Wally Joyner

[Nickpap]

I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to LA Angels history. I was wondering, how celebrated is Wally Joyner in Angels history and amongst Angels fans? I see he's a hitting coach now.

[Blarg]

He was the Trout of his time in popularity. 

 

[Sherlock31]

Still my favor baseball player

[arch stanton]

He was a homegrown player at a time when that was very rare. Didn’t hit for a ton of power but very consistent bat

[Chuck]

Wally World was the best. 

We had him as our guest speaker at last year's Spring Fanfest reboot.

[Blarg]

He lost out the Rookie of the Year to Jose Conseco. He actually had a higher WAR and OPS than Jose but writers dug the long ball back then.

[Angelsjunky]

As @arch stanton said, he was homegrown at a time when that was rare - although he was shortly followed by a talented group that included Devon White, Jack Howell, Damion Easley, etc. He was the rising young star on the "mercenary" 1986 playoff team. He was also a tad disappointing in that he didn't continue to improve after his first couple years, and instead become a solidly above average player but not a real star. I was saddened when he left as he was my favorite player in 1986-91. But thankfully then Tim Salmon happened.

[Rico]

Had this poster on my wall growing up.

[stormngt]

1986 World Champs if he didn't come down with a staph infection.

[Keener]

7 minutes ago, Rico said:

Had this poster on my wall growing up.

As did I.  14 years old in 1986.  I wore his number every chance I got.  Even had a (terrible design/print) Wally World t-shirt that I wore way too often.

[disarcina]

Wally World was a sensation when Joyner first joined the club.

He was a true fan favorite and had a very sweet swing.

It didn't last very long -- but fans loved him and still do.

[Erstad Grit]

His return to Anaheim didn't receive much fanfare 

[disarcina]

Erstad Grit - that's an understatement -- I had no idea he was a Batting Coach of any kind.

perhaps it's only a Tempe ST type of thing?

[Erstad Grit]

3 hours ago, disarcina said:

Erstad Grit - that's an understatement -- I had no idea he was a Batting Coach of any kind.

perhaps it's only a Tempe ST type of thing?

I was referring to his return as an Angel in 2001

[Nickpap]

Interesting ebay page I came across when googling Joyner

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F122906157550

[Homebrewer]

Wallll-eee Wallll-eee Walll-eee

Even though the season ended in heartbreak....The "Big A" became a real "Big League" stadium that year.

Great Memories.

[Torridd]

18 hours ago, Blarg said:

He lost out the Rookie of the Year to Jose Conseco. He actually had a higher WAR and OPS than Jose but writers dug the long ball back then.

I was so angry about that especially on the heels of that terrible loss. I still think he should have won. 

[Dick Enberg]

6 hours ago, Nickpap said:

Interesting ebay page I came across when googling Joyner

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F122906157550

Oh my, Guy would be lucky to get $30 for those cards. 1987 cards are fairly worthless, rookie or not. let alone thousands of $$$

[Angel Oracle]

Dang spider bite during the 1986 ALCS!   

Noticed that he went to HS in the same town (Stone Mountain, GA) that produced pro wrestling legend Jake the Snake Roberts. 

[ksangel]

Six years with Angels had .290 batting average, .350 OBP , averaged 20 homers and 90 RBI's and played solid defense..sure would take that from current first basemen.

[ten ocho recon scout]

2 hours ago, Dick Enberg said:

Oh my, Guy would be lucky to get $30 for those cards. 1987 cards are fairly worthless, rookie or not. let alone thousands of $$$

I dont know what i ever did with my old baseball cards. But the only set i ever got as a kid were the 87 topps....possibly the most worthless, and ugliest cards ever.

I come accross them at work from time to time, funny enough it always seems like after a house fire for whatever reason. 

[ten ocho recon scout]

4 hours ago, ksangel said:

Six years with Angels had .290 batting average, .350 OBP , averaged 20 homers and 90 RBI's and played solid defense..sure would take that from current first basemen.

I would too. But figure in the era he played, that wasnt really big numbers.

Wally was rad. To the OP, if you werent around back then, joyner was one of the "most hyped" players we had in years. He never lived up to his rookie year sucess, but he was really likeable.