The Los Angeles Angels have one of the more colorful histories in Major League Baseball. Founded as an American League expansion team in 1961, the Angels began life in Los Angeles before moving to Anaheim in 1966. Over the years, the franchise has been known as the Los Angeles Angels, California Angels, Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim before returning to simply the Los Angeles Angels. Los Angeles Angels History: Owners, Ballparks, Hall of Famers, Awards and Los Angeles Angels History: From the Singing Cowboy to the 2002 World Champions The Los Angeles Angels have one of the more colorful histories in Major League Baseball. Founded as an American League expansion team in 1961, the Angels began life in Los Angeles before moving to Anaheim in 1966. Over the years, the franchise has been known as the Los Angeles Angels, California Angels, Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim before returning to simply the Los Angeles Angels. The franchise has produced Hall of Famers, MVPs, Rookie of the Year winners, Cy Young Award winners and one World Series championship. Most importantly to Angels fans, the club finally captured its first World Series championship in 2002, completing a 42-year wait for a championship. The Beginning of the Angels The Angels were awarded to entertainer and businessman Gene Autry in 1960 as part of the American League’s expansion. Autry originally attended the owners’ meeting hoping to obtain the radio broadcasting rights for the new club. Instead, baseball officials encouraged him to become the owner. Autry wanted to call his new team the Los Angeles Angels, continuing the name of the popular Pacific Coast League club. The Angels began play in 1961. The first Angels team finished 70-91 in 1961. Despite the losing record, that .435 winning percentage remains the best winning percentage for an expansion team in its first season. Angels Ownership History Owner Years Notes Gene Autry 1960-1998 Founder and first owner; “The Singing Cowboy” Jackie Autry 1998-1999 Gene Autry’s widow; legal owner after his death The Walt Disney Company 1995/96-2003 Disney first purchased a minority stake, then gained control and eventually full ownership Arte Moreno 2003-2027* Purchased the Angels from Disney Stan Kroenke / Kroenke Sports & Entertainment 2027* Agreed to purchase the Angels; closing is expected in 2027 pending MLB approval *The Kroenke transaction had not yet closed as of September 4, 2026. Disney purchased 25 percent of the club in 1995 and became managing general partner in 1996. After Gene Autry’s death, Disney completed its acquisition in 1999. Arte Moreno purchased the franchise in 2003 and became the first Mexican-American owner of a Major League Baseball team. In September 2026, Moreno agreed to sell the Angels to billionaire Stan Kroenke, whose sports holdings include the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Arsenal. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to MLB approval. Every Angels Home Ballpark The Angels have played in only three Major League ballparks. 1. Wrigley Field — Los Angeles 1961 The Angels’ first home was Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. It was not the same Wrigley Field used by the Chicago Cubs. The Los Angeles park was designed to resemble the Chicago ballpark. The Angels played their entire 1961 season there. Capacity: 20,457 An incredible 248 home runs were hit at the park during the Angels’ first season, a Major League record at the time. 2. Dodger Stadium — Los Angeles 1962-1965 The Angels moved into Dodger Stadium in 1962. During the Angels’ years there, the club referred to the facility as Chavez Ravine. The Angels remained tenants of the Dodgers for four seasons. 3. Angel Stadium — Anaheim 1966-present The Angels moved to their permanent home in Anaheim in 1966. The stadium originally opened as Anaheim Stadium. It later became Edison International Field in 1997 and returned to the name Angel Stadium after the 2003 season. Angel Stadium is one of the oldest active Major League ballparks. Angels Team Name History The franchise has gone through several names: Los Angeles Angels: 1961-1965 California Angels: 1965-1996 Anaheim Angels: 1997-2004 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: 2005-2015 Los Angeles Angels: 2016-present The original Los Angeles Angels name returned in 2016. Angels in the National Baseball Hall of Fame Several players who wore an Angels uniform have been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Hall of Famer Position Angels Years Birthplace/Hometown Rod Carew 1B/2B 1979-1985 Gatun, Panama Canal Zone Nolan Ryan P 1972-1979 Refugio, Texas Frank Robinson OF 1973-1974 Beaumont, Texas Reggie Jackson OF 1982 Wyncote, Pennsylvania Bert Blyleven P 1989-1990, 1992 Zeist, Netherlands Don Sutton P 1985-1987 Clio, Alabama Ferguson Jenkins P 1983 Chatham, Ontario, Canada Goose Gossage P 1988 Colorado Springs, Colorado Dave Winfield OF 1990-1991 St. Paul, Minnesota Vladimir Guerrero OF 2004-2009 Nizao, Dominican Republic Nolan Ryan Nolan Ryan became one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. With the Angels, he went 138-121 with a 3.06 ERA and struck out 2,416 batters. Four of his seven career no-hitters came while he was an Angel. Ryan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Angels retired his No. 30. Rod Carew Rod Carew joined the Angels in 1979 after starring for Minnesota. He collected his 3,000th career hit as an Angel in 1985 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. Carew won the American League MVP Award in 1977 and seven batting titles during his career. Frank Robinson Frank Robinson played only two seasons for the Angels, but his overall career made him one of baseball’s greatest players. He became the first player to win the MVP Award in both the American and National Leagues. Reggie Jackson “Mr. October” spent the 1982 season with the Angels. Although his Angels career was brief, Jackson’s Hall of Fame career included five World Series championships and the 1973 American League MVP Award. Vladimir Guerrero Guerrero became one of the biggest stars of the Arte Moreno… Continue reading Los Angeles Angels History: Owners, Ballparks, Hall of Famers, Awards and World Series
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THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA TWINS
The Minnesota Twins have one of the more interesting histories in Major League Baseball. The franchise began as one of the American League’s original clubs in Washington, D.C., in 1901, played for six decades as the Washington, D.C., and moved to Minnesota for the 1961 season. Since the move, the Twins have won three American League pennants and two World Series championships in Minnesota. The franchise’s two Minnesota championships came in 1987 and 1991. This history includes the team’s owners, home ballparks, Hall of Famers and their hometowns, Rookie of the Year winners, MVP winners, and World Series history. From Washington Senators to Minnesota Twins The franchise began play in Washington in 1901 as one of the eight original American League franchises. The club was also known as the Washington Nationals for part of its early history, although “Senators” became the name most associated with the team. The franchise struggled for much of its early existence, but everything changed when Clark Griffith became its leading figure. Griffith eventually became owner and built the Senators into the team that won the 1924 World Series, Washington’s only championship. After Griffith died in 1955, control passed to his nephew Calvin Griffith. Calvin eventually made the controversial decision to move the franchise to Minnesota after the 1960 season. On October 26, 1960, the move was approved, creating the Minnesota Twins. The new name reflected the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Minnesota Twins Ownership History The franchise’s ownership history is unusual because ownership has been dominated by two families for most of its modern history. Early Washington ownership Ban Johnson and Fred Postal — early Washington franchise ownership Thomas C. Noyes — early 20th-century ownership Clark Griffith — major owner and franchise builder, beginning in 1920 Calvin Griffith — controlled the franchise after Clark Griffith’s death and moved the team to Minnesota. The Griffith family controlled the franchise for decades. Clark Griffith’s ownership lasted from 1920 until his death in 1955, and Calvin Griffith then became the controlling owner. Minnesota ownership Calvin Griffith — 1961–1984 Calvin Griffith became the first owner of the Minnesota Twins. He brought the franchise from Washington to Minnesota and oversaw the club during the 1965 pennant season and the development of stars such as Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew and Tony Oliva. Carl Pohlad — 1984–2010 Carl Pohlad purchased the Twins in 1984. Under his ownership, Minnesota won the 1987 and 1991 World Series. Pohlad Family — 2010–present Following Carl Pohlad’s death, the franchise remained in the Pohlad family. MLB currently lists the Carl R. Pohlad Family as the ownership group, with Jim Pohlad as control owner. The family explored selling the team in 2024 but announced in 2025 that the Twins would remain under Pohlad ownership. So, in the simplest terms, the franchise’s modern ownership history is: Griffith Family → Pohlad Family Every Major Home Ballpark Because the Twins franchise began in Washington, its complete ballpark history is longer than just the three Minnesota stadiums. Washington Era American League Park 1901–1903 — Washington, D.C. This was the original home of the American League Washington franchise. Boundary Field 1904–1910 — Washington, D.C. The Senators played at the ballpark that was commonly known as Boundary Field during this period. Griffith Stadium 1911–1960 — Washington, D.C. Originally constructed as a replacement for the old wooden park, Griffith Stadium became the longtime home of the Senators. It was renamed for Clark Griffith in 1923. It hosted World Series games in 1924, 1925 and 1933, including Washington’s 1924 championship. Minnesota Ballparks Metropolitan Stadium 1961–1981 — Bloomington, Minnesota Metropolitan Stadium was the Twins’ first Minnesota home. The club played there from its first Minnesota season in 1961 through 1981. The stadium was later demolished, and the site eventually became the location of the Mall of America. Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 1982–2009 — Minneapolis, Minnesota The Metrodome became one of the most recognizable buildings in Minnesota sports. It was home to the Twins for 28 seasons and witnessed both of Minnesota’s World Series championships: (1987- 1991) Target Field 2010–present — Minneapolis, Minnesota Target Field opened in 2010 and returned the Twins to an outdoor baseball stadium in downtown Minneapolis. It remains the Twins’ home today. … Continue reading THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA TWINS
