1961 Los Angeles Angels

1961 Angels Roster     Manager   18 Bill Rigney     Coaches   3 Bob Elliott   5 Marv Grissom   2 Red Kress   48 Jack Paepke     Pitchers   43 Ted Bowsfield   40 Jerry Casale   31 and 41 Dean Chance   32 Tex Clevenger   40 Jim Donohue   30 Ryne Duren   24 Art Fowler   31 Ned Garver   33 Eli Grba   46 Russ Heman   22 Johnny James   41 Ron Kline   37 Ken McBride   39 Ron Moeller   47 Tom Morgan   35 Ray Semproch   41 Jack Spring   34 Bob Sprout     Catchers   8 Earl Averill Jr.   9 Del Rice   7 Buck Rodgers   6 Ed Sadowski     Infielders   35 Dan Ardell   10 Ken Aspromonte   19 Julio Becquer   20 Steve Bilko   16 Fritz Brickell   21 Rocky Bridges   17 Jim Fregosi   12 Ken Hamlin   15 Ted Kluszewski   1 Joe Koppe   14 Gene Leek   12 Billy Moran   29 Tom Satriano   10 Eddie Yost     Outfielders   22 Leo Burke   30 Bob Cerv   26 Ken Hunt (huntke01)   27 Lou Johnson (johnslo01)   28 Albie Pearson   11 Chuck Tanner   4 George Thomas   29 Faye Throneberry   27 Leon Wagner

BR Team Page

Record: 70-91, Finished 8th in American League (1961 AL)

Managed by Bill Rigney

Coaches: Bob Elliott, Marv Grissom, Red Kress and Jack Paepke

Ballpark: Wrigley Field (LA)

History, Comments, Contributions

In the 1961 Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles got its second major league team in four years, but this time it was an expansion team. No matter. The team's players were exciting to watch, as five players hit twenty or more home runs each (granted, Wrigley Field had a park factor of 111) and the pitching was solid. The club went on to win 70 games, the record for an expansion franchise in its inaugural season. The Angels had a remarkable home-road split: they posted a 46-36 record at home but were a dismal 24-55 on the road.

Steve Bilko, former star of the Pacific Coast League's Los Angeles Angels, made his return to the city a happy one with 20 home runs. Leon Wagner, obtained in an April trade with Toronto of the International League, hit 28. The team home run total of 189 placed second in the American League. 38-year-old former Cincinnati Reds star Ted Kluszewski batted in his 1000th run.

Awards and Honors

• All-Stars: Ryne Duren and Ken McBride
• Topps All-Star Rookie Team: Lee Thomas (OF)

1961 Opening Day Lineup

1. Eddie Yost, 3b
2. Ken Aspromonte, 2b
3. Albie Pearson, rf
4. Ted Kluszewski, 1b
5. Bob Cerv, lf
6. Ken Hunt, cf
7. Fritz Brickell, ss
8. Del Rice, c
9. Eli Grba, p

Further Reading

• Roland Hemond: "A Whole New Franchise: Creating the 1961 Los Angeles Angels in 120 Days", in Jean Hastings Ardell and Andy McCue, ed.: Endless Seasons: Baseball in Southern California, The National Pastime, SABR, Number 41, 2011, pp. 46-48.