The Los Angeles Angels, in their 64th season in franchise history, made history on Thursday — just not the good kind.
With Thursday’s 7-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox, who avoided staved off the title of worst team in the history of sport for at least one more day, this Angels team became the worst in franchise history. The loss was L.A.’s 96th of 2024, dethroning the 1980 and 1968 teams to take the sole lead for most ever in a season.
The bow on the giftwrapped stinker of a season was topped off with a three-game sweep at the hands of the White Sox, who remained at 120 losses on the year — a tie for the all-time record.
Perhaps it’s not a surprise to the Angels fans in Orange County, who witness their neighbors to the north chase a National League West title with the superstar that was once theirs.
After six seasons, two American League MVP’s and zero playoff appearances, two-way Japanese dynamo Shohei Ohtani chased greener pastures, and a greener bank account, to the L.A. Dodgers earlier this year on a $700 million contract over 10 years.
Now, like an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend who’s clearly happier with the next person after you, the former Angel is all smiles. After hitting baseballs worth more than $500,000 that are worth filing lawsuits over, Ohtani will play in his first career playoff game next month and will win his third MVP award in November.
Not to be without mention, the Angels were without another three-time MVP for a majority of the season. Mike Trout, who is touted as one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen, was once again bit with the injury bug in 2024. He played in just 29 games due to knee injuries.
It wasn’t the fault of Trout, who was stellar in his short stints on the field. The Angels, under direction of veteran manager Ron Washington in his first year with the club, has fielded a young team in 2024. Some of the team’s older players like $245 million man Anthony Rendon, struggled to stay healthy, and struggled at the plate even when healthy.
Rendon, who will enter year six of the aforementioned seven-year monster of a contract, is yet to play more than 58 games in any of his five seasons with the club. 58 games is just about 36% of contests in a 162-game season.
But alas, there are bright spots for Angels fans to look forward to in coming years. Young players like shortstop Zach Neto, catcher Logan O’Hoppe and relief pitcher Ben Joyce emerged as the future framework of the squad.
But as Angels fans know, there’s still time for things to get worse before they get better. The team plays three more games this season — that’s three more chances to extend their team record.
