04/09/09 - Nick Adenhart Killed in Post-Game Hit and Run
In 2008, 21 year-old Nick Adenhart made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after three successful minor league seasons out of high school. Never quite comfortable at the major league level, he gave up 12 earned runs in three May starts before spending the rest of the season in the minors. A major leaguer at the age of 21, he never quite looked like he belonged.

Adenhart made his first start of the 2009 season at home last night, and fared far better. Adenhart went six strong innings, allowing seven hits and no runs while walking three and striking out five. Though the Angels’ bullpen ruined his performance by allowing six runs in the last two innings, Adenhart looked strong, and gave Angels fans reason to be excited.

Tragically, Adenhart’s start last night will be his last. Early Thursday morning, just hours after the game, a minivan blew through a red-light at the corner of Orangethorpe Avenue and Lemon Street in Fullerton, CA, smashing into the car that Adenhart was riding in and killing him along with two of the car’s other occupants. The driver of the minivan initially fled the scene, but was caught and has been charged with felony hit-and-run.

Los Angeles has one less Angel than it did yesterday, and Heaven has one more. BaseballEvolution.com’s thoughts are with Nick’s family and friends and the Angels organization on this day.

Rest in peace, Nick. For one night you showed’em that you belonged.

In the Big Inning - The Los Angeles Angels were founded in 1961, one of the first two AL expansion teams. The Angels shared Los Angeles with the recently relocated Dodgers and played in Dodger Stadium from 1962-1965.

You know, we might make more money if - Toward the end of the 1965 season, the Los Angeles Angels changed their name to the California Angels in an effort to broaden their fan-base, and the following spring moved into Anaheim Stadium.

Actually, you know we might make more money if - Following the 1996 season, the California Angels decided to centralize and strengthen their fan base by changing their name to the Anaheim Angels, in honor of their rapidly growing home town.

Hmm, what if we just - Apparently unsatisfied with being merely the third highest grossing team in the majors, in 2005 the Anaheim Angels re-adopted their origin moniker in order to appeal the second largest media market in the country, much to the chagrin of both the cities of Anaheim and Los Angeles. In order to appease the politicians in their hometown, they affixed the words "of Anaheim" to the end of their name.

Best Trade in Team History - In 1971, the Angels sent Jim Fregosi to the Mets in exchange for Frank Estrada, Don Rose, Leroy Stanton, and Nolan Ryan. Fregosi never played more than 101 games again, while Nolan Ryan went on to have his best seasons with the Angels.

Worst Trade in Team History - Right before the start of the 2000 season, the Angels sent Jim Edmonds to the St. Louis Cardinals for Kent Bottenfield and Adam Kennedy. Jim Edmonds won six straight Gold Gloves from 2000-2005 with the Cardinals, and hit 210 home runs in six seasons. While Kennedy has been a cornerstone of the Angels infield, Bottenfield had a losing record in the only season he spent with the Angels.

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