Los Angeles Angels: Top 5 Starting Pitchers in Team History

By Ben Cardone

Feb 16, 2016

August 22, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Former Los Angeles Angels player Dean Chance with Mike Witt before their induction into the Angels hall of fame before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

5 of 6

2. Chuck Finley

Chuck Finley was taken with the 4^th overall pick in the 1985 amateur draft by the California Angels. The tall lefty would go on to spend 14 years with the California and Anaheim Angels between 1986 and 1999. His had a combined 3.72 ERA, 2151 strikeouts, and a 1.369 WHIP in 2675 innings pitched for the Angels. He also posted 118 ERA+ and 3.93 FIP while in Anaheim. He was voted into four All-Star Games and finished 7^th in Cy Young voting in 1990.

Finley won 15 games or more six times while with the Angels with 57 comple games and pitched 14 shutouts. He is the Angels all-time leader in WAR among pitchers (52.2), wins (165), and innings pitched (2675), and only trails Nolan Ryan in strikeouts for the Angels. Finley is the only pitcher in baseball history to record four strikeouts in a single inning multiple times.

Chuck Finley only pitched in the post-season once during his Angels career in the 1986 ALCS as a rookie facing the Boston Red Sox. Finley pitched in two games in relief and did not give up a run. Finley’s best Angel season came in 1990 when he had an 18-9 record with a 2.40 ERA and 177 strikeouts. At 6’6 Finley joined with Mike Witt 6’7 for three seasons as the tallest one-two punch in Angels history.

Next: The Express