Since their inception in 1961, the Angels have had plenty of big moments over the years and have seen their players accomplish numerous feats.
They’ve thrown 13 no-hitters (three combined), hit for the cycle nine times and turned six triple plays while seeing their players win seven MVP Awards, three Rookie of the Year Awards, two Cy Young Awards and a batting title.
But there was no bigger year for the franchise than 2002, when it won its first and only World Series title. It’s a reason why several moments from that title run appear on this list of the Top 10 moments in Angels history, as selected by MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger.
1. Erstad catches the final out of the 2002 World Series
It’s a memory seared into every Angels fan's memory: closer Troy Percival getting Kenny Lofton to fly out to center fielder Darin Erstad to clinch the final game of an epic Fall Classic against the Giants. The late Rory Markas immortalized it with his call, “Here’s the pitch to Lofton. Fly ball. Center field. Erstad says he’s got it. Erstad makes the catch! The Anaheim Angels are the champions of baseball!”
2. Spiezio’s three-run homer in Game 6 of the 2002 World Series
The Angels’ chances looked dire against the Giants the night before Game 7's thrilling finish, as they were eight outs away from being eliminated from the World Series and were trailing, 5-0, in the seventh inning.
But Scott Spiezio etched himself into Angels lore with a three-run homer off reliever Felix Rodriguez that just cleared the short fence in the right-field corner. It sparked a rally for the Angels, who saw Erstad homer in the eighth before World Series MVP Troy Glaus ripped a go-ahead two-run double against Giants closer Robb Nen to cap the comeback.
3. Kennedy’s three homers in Game 5 of 2002 ALCS send Angels to first World Series
Adam Kennedy hit seven homers during the regular season, but he wound up the surprise hero in the clinching game against the Twins in the 2002 AL Championship Series, homering three times in a 13-5 win. He hit two off Joe Mays before homering a third time off future ace Johan Santana in the seventh inning to earn ALCS MVP honors.
4. Anderson's clutch three-run double in Game 7 of 2002 World Series
Rookie John Lackey memorably earned the win in Game 7, but it was Anderson who delivered the decisive blow with a three-run double in the third inning of a 4-1 win. It was fitting that Anderson provided such a key hit, solidifying him as one of the best players in franchise history.
5. Angels win first division title in 1979
The Angels finally won the AL West for the first time after 19 seasons in 1979, when lefty Frank Tanana clinched it with a complete game in a 4-1 win over the Royals on Sept. 25. They went on to lose to the Orioles in four games in the ALCS, but it was a big first step for the franchise.
6. Ryan throws two no-hitters and strikes out 383rd batter in last start to set record in 1973
The 1973 season was a record-breaking one for Nolan Ryan, who threw two no-hitters (May 15 and July 15) and capped it by breaking Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax’s single-season strikeout record by one with 383 on the year. He struck out 16 Twins batters in his final start of the year on Sept. 27 to set the record and finished second in the balloting for the AL Cy Young Award behind Baltimore's Jim Palmer.
7. Witt’s perfect game
The Angels have had their fair share of no-hitters, but Mike Witt threw the only perfect game in club history on the final day of the 1984 season against the Rangers on Sept. 30 at Arlington Stadium. Witt struck out 10 and needed only 94 pitches to complete the historic feat.
8. Trout’s iconic catch in Baltimore
Mike Trout is undoubtedly the best player in franchise history as a three-time AL MVP and has accumulated plenty of remarkable moments and countless accolades, but the one that really put him on the map was his leaping catch up against the center-field wall in Baltimore on June 27, 2012.
Trout robbed J.J. Hardy of a homer, much to starter Jered Weaver’s delight, and the picture of him making the catch above the Southwest sign has become iconic.
9. Edmonds makes incredible diving over-the-shoulder catch
It might be the best catch in baseball history based on degree of difficulty, as Jim Edmonds made a diving over-the-shoulder basket catch after a full sprint in center field to take away an extra-base hit from David Howard in Kansas City on June 10, 1997. It was reminiscent of Willie Mays’ famous basket catch in the 1954 World Series, but came with a fully extended diving effort by Edmonds in order to reel in the ball.
10. Cole and Peña combine to throw no-hitter to honor Skaggs
In the Angels’ first home game since the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, reliever Taylor Cole threw two innings as an opener and right-hander Felix Peña threw seven frames to complete a combined no-hitter on July 12, 2019. In a touching moment after the game, Angels players and coaches laid down their No. 45 jerseys on the mound to honor the late left-hander.