name changes in their history, first changing to the California Angels in midseason 1965 in recognition of their upcoming move to the newly constructed Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim the following year. When The Walt Disney Company took control of the team in 1997, it extensively renovated the re-named Angel Stadium on the condition that both the stadium's name and the team's name contain the word "Anaheim." Disney was hoping to capitalize on the proximity of nearby Disneyland to enhance the tourism in the area, and thus the team became the Anaheim Angels.
In 2005, new owner Arte Moreno wanted to include "Los Angeles" in the team's name, in order to better tap into the Los Angeles media market, the second largest in the country. In compliance with the terms of its lease with the city of Anaheim, which required "Anaheim" be a part of the team's name, the team was renamed to Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Hotly disputed when initially announced, the change was eventually upheld in court and the city dropped the suit in 2009, though the team usually refers to itself as simply the Angels in its home media market.