Tag: expansion

A STORY FROM APRIL 11 IN BASEBALL HISTORY-ANGELS LOOK LIKE THEY BELONG

TODAY IN BASEBALL TAKES US TO BALTIMORE, MARYLAND ON APRIL 11, 1961. The Los Angeles Angels looked anything but like an expansion team in their first game on this date in 1961. The Angels looked like they belong. Slugging first baseman Ted Kluszewski hit two home runs and Eli Grba threw a complete game as the Angels beat the Baltimore Orioles 7 to 2 in Baltimore.

It wasn’t a fluke. The Angels were the most successful first year expansion team in baseball history. They won 70 games and did not come in last place — no small task. The Angels finished ahead of the expansion Washington Senators (big deal!). More impressive is the Angels finished ahead of the established Kansas City A’s (bigger deal!).

Remarkably, the Angels contended for the American League pennant in their second season – 1962. They were in first place on July 4th and finished in 3rd (this is before the American and National Leagues were divided into divisions), ten games behind the New York Yankees.

The Angels played their home games that inaugural season at Los Angeles’ Wrigley Field. Yes, P.K. Wrigley built a replica of the Cubs ballpark in Los Angeles years earlier for a minor league team. The Angels became a tenant of Dodger Stadium in 1962, which they referred to as Chavez Ravine. They built their own stadium in Anaheim in 1966 and became the California Angels. Today, they are the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. And on this date in 1961,  the Angels looked like they belong.

Answers to April 10’s stadiums question
1. Huntington Avenue Grounds (1901-1911) Boston Red Sox
2. West Side Park (1893-1915) Chicago Cubs
3. Jarry Park (1969-1976) Montreal Expos
4. Shibe Park (1909-1970) Philadelphia A’s & Phillies
5. Forbes Field (1909-1970) Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Polo Grounds (1911-1964) New York Giants, Yankees, Mets
7. Griffith Stadium (1903-1960) Washington Senators

April 5: ROCKIES, MARLINS JOIN NL

APRIL 5, 1993 | NEW YORK, MIAMI – Two new National League franchises began play on this date in 1993. The expansion Colorado Rockies played their first game on the road at Shea Stadium in New York. They were shut out by the Mets 3-0. The Florida Marlins‘ (The team was known as the “Florida” Marlins until 2012 when they became the Miami Marlins) first game was at home in Miami. They beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6 to 3 at Joe Robbie Stadium. The  Rockies and Marlins joining the National League was the first NL expansion since 1969.

Since entering the league the Marlins have done remarkably well on the field, but the Rockies have done considerably better at the turnstile. The Rockies set a major league record drawing 4,483,350 fans in their inaugural year, but the Marlins have already won two World Series -1997 and 2003.

The Rockies are one of just four teams to draw over 4-million fans. The others are the Blue Jays, Yankees and Mets. The Rockies probably would have drawn 4 million more often, but the franchise moved in 1995 from 80,000 seat Mile High Stadium where the Denver Broncos NFL teamed played at the time, to Coors Field, which seats 50,227.

The Rockies have drawn over 3 million fans 9 of their first 25 years, including the year they drew over 4-million. The Marlins have only surpassed the 3 million mark once – their first year. They’ve drawn over 2-million 3 times since the Rockies and Marlins joined the National League in 1993.

CONTRIBUTING SOURCES:
Baseball-Almanac – Expansion Era
ESPN – Attendance