Remember the 2002 season? You know, this was the year the “Moneyball” Oakland Athletics took the league by storm. However, the A’s didn’t win the World Series that year. The World Series title instead went to their division rival, the Anaheim Angels. This is their first and only championship in franchise history. As of 2023, Anaheim hasn’t gone back to the Fall Classic. The 2002 Angels happen to be the most random team in baseball to ever win a championship.
The Angels Had A Cinderella Year In 2002
Embed from Getty ImagesBefore the 2002 season; the Angels had a postseason drought that was going on its 16th year. Up to that point, they won over 90 games just three times, Anaheim only had three postseason appearances to their name, and never made a trip to the Fall Classic. They finished the previous season with a record of 75-87 and missed the postseason. Despite a poor 2001 season, the Angels also didn’t do much to improve that offseason. Early on, it appeared that 2002 wouldn’t be much better as Anaheim stumbled off to an 11-14 start. However, a blazing 19-7 May jumpstarted their season and propelled them the rest of the year. The Angels finished the season with a record of 99-63 which ended their long postseason drought. Anaheim entered the 2002 postseason as a wild-card team.
No Marquee Pitchers? No Problem
Embed from Getty ImagesThe starting rotation had no superstars on it. It consisted of Ramon Ortiz, Jarrod Washburn, Kevin Appier, free agent Aaron Sele, and then rookie John Lackey. Washburn and Ortiz both had the best years of their careers that season. John Lackey finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year vote. Pitchers Ben Weber, Brendan Donnelly, and Scot Shields all proved to be reliable relievers. Troy Percival was lights out in the ninth inning racking up 40 saves. Despite not having any marquee players on the pitching staff, they allowed the least number of home runs.
Garrett Anderson And Troy Glaus Mostly Paced The Offense
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Angels offense was anchored by Garret Anderson and Troy Glaus. Anderson was selected to the All-Star team and was only one of two players on the team to hit above .300. The other being Adam Kennedy. Anderson also hit 29 home runs and had a team-high 123 RBI. Glaus led the team in home runs with 30 and contributed 111 RBI as well. Darin Erstad also slashed .283/.313/.389 with 10 home runs and 73 RBI in 2002. This would be one of Erstad’s last productive seasons offensively.
Haunted By Past Postseason Failures
Embed from Getty ImagesHistorically, the Angels had a reputation for blowing postseason leads. The Angels’ postseason failures were believed to be attributed to Angel Stadium being built on an ancient Indian burial ground. In 1982, they became the first team ever to blow a 2-0 lead against the Milwaukee Brewers. In game five of the 1986 ALCS; the Angels were one strike away from their first World Series appearance. However, Dave Henderson homered to put the Red Sox up 5-4 and eventually win that game. The Angels were deflated for the rest of that ALCS. Boston would go on to take the next two games to complete the comeback. Some believed the franchise never truly recovered after that home run.
Exorcising A Postseason Curse
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, things were different for the Angels in the 2002 edition of the postseason; Anaheim got hot and completely reversed that narrative. In the ALDS, they took out last season’s American League champion New York Yankees in four games. The Halos would also beat the up-and-coming Minnesota Twins in the ALCS in four games as well. Angels fans could finally say that their team advanced to the World Series.
The Giants Were Heavy Favorites
Embed from Getty ImagesMost people didn’t give them a chance against the heavily favored San Francisco Giants. That year, like the Angels, the Giants made it into the postseason as a wildcard team. This was the first time in baseball history that two Wild Card teams were in the Fall Classic. San Francisco boasted three All-Stars including eventual National League MVP, Barry Bonds. This would be the second of four straight MVPs Bonds would win. Before anyone knew it, this would be Dusty Baker’s final season as manager in San Francisco. It would also be the first World Series to be played only in California since 1989.
San Francisco And Anaheim Went Back And Fourth Early On
The World Series began with the Giants and Angels splitting the first two games. Barry Bonds who finally made his World Series debut, homered in both games. Despite homers by Bonds and Rick Aurilia, the Giants dropped game three 10-4. The Giants would storm back and take games four and five to take a 3-2 series lead. The Giants would outscore Anaheim 20-7 in those games. The Giants now had an opportunity to clinch their first championship since moving to San Francisco.
The Rally Monkey Propels The Angels
Embed from Getty ImagesIn game six, the Giants jumped out quickly to a 5-0 lead and carried it into the seventh inning. Manager Dusty Baker pulled starter, Russ Ortiz after back-to-back singles by Troy Glaus and Brad Fullmer. While making the change, Baker gave Ortiz a game ball as he was heading back to the dugout. This move caused the Rally Monkey to gain international acclaim before social media existed. Baker inadvertently fired up the Angels. The Halos rallied for three runs in that same inning to cut the Giants lead to two. The next inning the Angels scored three more runs to eventually win 6-5 forcing a decisive seventh game.
The Angels Finally Win A Ring
Embed from Getty ImagesGame seven proved to be anticlimactic. Despite the Angels falling behind early 1-0, runs in the second and third innings allowed them to take a 4-1 lead. The Halos wouldn’t look back from that point on. John Lackey shut down the potent Giants offense the rest of the way before Troy Percival completed the victory. Lackey became the first rookie pitcher in 93 years to start and win game seven in the World Series. Troy Glaus would be named World Series MVP.
The 2002 Angels Were A “Flash In The Pan” Team
Embed from Getty ImagesRamon Ortiz and Jarrod Washburn would never be the same. Everyone except David Eckstein, John Lackey, and Troy Glaus would be shells of themselves within a few seasons. Although the Halos made postseason appearances in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2014; They would never get back to the World Series. This proves magic can’t be duplicated. Due to the many flashes in the pan, the Angels are the most random champion in baseball history.
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