Los Angeles Angels: Top 5 Setup Men in Team History

7 of 7

Jul 3, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Los Angeles Angels baseball hat and glove and logo before the game between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Angels defeated the Rangers 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Scot Shields (10 seasons, 491 games)

46-44 record, 3.18 ERA, 631 K

Shields played his entire 10-year career with the Angels and was the first part of a one-two punch for both Troy Percival and Rodriguez at the back end of the Halos bullpen.

If the Angels held a worrisome lead heading into the 7th or 8th inning, you could bet Shields would get the ball to keep the score exactly where it was.

Dubbed the “Setup Man of the Decade” by Sports Illustrated, Shields is the franchise leader in appearances in a single season (78), the first of three-straight years where he pitched in at least 71 games.

His 8.148 strikeouts per 9 IP are the third most in franchise history, behind Percival and Nolan Ryan, and his 3.18 ERA is the 7th-lowest in team history.

He also possessed a rare strength in his arm that allowed him to throw a career-high 148.1 innings in 2003 and 105.1 the following year.

Next: Who will be the 8th wonder for the Angels?

Never an All-Star or winner of any other major award, Shields demonstrated that titles do not equal effectiveness or importance.