Gene Autry
|

The new Los Angeles American League franchise is awarded to Gene Autry

The new Los Angeles American League franchise is awarded to Gene Autry, a well-known cowboy movie star who once turned down an opportunity to play in the minor leagues, and former football player Bob Reynolds for $350,000. After spending its inaugural season at LA’s Wrigley Field and then playing the next three years at Dodger Stadium, the team will move to Anaheim, a short distance from L.A., and will be known as the California Angels (1965-1996), the Anaheim Angels (1997-2004) and then, to better market the team, will become known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2005.

Hank Greenberg

Hank Greenberg asks for American League dates at the Los Angeles Coliseum for expansion Angels

On November 2, 1960, Hank Greenberg asks for American League dates at the Los Angeles Coliseum, home of the National League Dodgers. Greenberg and Bill Veeck are expected to run the new Los Angeles Angels club in the AL. Game ticket & learn more about the players, teams, stadiums and dates in history   @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@…

Los Angeles Angels

Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley trades minor league franchises with Phil Wrigley of the Chicago Cubs

1957 – Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley trades minor league franchises with Phil Wrigley of the Chicago Cubs. Brooklyn gives up its Ft. Worth club (Texas League) in return for the Los Angeles Angels (Pacific Coast League). In a year’s time, Brooklyn will be without a team and Los Angeles will be a major league city.

Former Chicago Cubs first baseman “The Rifleman” Chuck Connors becomes the first player to refuse to participate in the major league draft

Former Chicago Cubs first baseman “The Rifleman” Chuck Connors becomes the first player to refuse to participate in the major league draft

1951 – Former Chicago Cubs first baseman and future star of the TV series The Rifleman Chuck Connors becomes the first player to refuse to participate in the major league draft. Currently the 1B for the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League, Connors wants to stay in California, instead of going to whatever team might draft him for the major leagues. The PCL views his refusal in a positive manner, allowing them to ask for higher prices for minor league players than what the major leagues usually offers.

Jack Fournier

St Louis Cardinals trade for Jack Fournier from the minor league Los Angeles Angels for four players

The Cards announce the first trade of the winter meetings. They acquire 1B Jack Fournier from the minor league Los Angeles Angels for four players, all acquired earlier. LA gets 1B Art Griggs, C Grover Hartley, P Claude Thomas, and IF Ike McAuley.