Angels players who would’ve won a Silver Slugger if it existed before 1980

The Los Angeles Angels became an expansion franchise in MLB in 1961, 19 years before MLB created the Louisville Silver Slugger Award. Since 1980, the Angels have had 14 hitters win the award, but if the award had been around for LA's entire existence, they likely would have had a few more.

The Angels would have had a few slam-dunk candidates (which you can see below), and a few others would have been in some tight races for the award. One of them was shortstop Jim Fregosi, a six-time All-Star with the Angels, who was one of the best shortstops in the AL during the late 1960s. There were a few seasons where it would have been hard to pick between him and Red Sox shortstop Rico Petricelli. There were a few others who would have had a case, but here are the three players who absolutely would have won.

Three Angels who would have absolutely won a Silver Slugger had it existed before 1980

Frank Robinson, DH - 1973

The two-time MVP joined the Angels in 1973 from the cross-town Dodgers. He was 37 at the time and playing in his 18th season. '73 was his last really good season and a bounce back from a disappointing 1972 season.

Robinson hit .266 that season, with 30 home runs and 97 RBIs. He had a .866 OPS and had more walks and intentional walks (94) than he did strikeouts (93). The future Hall of Famer led all American League DHs in doubles, home runs (by ten), RBI, and runs scored. That alone would have won him the award, but just to add some modern context, his 146 WRC+ was 32 points higher than the next-best DH.

Bobby Bonds, OF - 1977

Bonds was in his second, and last, season in L.A. when he would have won his award. This one wasn't as much of a slam dunk as Robinson, but using the stats they would have factored in then, he likely would have taken home the award.

Bonds hit the second-most home runs by any AL outfielder that season (37); his 103 runs scored were fourth, and his 115 RBI were second. His 74 walks tied for the most among outfielders with 30+ home runs that season, which would have gone in his favor. He also had nine triples, which was sixth among outfielders. There were a few candidates for three Silver Slugger spots, but Bonds was high enough in most of the important offensive categories back then to have taken home the award.

Bobby Grich, 2B - 1979

Grich joined the Angels from Baltimore in 1977 as one of the better second basemen of his time. He would win a Silver Slugger with L.A. in 1981, joining Rick Burleson as the first two Angels to win the award, but had the award existed sooner, he would have already won one in Anaheim.

Grich found his power stroke in 1979, hitting his only 30-home-run season and only 100-RBI season (he had 101) of his career. The righty hit .294 that season and also added 30 doubles and five triples. Grich, like Robinson, couldn't have been more of a slam dunk case. No other AL second baseman had more than ten home runs that season, and his 101 RBI were almost 40 more than the next best, too. Adding modern context again, Grich's 141 WRC+ was 14 points higher than Paul Molitor's 127.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow