The Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League: A History, 1903-1957

Long before the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants brought the major leagues to California in 1958, professional baseball thrived on the West Coast in the form of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). Minor only in name, the league featured intense rivalries, a huge fan base, and such future Hall of Famers as Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. The Los Angeles Angels won 14 PCL pennants and stood as the league’s premier franchise. This year-by-year chronicle of the Los Angeles Angels from 1903 to 1957 includes an overview of the PCL and a wealth of statistical information, including an all-time player roster, a list of important team records, lineups, and attendance information. Based in part on personal interviews with former Angels players, this history offers a nostalgic look back at the PCL and the early days of baseball in the West.

Richard Beverage is the founder and president of the Pacific Coast League Historical Society and a past president of the Society for American Baseball Research. He is currently secretary-treasurer of the Association of Professional Ballplayers of America, a charitable organization that assists former professional ballplayers who are in need.