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Top 50 Memories in Angel Stadium History #31-#35

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:57 p.m. ET

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Los Angeles Angels left fielder Daniel Nava (25) celebrates with teammates after a 2-1 walk off victory against the Boston Red Sox at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After a long hiatus the Top 50 moments in Angel Stadium history is back for another round. This article contains #31-#35.  This includes an all-star moment, so no-no’s and a big night from an Angel great.

Angel Stadium was not a very happy place most of the 2016 with so many injuries leading to very poor play at times. The Angels righted their ship record-wise at the Big “A” in the second half finishing with a 40-41 record overall, which after a 15-26 first half was a big improvement.

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It was hardly the 50th anniversary season of Angel Stadium that you would want to have, but there were still some great moments over the years that more than make up for a dismal 50th season.

So without any further adieu here is the #31-#35 on the top 50 list.

August 20, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Former Los Angeles Angels player Garret Anderson acknowledges spectators before being introduced for induction into the Angels hall of fame at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

#35 Garret Anderson records 10 RBI game against New York Yankees – August 21, 2007

A week after having a four for four night at Fenway Park, Garret Anderson had a night of lifetime.  The opponent was the New York Yankees, and Anderson started out with a two-run double off of Mike Mussina in the first inning. In the very next inning Anderson got up again and hit another run scoring double.

Anderson was not done though.  In the third inning with the Angels already leading 9-5 Anderson waited on a hanging change-up by Yankees hit a three-run homer to right to extend the lead to 12-5 giving GA six RBI’s.

When Anderson came to the plate in the sixth inning against the Yankees Sean Henn the 44,264 fans were on their feet hoping for something special to happen.  Anderson delivered with a towering drive to right for a grand slam giving him 10 RBI’s and breaking Vladimir Guerrero‘s four-year record of nine RBI’s. against the Boston Red Sox.

Anderson received the first curtain call of his career and the Angels were up 17-5 and cruised to an 18-9 victory. If you were there like I was it was an amazing feat to say the least.. Hopefully, you may see a special night like this again.

Jul 12, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; American League players hold up “stand up to cancer” cards in the 2016 MLB All Star Game at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

#34 2010 MLB All-Star Game Hosted at the Big A. National League Wins 3-1.  July 13, 2010

Angel Stadium hosted its third MLB All-Star game in 2010 and this game had a few memorable moments but otherwise it was a ho-hum game.  After a scoreless first four innings the American League broke through as Robinson Cano hit a one out sacrifice fly that score Evan Longoria who had walked to lead off the inning.

The score stayed 1-0 until the top of the 7th inning when the Braves Brian McCann came up against Matt Thorton with the bases loaded one out. McCann lined a double down the right field line that scored three runs giving the National League a 3-1 lead.

Despite scoring threats in both the seventh and the ninth the American League did not score and the National League broke an eight game losing streak to the AL.

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A side note in the game was a controversy involving who else but Alex Rodriguez.  David Ortiz led off with a single and most thought he would be lifted by Yankees manager Joe Girardi for A-Rod.  Girardi decided not to do so, and Ortiz was thrown out trying to go first to third on a John Buck single.  Then when Ian Kinsler stepped to the plate many thought Girardi would pinch hit A-Rod for Kinsler, but he did not do so and Kinsler flied out to end the game.

David Ortiz won the Home Run Derby and the USA team won the Futures game. All in all it was still a special week of events in Anaheim. The 45,408 fans in attendance saw many future hall of famers in the game both on the mound and in the field.

Don Baylor was a key member on the 1982 California Angels team that jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the ALCS before losing three straight games. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

#33 The California Angels take a two game lead thanks to Bruce Kison complete game 4-2 victory. October 6, 1982.

The California Angels won game one in commanding of the 1982 ALCS against the Milwaukee Brewers in dominating fashion by an 8-3 count. In game two the Angels turned to veteran right-hander Bruce Kison and he delivered a masterpiece pitching a complete game five-hitter.

The Angels scored four runs in the first four innings to back Kison. Tim Foli drove in the first run with an RBI-Single and then Bob Boone plated a run with a suicide squeeze for a 2-0 advantage. Reggie Jackson then hit a solo homer in the third and then Boone hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to plate the Angels final run.

Paul Mlitor of the Brewers hit a rare playoff inside-the-park home run to cut the lead to 4-2 in the fifth, but Kison shut the door on the Brewers with four scoreless innings to clinch the 4-2 Angels win. Kison followed a complete game victory by Tommy John in game one of the series that helped the Angels build a two games to none advantage.  Unfortunately when the Angels went on the road the next three games and dropped all of them to the Brewers which sent Milwaukee to its first and only World Series which they would eventually lose to the Cardinals in seven games.

Modern version of the Big “A” where Clyde Wright threw the first No-Hitter at the stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

#32 Clyde Wright throws first no-hitter at the Big “A” beating Oakland 4-0 on July 3, 1970.

After having a 1-8 season in 1969 Clyde Wright put together a stellar 1970 season.  Going into July he had a record of 11-5 and was selected to participate in the 1970 MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati.  On July 3rd Wright faced the Oakland A’s and it was truly a magical night for the farm boy from Tennessee.

Staked to an early 1-0 lead on an RBI ground out by Jim Fregosi Wright started mowing down the A’s hitters with ease retiring the first 12 batters including catching Reggie Jackson looking to end the fourth inning.  The Angels gave Wright some breathing room courtesy of a Ken McMullen three-run home run to put the Angels up 4-0.

Wright struggled a little bit in the fifth walking two batters, but got out of trouble getting second baseman Dick Green to ground out to first to end the 5th. Wright then continued his dominance retiring the next nine batters  before walking pinch hitter Frank Fernandez.  Bert Campaneris lined out and then Wright ended the game by inducing Felipe Alou to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to complete the first no-hitter in Angel Stadium history.

#31 Jered Weaver throws first Angel Stadium no-hitter since 1990. May 2, 2012

Jered Weaver has been one of the best pitchers in Angels history. On May 2nd , 2012 Weaver did something very special against the Minnesota Twins, he threw his first career no-hitter.

Weaver started strong retiring the side in order in the first.  The offense came alive scoring three runs in the first two innings Kendrys Morales driving in the first run with an RBI-double plating Vernon Wells.  Later in the 2nd inning Mark Trumbo doubled in Howie Kendrick and then scored on a Erick Aybar RBI-Single to give the Angels a 3-0 lead.

The Angels broke the game open in the bottom of the third with a Kendrys Morales solo homer and then Trumbo came through with an RBI-Single and Peter Bourjos drove in the sixth Angels run with an RBI-Double. Howie Kendrick capped the scoring with a three-run homer in bottom of the fourth for a 9-0 lead.

Weaver took it from there retiring 15 batters in a row from the last batter in the second inning to the third batter in the seventh inning, After Weaver walked Herm Willingham with two outs in the seventh he retired the next six batters to get to two outs in the ninth inning. Alexi Casilla was the last batter standing in Weaver’s way and he got him to hit a deep fly ball to that right fielder Torii Hunter clutched for the final out and the Angels came pouring out of the dugout to celebrate with Weaver.

Weaver ended the game with nine strikeouts and only one walk.  Only 27,288 fans saw Weaver’s masterpiece, but those who did gave Weaver a well-deserved five-minute ovation in appreciation for his effort.  Weaver now has 150 victories which is the second most in club history and we do not know if he will pitch another game for the Angels, but this is one Angel fans will long remember.

Hopefully you enjoyed this look back at some the best moments in Angel Stadium history.

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