[ThePundit]

In the history of the Los Angeles, Anaheim, and California Angels, who is their best player ever?

Off the top of my head I would have to say Nolan Ryan....Who in their history has been "great?" I can't think of many. Give me some help.

[azrael492]

As far as the franchise goes, it was usually where players went to end their careers. They have changed that image. For the greatest players, Nolan Ryan is first in my mind. There was also Wally Backman, Vlad Guerrero, and Rod Carew was there for a while. Not sure if it was long enough. As the face of the franchise, I think it would have to be Gene Autry.

[Lefty Noob]

Well, yeah, Autry definitely is fondly remembered by many. In terms of Angels players, I think of either Carew or Wally Joyner. Weird, huh?

[azrael492]

I say we give it to Carew for the Angels since he can't get it in Minnesota.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Well, yeah, Autry definitely is fondly remembered by many. In terms of Angels players, I think of either Carew or Wally Joyner. Weird, huh?

Naw, I think of Wally World too...he was a nice guy...though I can not by pass Ryan as the best Angel ever.

[simple simon]

how about Michael Landon ?

[ThePundit]

I thought of Carew but his best years were with the Twins.....I think it has to be Ryan.....

[azrael492]

I was curious so I checked out Ryan's stats. He played long enough for them. While looking at them I noticed his complete games. The man was a horse. In '74-74 he threw 52 complete games with 43 if them coming as wins. That is more CG in 2 years than any player today will throw in his career.

Nolan Ryan Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com

[ThePundit]

Originally Posted by azrael492

I was curious so I checked out Ryan's stats. He played long enough for them. While looking at them I noticed his complete games. The man was a horse. In '74-74 he threw 52 complete games with 43 if them coming as wins. That is more CG in 2 years than any player today will throw in his career.

Nolan Ryan Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com

Did you know Mel Stottelmeyer pitched 152 complete games in his 10 year career with the Yankees, including 24 in 1969.
Mel Stottlemyre Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
And his arm didn't fall off....So you'd figure pitchers today could pitch some CG's, and then every game wouldn't take 3 1/2 hours.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by azrael492

I was curious so I checked out Ryan's stats. He played long enough for them. While looking at them I noticed his complete games. The man was a horse. In '74-74 he threw 52 complete games with 43 if them coming as wins. That is more CG in 2 years than any player today will throw in his career.

Nolan Ryan Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com

I remember reading that Ryan once threw over 200 pitches in one of his 18 strikeout performance for the Angels back then...can't see anyone hitting the 200 pitch mark...the man was one of kind.

[desertrat]

My family moved to southern california in the mid 70s and I've been an Angels fan since. Through all the long suffering years, Brian Downing was always the fan favorite. Nolan Ryan was great for the time he played there. We can't forget 1979 AL MVP Don Baylor either. And one other personal favorite of mine was Bobby Grich. He lived close to me and I met him on several occasions. Can't forget P Chuck Finley or Jim Abbott who only had one hand and pitched for quite a few years, remarkable story and always close to the heart of long time Angel fans. Garrett Anderson and Tim Salmon also have to be mentioned. Rod Carew was only an Angel towards the end of his career, but he was also a great one. You may or may not be able to tell from my list that I literally have attended 100s of games at the Big A and they have been my team for many years. One last name to throw out there, P Frank Tanana.

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by desertrat

My family moved to southern california in the mid 70s and I've been an Angels fan since. Through all the long suffering years, Brian Downing was always the fan favorite. Nolan Ryan was great for the time he played there. We can't forget 1979 AL MVP Don Baylor either. And one other personal favorite of mine was Bobby Grich. He lived close to me and I met him on several occasions. Can't forget P Chuck Finley or Jim Abbott who only had one hand and pitched for quite a few years, remarkable story and always close to the heart of long time Angel fans. Garrett Anderson and Tim Salmon also have to be mentioned. Rod Carew was only an Angel towards the end of his career, but he was also a great one. You may or may not be able to tell from my list that I literally have attended 100s of games at the Big A and they have been my team for many years. One last name to throw out there, P Frank Tanana.

I forgot about Abbott, I used to love watching him pitch. Teams always tried to bunt on him and it never worked.

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

I remember reading that Ryan once threw over 200 pitches in one of his 18 strikeout performance for the Angels back then...can't see anyone hitting the 200 pitch mark...the man was one of kind.

If they threw 200 pitches today, they would go on the DL or have to skip a turn in the rotation.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by azrael492

If they threw 200 pitches today, they would go on the DL or have to skip a turn in the rotation.

Yeah, that they would, but that says a lot about Ryan who was logging +300 innnings pitched then...

[ThePundit]

In 1975, Catfish Hunter threw 30 complete games for the Yankees and threw over 300 innings. Now, Mike Mussina can't even throw 6 innings a game.