1961 and 1962

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

Here’s a bonanza for Angel fans everywhere – two rare and forgotten films have just been restored by Rare Sportsfilms, Inc. and are now available for the very first time on DVD! “The Angel Story” covers the franchise beginnings in the first MLBB expansion year of 1961 when the new club played it’s one season at old Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, while a new park was being built in Chavez Ravine. Covered is spring training at Palm Springs and shots of the first spring game vs Cubs. (former President Eisenhower visits and will be following the Angels this year)!

The Angels are at Baltimore for the season opener (expansion draft first pick Eli Grba vs Milt Pappas), and this is a game of many firsts for the Angels. With two outs in the top of the first inning, Albie Pearson walks. Cleanup hitter Ted Kluszewski then slams the Angel’s first homer, driving in the first two Angel runs in history! Left fielder Bob Cerv is next up and he too belts a home run to give the Angels and 3-0 first-inning lead. With two on in the second inning, Klu hits another homer, this one off reliever John Papa, pitching the first inning of his 3-game M.L. career! The Angels lead 7-0 after two innings and Grba tosses a 7-2 six-hit complete game.

Meanwhile workers have been “sprucing up” old Wrigley Field from the TV Home Run Derby days, and returning from their first road trip, L.A. will be hosting the new Minnesota Twins on Opening Day in the first American League game ever played in Los Angeles! The park is a festive sight decorated in bunting for the lid-lifter and cameras give a now-nostalgic view of the short porch in left-center, right-centerfield bleachers and houses across Avalon Blvd behind the LF wall. It’s an exciting scene as commissioner Ford Frick is seated beside former Vice-President Richard Nixon, Casey Stengel and wife Edna are also in the front row box seats while Pedro Ramos, Twins broadcaster Bob Wolff and other former Senators, familiar with Nixon from other opening days in Washington, stop by to say hello. Ty Cobb, only three months before his passing, throws out the first ball, and the Angels take the field with Grba again on the mound for L.A. Earl Averill hits the first American League homer in the second inning and Steve Bilko, who had walked, plates the first A.L. run scored on the west coast! However, the Twins eventually spoil the historic opener with a 4-2 win. Most of the other ’61 Angel players are also shown on this DVD: Ted Bowsfield, Tom Morgan, Ken McBride, Dean Chance, Jim Donohue, Bob Scott, Dan Ardell, George Conrad, young Bob Rodgers, George and Lee Thomas, Tom Satriano, Dick Simpson, Leon Wagner, Jim Fregosi, Eddie Yost, Billy Moran and coaches Rocky Bridges, Marv Grissom, Del Rice and of course, manager Bill Rigney. Players on other teams shown include Johnny Temple, Tony Kubek, Elston Howard, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Rocky Colavito, Norm Cash, Al Kaline, Frank Lary, John Romano, Jim Gentile, Brooks Robinson, Zoilo Versalles, Nellie Fox, Harmon Killebrew, Ron Hanson and rookie Dick Howser.

The ’61 film is B & W, but the following year, “Angel’s ‘62”, narrated by Angel broadcasters Buddy Blattner and Don Wells, was produced in gorgeous Kodachrome, and has a contrasting style. In 1962, the 1-year-old club surprised everyone by finishing third behind only the Twins and World Champion Yankees! The film begins with Spring Training at Palm Springs, before the team is shown in the new park at Chavez Ravine. Later, highlights of the Angel’s remarkable season are touched upon, and you’ll hear the actual play-by-play call of Buddy Blattner as Bo Belinsky rings up the first major league no-hitter ever pitched in Los Angeles (the video portion has been dubbed). Time and again throughout the film the color cameras take you behind the scenes. Coach Del Rice shows rookie catcher Bob Rodgers how to give signs while hiding them from opposing coaches. You’ll hear pitching coach Marv Grissom give young Dan Osinski a pitching tip in the Angel bullpen. A “trip to the mound” is demonstrated with manager Rigney talking to young Ken McBride (Rigney set a M.L. record with 507 pitching changes in ’62)! You’ll go inside the Angel clubhouse and hear manager Rigney discuss the team with his coaches Grissom, Rocky Bridges and Del Rice as he writes out a lineup. You’ll see Ken Hunt treating his arm in the whirlpool and meet trainer Freddie Fredrico and team doctor Bob Woods. Then, you’re right in the center of a clubhouse meeting with the players and manager Rigney as he discusses the next opponent, the Baltimore Orioles. Hear Rig talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the Orioles, including Jerry Adair and how to pitch to Brooks Robinson. You’ll also be able to eavesdrop on HOF’er Joe Gordon instructing Billy Moran on his batting swing. Later you’ll see pitching instructor Bob Lemon giving tips in spring training to the Angels minor leaguers and Angels of the future Jim McGlothlin, Joe Simpson and Fred Newman are shown.

This DVD is a MUST for any Angels fan! To order, send only $29.95 + $4.60 for MEDIA MAIL (Illinois residents MUST add $2.30 sales tax).