The 1979 California Angels

It's time to go back to the past...to the year 1978.  The disco era was just past its peak and started its decent into becoming the joke that defined the decade as punk rock had landed in New York City and was spreading west.  The number one song in the nation on November 11th, 1978 was Donna Summer's "MacArthur Park", and "Y.M.C.A." by the Village People was still on the charts at #31 after peaking at #2 earlier in the year.  "The Deer Hunter" won the Academy award for Best Picture and Emmy awards went to "All In The Family", "The Rockford Files", and "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson".

The 2009 season will mark the 30th anniversary of the first Angels team to win a division title.  In 1979, the California Angels finished 3 games ahead of the defending American League West Division champion Kansas City Royals.  Thirty years ago the California Angels had just completed their best season in franchise history finishing the 1978 season in second place in the AL West, 5 games behind the Kansas City Royals. 

Prior to the '78 season the Angels had traded RF Bobby Bonds, OF Thad Bosley, and minor league pitcher Richard Do