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1979 California Angels Season
The 1979 California Angels season was their 19th in Major League Baseball. The Angels reached the postseason for the first time by winning the American League West Division with a record of 88–74, three games ahead of the Kansas City Royals in Jim Fregosi's 1st season as manager. The Angels were defeated by the Baltimore Orioles 3–1 in the 1979 American League Championship Series. Don Baylor had an outstanding season, playing in all 162 games, scoring 120 runs (tops in the American League), hitting 36 home runs and driving in 139 runs (also leading the American League) on his way to being named the American League Most Valuable Player, gaining 20 of 28 first place votes. Offseason * December 4, 1978: Ron Jackson and Danny Goodwin were traded by the Angels to the Minnesota Twins for Dan Ford. * January 9, 1979: 1979 Major League Baseball draft **Al Newman was drafted by the Angels in the 3rd round. **Otis Nixon was drafted by the Angels in the 1st round (4th pick) of the se ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American League West
The American League West is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The division has five teams as of the 2013 season, but had four teams from 1994 to 2012, and had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the West Coast of the United States, west coast and in Texas, historically the division has had teams as far east as Chicago. From 1998 (when the NL West expanded to five teams) to 2012, the AL West was the only MLB division with four teams. The current champion of this division is the Houston Astros. In 2013, the Houston Astros went from the National League Central to the AL West. That move gives all six MLB divisions an equal five teams and both leagues an equal 15 teams each. Division membership Current members * Houston Astros - Joined in 2013; formerly from the National League West, NL West (1969–1993) and National League Central, NL Central (1994–2012) * Los Angeles AngelsThe Angels were formerly known as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American League Most Valuable Player
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual Major League Baseball (MLB) award given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). Until 2020, the winners received the Kenesaw Mountain Landis Memorial Baseball Award, which became the official name of the award in 1944, in honor of the first MLB commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who served from 1920 until his death on November 25, 1944. Starting in 2020, Landis’ name no longer appeared on the MVP trophy after the BBWAA received complaints from several former MVP winners about the late Commissioner’s role against integration of MLB. MVP voting takes place before the postseason, but the results are not announced until after the World Series. The BBWAA began by polling three writers in each league city in 1938, reducing that number to two per league city in 1961.Gillette & Palmer, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rod Carew
Rodney Cline Carew (born October 1, 1945) is a Panamanian former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman, second baseman and designated hitter from 1967 to 1985 for the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels. The most accomplished contact hitter in Twins history, he won the 1977 AL Most Valuable Player Award, setting a Twins record with a .388 batting average. Carew appeared in 18 straight All-Star Games and led the AL in hits three times, with his 239 hits in 1977 being the twelfth most in a season at the time. He won seven AL batting titles, the second most AL batting titles in history behind Ty Cobb, and on July 12, 2016 the AL batting title was renamed to the Rod Carew American League batting title. In 1977, Carew was named the recipient of the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award for his involvement in local community affairs. On August 4, 1985, he became the 16th member of the 3,000 hit club with a single to l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brad Havens
Bradley David Havens (born November 17, 1959) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins (1981–83), Baltimore Orioles (1985–86), Los Angeles Dodgers (1987–88), Cleveland Indians (1988–89) and Detroit Tigers (1989). Career At Clarence M. Kimball High School, Kimball High School, Brad Havens wore No. 26 and played for Coach Frank Clouser at Royal Oak Kimball High School. Havens threw a no-hitter in the 1977 district championship for Kimball, which went to four Class A title games in 10 years from 1971 to 1980. Havens formed a tough one-two left-handed pitching punch with fellow Kimball hurler Steve Manderfield during his years on the varsity at Kimball. Havens was selected in the 8th round by the Los Angeles Angels, California Angels and Manderfield was chosen by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 12th round of the 1977 Major League baseball amateur draft. Havens was later acquired by the Minnesota Twins (along with outfielder Ken Landreaux, catcher/first b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Hartzell
Paul F. Hartzell is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) in all or part of six seasons, between 1976 and 1984. During that time, he pitched for the California Angels, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and Milwaukee Brewers of the American League (AL). Hartzell retired in July 1981, but returned to baseball in 1984, playing at each level of professional baseball in one season, culminating with his first MLB appearance since June 14, 1980, when he appeared in relief for the Brewers on September 15, 1984. He was known as a ground-ball pitcher. Baseball career College Hartzell was a two-sport varsity athlete, starring in baseball for the Lehigh University Engineers for three varsity seasons. In 1975, he posted one of the best seasons in Lehigh history for a pitcher, setting school records with 92 innings, 10 complete games, and a 1.66 earned run average (ERA). That mark is currently second in school history. Hartzell gradu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dave Engle
Ralph David Engle (born November 30, 1956) is a former Major League Baseball utility player who played for the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers of the American League and the Montreal Expos of the National League from 1981 to 1989. Pro career A graduate of the University of Southern California, Engle was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 1978 amateur draft by the California Angels. On February 3, 1979, he was traded by the Angels along with Brad Havens, Paul Hartzell and Ken Landreaux to the Minnesota Twins for Rod Carew. He played catcher, first base, third base, outfield and designated hitter. In the minor leagues, Engle won the International League batting title in 1980, beating out Wade Boggs .307 to .306. Four years later, he was selected to the American League All-Star team in 1984. During his sophomore season, Engle became the first player to hit a home run in Minneapolis's newly opened Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. This occurred on opening ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ken Landreaux
Kenneth Francis Landreaux (born December 22, 1954) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball for the California Angels, Minnesota Twins, and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1977 through 1987. Playing career After graduating from Dominguez High School in Compton, California, Landreaux was drafted by the Houston Astros in the eighth round of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft, but chose to attend Arizona State University. While at Arizona State, he played in the 1975 and 1976 College World Series on teams that included future major leaguers Floyd Bannister, Chris Bando, and Bob Horner. Landreaux was selected by the California Angels in the first round of the 1976 Major League Baseball draft. In his major league debut with the Angels, on September 11, 1977, against the Chicago White Sox, Landreaux threw out three base runners from the outfield. In , the Angels traded Landreaux, Dave Engle, Paul Hartzell, and Brad Havens to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bobby Jones (outfielder)
Robert Oliver Jones (born October 11, 1949) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War. He played all or part of nine seasons in the majors from until . He also played two seasons in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons in and . In November 2013, Bobby Jones became a coach for the Texas Rangers. Playing career Jones was drafted by the Washington Senators in the 36th round of the 1967 Major League Baseball Draft. He spent the next seven seasons with the organization, during which time they became the Texas Rangers, and debuted in the major leagues with them. During the season, the Rangers waived him, and he was claimed by the California Angels, for whom he played two seasons. He was released by the Angels before the season, and he signed with the Chunichi Dragons, for whom he played two seasons as well. He returned to the Rangers in , and finished his major league career with them in 1986. Coaching/managerial career Since his ret ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Otis Nixon
Otis Junior Nixon (born January 9, 1959) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (1983), Cleveland Indians (1984–87), Montreal Expos (1988–90), Atlanta Braves (1991–93, 1999), Boston Red Sox (1994), Texas Rangers (1995), Toronto Blue Jays (1996–97), Los Angeles Dodgers (1997), Minnesota Twins (1998) and a final return to the Atlanta Braves (1999), in a career that spanned from 1983 to 1999. Nixon stole more bases than any other player during the 1990s (478). He also has the most career stolen bases (620) for a player who never appeared in an MLB All-Star game since the All-Star Game began in 1933. Career In the minor leagues, Nixon led the league twice in stolen bases ( in the South Atlantic League with 67 & in the International League with 94), runs scored (1980 in the South Atlantic League with 124 & 1983 in the International League with 129), hits (162 in 1983 in the International Lea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Al Newman
Albert Dwayne Newman (born June 30, 1960) is a former infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Montreal Expos (1985–1986), Minnesota Twins (1987–1991) and Texas Rangers (1992). Newman was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. San Diego State (1979–1982) Newman attended San Diego State University where he played for the renowned coach Jim Dietz, majored in Accounting and also played football as a running back. In 1980, 1981, and 1982, he played in the National Baseball Congress Tournament in Wichita, KS. Newman left college with two All-Conference seasons. Drafted in the third round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft by the California Angels, Newman turned down their offer and returned to college. In 1980, Newman was again drafted in the third round and declined contract offers, this time by the Texas Rangers. In the June secondary phase of the 1980 draft, he was selected in the second round by the New York Mets and did not sign. On June 8, 1981, Newm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dan Ford
Darnell Glenn Ford (born May 19, 1952) is a former professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Disco Dan", he played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1975 to 1985 for the Minnesota Twins, California Angels, and Baltimore Orioles. He was the starting right fielder with the 1983 World Series Champion Orioles. In 1,153 career games, Ford had a batting average of .270, 121 home runs and 566 runs batted in (RBI). Early life Ford went to John C. Fremont High School in Los Angeles, California. He served in the United States Army. Career Ford was picked 18th overall in the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft by the Oakland Athletics. He spent four years in the minor league system for the Athletics before he was traded on October 23, 1974, to the Twins with Dennis Myers for Pat Bourque. For the next four seasons, Ford was a regular in the Twins' lineup. He hit the first home run at the renovated Yankee Stadium off Rudy May on the fifth pitch of the game after Jerry Terrel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
