Page 461 - 2020 Angels Media Guide

ANGELS HALL OF FAME

Reese played one more year in the majors (1932 with St. Louis) before returning to the Pacific Coast League in 1933.
In three Major League seasons, he hit .278, including a .345 mark in a reserve role for the Yankees in 1930.
Reese played 12 seasons in the PCL (Oakland, 1924-29; Los Angeles, 1933-36 and San Diego, 1937-38) and was
honored as all-time second baseman of the league. He set a career fielding record for total chances with 9,890 and led
the PCL in fielding three times (1927, 1929 & 1934).
On Mar. 30, 1972, Reese joined the Angels coaching staff. During his 23 years, he built a reputation for being the
most prolific fungo hitter in baseball. In 1989, Reese was selected by the late Commissioner Bart Giamatti to throw out
the ceremonial first pitch for the 60th All-Star Game at Anaheim Stadium. In 1992, he was named honorary captain of
the American League All-Stars at the contest in San Diego. Jimmie Reese passed away on July 13, 1994 at the age of 92.
Brian Downing, who served 13 years in an Angel uniform, left the club
as the all-time leader in almost every major offensive category. He is one of
only two Angels (Bobby Grich being the other) to participate in each of the
club’s first three Western Division titles. He was inducted into the Angels
Hall of Fame on Aug. 27, 2009.
Downing was originally acquired by California, Dec. 5, 1977, along with
Dave Frost and Chris Knapp from the White Sox in exchange for Bobby
Bonds, Thad Bosley and Richard Dotson. The Anaheim, CA native helped lead
the Angels to their first Western Division title in 1979 batting a career-high
.326 with 12 home runs and 75 RBI. His stellar performance earned him an
All-Star selection .
During his 20-year career, Downing registered a .267 average in 2,344
games with 2,099 hits, 1,188 runs, 275 home runs and 1,073 RBI.
After 13 seasons, Downing topped many Angels’ all-time lists with 1,661
games, 5,854 at-bats, 889 runs, 1,588 hits, 2,580 total bases, 282 doubles,
222 home runs, 846 runs batted in and 866 walks.
In 1984, Downing was co-winner of the Owner’s Trophy, symbolic of the
Club’s Most Valuable Player as voted by the players.
Chuck Finley, the Angels’ all-time leader in wins with 165, was inducted into
the Club’s Hall of Fame on Aug. 27, 2009.
The four-time All-Star was originally drafted by the Halos in the first round
(fourth overall pick) in the 1985 draft. He saw his first big league action the
following season, joining the club for their memorable 1986 Western Division title run.
The West Monroe, LA native’s career spanned 17 seasons in which he
compiled a 200-173 record and a 3 .85 ERA in 524 games .
On the date of his induction, he topped the Angels all-time list with 165
wins, 379 starts and 2,675 innings pitched while finishing second behind Nolan
Ryan with 2,151 strikeouts and fourth with 57 complete games.
In a dominating three-year period from 1989-91, Finley posted a 52-27
record with a 2 .93 ERA in 95 starts . In 1990, he enjoyed a career-year in which
he took home the Owner’s Trophy, going 18-9 with a 2.40 ERA, the third-lowest
single season ERA in club history.
When he retired in 2002, Finley was
one of only 25 pitchers in Major League
history to record over 2,500 strikeouts. club history
Bobby Knoop, one of the original Angel stars during the team’s first decade
of existence, was inducted on Sept. 5, 2013. The infielder was a four-time
recipient of the Owner’s Trophy (1964-66 & 1968), presented annually to the
Club’s MVP. He is one of just three Halos to win the award at least four times
(Garret Anderson & Mike Trout).
The second baseman played six seasons with the Halos (1964-69) and
combined with Jim Fregosi to form one of the most formidable double-play
tandems in all of MLB. The duo claimed Rawlings Gold Gloves® in 1967, the
second of three such honors for Knoop.
Knoop’s best offensive season came in 1966 when he posted career-highs
in home runs (17), RBI (72) runs (54) and triples (11). His 11 triples led the A.L.
and he was named as an All-Star Game starter that season .
Originally signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent before
the 1956 season, he was a Rule 5 Draft pick by the Angels from the Braves on
Dec. 2, 1963. In his first season with the Angels in 1964, he played in all 162 games.

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