Hardball Retrospective: Evaluating Scouting and Development Outcomes for the Modern-Era Franchises

Would your favorite baseball team make the playoffs if player X had not been traded? Imagine your team’s roster from any particular year. Remove all of the players that your team acquired through trades and free agency. Would you be able to field a competitive team? All right, let us re-populate the roster with every […]

The 1979 California Angels

The Angels’ franchise entered its 19th season without a single playoff berth. However, the club finished second in the previous campaign and expectations were high as GM Buzzie Bavasi acquired Rod Carew and Dan Ford in separate deals with the Minnesota Twins during the off-season. Jim Fregosi prepared for his first full season at the […]

The 1988 California Angels

In the eighteen months that followed the Angels’ 1986 pennant race, GM Mike Port orchestrated a major roster turnover. Bob Boone, Brian Downing, Wally Joyner, and Dick Schofield were still on the squad when the dust settled. Mike Witt and Kirk McCaskill retained their positions in the starting rotation. Port traded Gary Pettis to the […]

The 1987 California Angels

The Angels came so close to realizing their World Series dreams in 1986, but they were destined for heartbreak. As they set out to conquer their demons in the spring of ’87, the team and their fans could not imagine that they would suffer a 16-year dry spell before achieving their goal. The changing of […]

The 1986 California Angels

In the first half of the 1980’s, California waged war with Kansas City, attempting to break the Royals grip as the team to beat in the American League West. The Halos roster was aging, and the organization’s propensity to sign free agents placed the team into a “win-now” mode. In November 1985, the Angels granted […]

The 1985 California Angels

The Angels attempted to regroup after two consecutive seasons in which they failed to live up to their potential. Gene Mauch replaced John McNamara, reprising his role as manager after a two-year hiatus. California promoted Mike Port to the dual role of Executive Vice President and General Manager in September 1984. Port allowed ten players […]

The 1984 California Angels

California labored through a miserable 1983 season, and the starting nine averaged 33 years of age. However, a youth movement was beginning in Anaheim, even if the Angels management resisted disrupting the all-star lineup that GM Buzzie Bavasi assembled. Injuries to incumbent shortstop Rick Burleson, right fielder Ellis Valentine, and starting pitcher Ken Forsch provided […]

The 1983 California Angels

The Angels had captured 2 pennants in the last four seasons, and they were highly optimistic about their chances in 1983 after retaining most of the core players from their 1982 division winning squad. The team suffered a big loss in free agency, with slugger Don Baylor heading east to the Yankees. The Angels inked […]

The 1982 California Angels

Two consecutive years of disappointment prompted the Angels ownership to react with a sense of urgency in the 1982 off-season. They made a big splash in the free agent pool, and several key trades positioned the franchise within reach of their first World Series appearance. Jackson and DeCinces Gene Autry outbid George Steinbrenner for Reggie […]

The 1981 California Angels

The clouds that swirled over the 1980 Angels threatened the skies in the subsequent season. When the storms finally relented, the Angels had fired manager Jim Fregosi and gutted their roster, turning over half of their lineup, and only two pitchers remained from the 1979 American League Western division championship squad. Wheelin’ and Dealin’ California […]

The 1980 California Angels

The California Angels won the American League West in 1979 with a 88-74 record. The long-suffering franchise had accumulated a talented core of veteran ballplayers through free agency (Don Baylor, Bobby Grich, Joe Rudi) and trades (Rod Carew, Brian Downing, Dan Ford, Nolan Ryan). 1B/DH Willie Aikens (1975 first-round draft pick) and 3B Carney Lansford […]

The 1984 Fleer Baseball Card Set

My baseball card addiction began in 1984. I picked up a few packs of 1984 Fleer cards at a Little League game, and I was hooked. Each pack contained 15 cards, along with a team logo sticker. I’d just started to appreciate the game of baseball, and the cards brought me closer to the game. […]

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