Major League Baseball Franchises, 1901-2002: A History in Prose

The Angels: From Hell To Heaven

Gene's dream was realized as he traded in his silver bullets for California gold,

Hoping he would find a champion one day just like the one he rode.

Grab got the first win, "Klu" hit the first two, 70 wins, the most by an expansion team,

"Daddy Wags," the big hits, Bo, no hits, except when making the Hollywood scene.

Fregosi and Knoop, diamond jewels, from penthouse to outhouse for Alex Johnson,

Pearson led in runs, Chance, 11 shutouts, and league's third-lowest ERA since WWI.

Wright was right with 22 wins and a no-hitter, after winning only one the year before,

Three times Tanana led the team in wins, once the league in Ks, then his arm went sore.

With four no-hitters and seven K crowns, no one was more dominant than Nolan,

Oh how "The Cowboy" wishes he had him back in the saddle again.

For Dick Wantz, Donnie Moore, and Lyman Bostock, there weren't enough tomorrows,

One inning pitched, one bad pitch, one mistaken identity, so much pain, so much sorrow.

Baylor won the only MVP, was the only RBI champ, as the Angels spread their wings,

Keying an offensive attack was Grich, Lynn, DeCinces, and Brian Downing.

Up 2 games in '82, the Angels squandered a chance as destiny would have to wait,

Even more heart wrenching was '86, when they were one strike away from heaven's gate.

Sutton won #300, Reggie, homer #500, Carew hit #3,000, Finley, Langston, on the mound

Witt was perfect, Chili was hot, Wally out of this world, and Edmonds ran them down.

Glaus, a team record in homers, Erstad challenged a hit record standing almost a century,

Salmon, a great catch, Washburn, the staff ace, and Anderson with a swing of beauty.

"Percy" showed no mercy, "Eck," plenty of heart, and a bitter memory was laid to rest,

An incredible ride not even seen at Disneyland, for one year, the Angels, baseball's best.

The Astros: We Have Liftoff

Originally dubbed the Colt .45s, a symbol of yesterday's old west,

To a more modern theme symbolizing reaching for the stars in rockets and jets.

The Astrodome, the eighth wonder of the world, unique in creation, first of its kind,

Warding off mosquitoes, thunder, and rain, developed by a visionary, Roy Hofheinz.

Aspro an Astro, Watson, strong as a bull, Wynn used a toy cannon to launch bombs,

Radar, "The Red Rooster," while another redhead started here, Rusty Staub.

Thon got beaned, and Don Wilson, 100-game winner, 2 no-nos, gone so tragically,

Seems like a curse as a stroke of bad luck cut down J. R., career over at thirty.

Such a dubious honor for Ken Johnson to lose a complete game no-hitter,

One no-no for Dierker, won 20 games, radio broadcaster, manager, struck by a seizure.

One Little Joe, a member of the Cartwright family, worked on a famous ranch,

A more famous Little Joe, a star in a game invented by a Cartwright, using balls and bats.

Niekro and Nolan soared, five straight years of 20 doubles, 50 steals for Cedeno,

Jose "Cruz"ed left, Hatcher and Bass "Puhl"ed their talents, the pen had Smith, Sambito.

Liftoff was provided by Davis, pitching provided by two leftys, Deshaies and Knepper,

And Mike Scott, for one season, one incredible game, untouchable with his split finger.

A giant leap for mankind, but not for the Astros, who missed a shot at shooting the moon,

After two heart-pounding, gut-wrenching playoff losses, series hopes were doomed.

"Bags," MVP, run leader three times, Biggio, 50 doubles, 50 steals, Berkman, a killer B,

Wagner threw bullets, Kile, a great curve, and a no-no, Hampton and Lima won 20.

Oswalt and Miller soaring to new heights, closed a...