Your First Halo's Home Game?

[Barf]

Just been reminiscing a bit lol and curious about everyone's first time see our favorite team play a home game? I will relate mine and feel free to share yours as well

As I stated in my introduction thread, I essentially became a fan due to being obsessed with 'Angels in the Outfield'. I first saw it in the theater and when it came out on VHS, I begged my Dad to buy me a copy of it and when he did, no joke, I watched it easily 15 plus times a week lol. I was in second grade at the time and just loved everything about it. Started then to follow the team the best I could all the way in North Carolina and have been a fan ever since.

Fast forward to the point of this thread: It was 2000 and my Dad(Who was a truck driver then) asked me to go with him on a trip to California as he would need an assistant there. Me wanting any excuse to get out of school lol quickly said yes. I also in the back of my mind was going to wait for the right time to ask my Dad if we could see the Angels.

We dropped our load off and I 'helped him'. He then announced that we would need to get back on the road quickly.Naturally I said can we go to an Angels game please please before we go? He said he knew how much I loved the team but he just didn't have time to take me son sorry. Well of course I got very upset, he kept on apologizing, and then we took off. I put my head down while we headed out of town. I drifted off to sleep at some point and my Dad woke me up. I looked at him angrily lol, and he just put on a big grin and told me to look out my window. I huffed but did what he said...and I tell you gents it was one of the best moments of my life. We were pulling into the parking lot of the Angels stadium! I turned and looked at my Dad in awe and he just kept on grinning. I gave him a huge hug when we got out, told him I was sorry for being so upset, he told me it was ok he was just glad to see me happy and I could loosen up my hug around him a bit lol, and we went in.

Several concessions and screaming from me later gents lol and we came out with a win against the Orioles 2-1. The atmosphere was amazing, fellow fans were also especially when my Dad told them it was our first game, etc.

Sorry if a bit long gents, but this team truly is dear to my heart.

 

[Lou]

Great story.

However, you may want to refrain from posting lines like: "We dropped our load off and I 'helped him' " in the future. 

[Inside Pitch]

Welcome aboard dude -- great story.

[jsnpritchett]

Opening Day 1996 against the Brewers.  I was doing a semester at USC Film School as part of a pilot program that Duke was running to give students exposure to the entertainment industry. Chuck Finley was my favorite pitcher, so I wanted to see him in person after following him from afar for a decade.  Angels lost 15-9 and Finley gave up 8 runs in 2 2/3 IP.  So much for that!

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL199604020.shtml

 

[gurn67]

July 31, 1976. I was 8 so I don't remember much other than knowing that Bobby Bonds was the best player on the field. 

Bonds had a great year for the Angels in 1977, and then was traded in one of the best trades in Angels' history getting us 13 years, and 1677 games, of Brian Downing.

[greginpsca]

1961, Wrigley Field vs Detroit. We were in the rf bleachers. We caught 2 balls on batting practice hr's. Angels lost. Kaline & Colovito homered for the Tigers.  Fregosi came in to play ss near the end of the game in his rookie year. Wish i could remember more, as i was a couple months away from my 9th birthday.

[Jason]

I know it was 1984 and I don’t remember much about it as I didn’t really care at the time. I do remember my first MLB game though 

[Jason]

3 hours ago, Lou said:

Great story.

However, you may want to refrain from posting lines like: "We dropped our load off and I 'helped him' " in the future. 

Why not? I think everyone here can act like mature adults

[HanfordGuy]

I can’t remember the year but I remember one of the earliest games, if not the first was a double header against the White Sox. Both games went into extra innings. Boone and Miller were the catchers. My uncle Marcy took me. It was special because my mother refused to drive in Southern California and my uncle agreed to drive. It was a lot of baseball and fun. Angels lost both games in extras and Thigpin got the save for both games. Thank you Uncle Marcy.

[m0nkey]

Pretty sure it was Ramon Ortiz's only career shutout against the Orioles in 2002. Chone Figgins got his first career AB in that game 

[Tank]

July 11, 1971. It was a twi-night doubleheader against Detroit. In between games, the Angels media played a softball game against a bunch of Playboy playmates. I was 11, and suddenly understood that I needed a pair of binoculars if I was gonna sit up in the nosebleed seats.

[Rico]

All I remember was Johnny Ray was playing second base and I liked that dudes name.

[Lou]

4 hours ago, Rico said:

All I remember was Johnny Ray was playing second base and I liked that dudes name.

His middle name is Cornelius.

[fan_since79]

Don't recall my first Angels game but do remember quite a few other memorable ones back then.

June 10, 1983, vs. Toronto. Doug DeCinces breaks up Luis Leal's no-hitter in the 7th with a ringing double, then Reggie Jackson (with a 102-degree fever) comes out of the clubhouse in the 8th to pinch-hit and blasts a 3-run homer to deep center field, to tie the score 3-3. DeCinces later in the inning hits a 2-run shot and the Angels win 5-3.

The only home run I ever saw Reggie hit in person. Great game, so good that I even remembered the date.

[East Coast Bias]

My first, and only, Angels home games were June 14 and 15, 1986 against the Royals. I loved that team. I remember Wally Joyner hit a home run in that Saturday game and Halos won 6-5. Looking up the box score on BR tells me Don Sutton pitched 6+ innings and Doug DeCinces also homered. The Angels lost the Sunday game 6-5 and all I remember from that game is Dan Quisenberry coming in to close the game for the Royals. I don't know how many hours I spent in the backyard imitating his funky sidearm delivery.  Great memories!

[oldguy]

Joe Azcue, Jim Spencer, Sandy Alomar, Jim Fregosi, Aurelio Rodriguez, Roger Repoz, Rick Reichardt, Jay Johnstone

 

I don't remember the year, but I remember the lineup.  The game program touted the 4 M's in the starting rotation (Murphy, May, McGlothin, Messersmith).  

[fan_since79]

21 minutes ago, East Coast Bias said:

My first, and only, Angels home games were June 14 and 15, 1986 against the Royals. I loved that team. I remember Wally Joyner hit a home run in that Saturday game and Halos won 6-5. Looking up the box score on BR tells me Don Sutton pitched 6+ innings and Doug DeCinces also homered. The Angels lost the Sunday game 6-5 and all I remember from that game is Dan Quisenberry coming in to close the game for the Royals. I don't know how many hours I spent in the backyard imitating his funky sidearm delivery.  Great memories!

Goodness, I was at that June 14th game! Sutton was going for his 300th win but would be denied as he was out of the game when the Angels scored the winning run. My Dad bought tickets for the family and we were all there to watch history, but it didn't happen. He won his 300th on his next start.

[tdawg87]

1992. I was too young to remember I just know they beat the Yankees. I think the score was 3-2. I also got a Marlins hat because I liked the color.

First game I actually remember was Opening Day 2007 against Texas. Definitely a completely different atmosphere. We went to 5 games that trip and the Angels went 4-1. All in all it was a good time.

[Chuck]

Man, I wish I remembered the actual date but it was sometime in the early 80's.

It was a doubleheader against the Oakland A's and Rickey Henderson stoled like 6 bases combined in both games. 

Rickey became my favorite non-Angels player all-time after that game. 

[UndertheHalo]

Great story @Barf It’s awesome that you have that.  Mine is not nearly as cool.  Anyway.  Ya I think my first Angels game was in 2004.  They were playing the Red Sox and I was pumped to see Vlad.  A buddy and I sat in the top perch very furthest RF view section.  Not great seats ! But I was happy to be there and the Halos won.  I’ve been to a bunch of great Angels games that are a lot more memorable.   
 

not my first MLB game.  That was when my Dad took me to a Dodgers game in I think maybe ‘94 or ‘95.  I was pretty little and didn’t really know what all was going on.  But I do remember going out there and remember my Dad telling me Mike Piazza the catcher was the best player.  

Edited April 30, 2022 by UndertheHalo

[Kthursby]

1967. Wish I could remember much detail but I was hooked. Have gone to at least one game every season possible (strikes and pandemic). Even chemo didn’t stop the streak. Got up to 40 games a season during high school, was easy to get seats and the ballpark was a jewel. 

[Robrock30]

It was this one 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL196808120.shtml

Angels Stadium was new.  Hard to believe attendance was only 14,520.  Seemed like more maybe an under count.

[Jay]

I don't know but it was a long time ago.

[Tank]

6 hours ago, Jay said:

I don't know but it was a long time ago.

Riveting. Would read again.

[T.G.]

On 1/6/2022 at 1:35 PM, True Grich said:

I wish I knew for certain the details of the first game I ever attended, but I don't.  I believe it was May 23, 1967,. but I can't confirm.  I remember attending a game where the Angels won 5-1 at some point early in my life (whether it was the first game or not, I don' t know) and I thought it was against either the Royals or the White Sox.  And the only box score that matches that is May 23, 1967 when the Angels beat the Royals 5-1. It actually bugs me a little that I don't know.  I know I saw Rich Reichard, Jay Johnston and Jim Fregosi play and all 3 were on that roster.

The earliest game I ever attended that I can confirm 100% is May 9, 1970.  I can confirm that because it was "bat night" and I vividly remember Andy Messersmith beating the Yankees 11-3.  I've been able to verify that one through news articles and the box score.

Another game I remember specifically was the Angels facing off against Vida Blue on July 4, 1971. Vida Blue pitched a gem.