The Triple-A Angels Played at Los Angeles' Wrigley Field | Things That Aren't Here Anymore | KCET

Before the arrival of the Dodgers in 1958, Los Angeles had its own Wrigley Field, a home-run-hitter's paradise that was home to the Triple-A Angels. West Hollywood had its own Gilmore Field, home to the Hollywood Stars.
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[@craigrasmussen3559]

I saw the MLB Angels at Wrigley.

[@eandsm4620]

Cool! My earliest childhood memories were in Chicago, and at the park.

[@richardgarrahy1238]

I made it to Chavez ravine in 65 I was 5 too young to get it I do remember the big A in 67 till now

[@Jarvisc12]

Funny how the Dodgers bought the original LA logo they wear now that once the Angels wore.

[@richardgarrahy1238]

@@Jarvisc12 dodgers are the biggest prostitutes in sports every one knows it

[@frederickbangs8123]

Me too and we loved it.

[@old_surfer]

I saw the minor league Angles play at Wrigley Field in the middle 50s. Still remember Steve Bilko who won minor league batting crowns in 1955 and 1956. Wrigley was the first "real" stadium I ever went to. Thanks for posting this.

[@Jarvisc12]

Steve Bilko, a true PCB star and true Angel.

[@chuckdacon4797]

The Los Angeles Angels played at Wrigley Field in their first year, 1961, before moving to Dodger Stadium in 1962, which I use it in a trivia question. What American League team played one season at Wrigley Field? Nobody has ever got it.

[@benjaminlibertarianscorpio]

good one

[@jkfan2005]

Pretty good Ralph Story impersonation

[@AllanGonnella]

I saw a couple of minor league games featuring the L.A. Angels from the old PCL when I was only about 5 or 6. I went with my dad to Wrigley Field in L.A. and saw the Angels play the S.F. Seals and the Sacramento Bee's. I was too busy feasting on hot dogs and sodas to remember the games but I still have the programs....somewhere. I also saw the A.L. expansion Angels in 1961 play the New York Yankees when I was 11. I remember the old "Home Run Derby" TV series back in the winter of 1960. All the matches were held at Wrigley Field. I have the 3 DVD set. It was torn down back in the late 60's and is now a parks & recreation center.

[@Jarvisc12]

I’ve tried to research early baseball in the West Coast before the MLB expanded. You lived it. Amazing.

[@nedludd7622]

I fondly remember going watch the minor league San Diego Padres at Westgate Park as a kid. It looked similar to these parks.

[@Jarvisc12]

The Padres. Born and breed in So Cal. That team is authentic to the core of West Coast baseball. Unlike the Dodgers.

[@underthetornado]

I think my dad played for the Angels then.

[@TomCook1993]

…think?

[@nala3038]

What was his name I’m curious

[@mariocisneros911]

Ah that song at 2:50 was used for the beginning of Cub games on WGN around 1980-90 , I think. Such a beautiful memory, and this from a white sox fan

[@laxnative4622]

My dad said he played baseball once at Gilmore Field. He played for Belmont H.S.

[@andyvanpelt6374]

I saw my first MLB game there. Yankees/Angels 1961

[@Xena7311]

I saw Roger Maris hit his 50th homerun at Wrigley in 1961

[@richarddenny5340]

the Angels won 71 games in 1961, a respectable number for an expansion team. I believe Gene Autrey was the majority owner.

[@Jarvisc12]

The real LA team. Not the Dodgers

[@ZackfromNoHo]

@@Jarvisc12 The Angels left Los Angeles in 1966. Now they are the real OC team.

[@cjsansoo7]

I played a game there right before it was demolished.

[@ghostdogzx-1474]

Well here we are in 2024 and we still have AAA players on the Angels.

[@toastnjam7384]

I use this in a trivia question. "What American League team play an entire season at Wrigley Field"? Nobody's ever got it.

[@iljackb]

They weren't AAA the PCL (which NOW is AAA) was a separate, non-affiliated professional league. PCL was vying to be recognized as a third major league

[@billlong8385]

The PCL was often thought as 3rd major league. There were only 16 major league teams then, not 30 as now Therefore, there were a LOT of very good ballplayers in the old PCL

[@luiszuluaga6575]

You just gotta love baseball. 👋🏼😃👉🏼⚾️

[@zekelucente9702]

Ralph Story❤️

[@LesterMoore]

I understand Ralph Story was a fighter pilot in tbe European theater of war during WWII.

[@PLEBEJones]

Angels are mor LA than the Dodgers 😮😮😮

[@Jarvisc12]

Yep. Shows how people don’t know their history.

[@ZackfromNoHo]

@@Jarvisc12 The Anaheim Angels have been in Anaheim since the mid-'60s. That is most of their history. The PCL L.A. Angels were a different team. Steve Bilko, not Mike Trout or Tim Salmon... The Hollywood Stars would have been my team if I were alive back then, but I was born the year the Dodgers and Giants came to California, so the Dodgers are my hometown team.

[@Jarvisc12]

So who is the real LA team?

[@ZackfromNoHo]

The Brooklyn Dodgers of Los Angeles, lol. L.A. County lost its only minor league team when the Lancaster Jethawks of the California League were disbanded a few years ago. Or if you mean LA (which is a state between TX and MS), I believe there are teams in both New Orleans and Shreveport.