1961 Los Angeles Angels season

The Los Angeles Angels season ended with the Angels finishing 8th in the American League with a record of 70-91. It was the Angels' first season in franchise history, and their only season at Wrigley Field. Gene Autry owned the franchise, which was created as a rival to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who played that year at the Coliseum before moving to nearby Dodger Stadium in 1962.

Offseason

The Angels, along with the new Washington Senators, were the first ever American League expansion teams. Both teams participated in Major League Baseball's first ever expansion draft. The Angels had the first pick in the 1960 Major League Baseball expansion draft, which they used to select Eli Grba from the New York Yankees. Grba wound up playing two-plus seasons for Los Angeles before returning to the minor leagues.

Notable transactions

• December 14, 1960: 1960 Major League Baseball expansion draft
• Jim Fregosi was drafted by the Angels from the Boston Red Sox.
• Bob Cerv was drafted by the Angels from the New York Yankees.
• Steve Bilko was drafted by the Angels from the Detroit Tigers.
• Earl Averill, Jr. was drafted by the Angels from the Chicago White Sox.
• Jim McAnany was drafted by the Angels from the Chicago White Sox.
• December 29, 1960: Del Rice was signed as a free agent by the Angels.

Regular season

As an...
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