'80 Halos Top '53 Brownies in Three of Four

The 1980 California Angels took three of four from the 1953 St. Louis Browns, in a series that featured a blow out win for each club, and two one-run affairs in which the Angels were blessed with victories in both

Game one saw the Browns out hit the Angels 17-16, yet lose by 7 runs! Three errors and five bases on balls by Browns' pitchers didn't help the cause, as the Angels walked away with a 12-5 win.

Game two saw Brown starter Duane Pillette retire the first two hitters, then give up a single and two doubles. The second double was off the bat of Rick Miller and plated two runs, and that was all the scoring the Angels would need as Don Aase, Mark Clear, and Andy Hassler held the Borwns to one run to give the held the Halos earn the 2-1 victory.

Game three moved to Anaheim, and it was the Browns turn to have some fun. The Disneyland atmosphere was to their liking, as they pounded out 12 hits and scored 8 times, five in the first inning, to ride to an 8-1 win. The Browns "K-Konnection", Dick Kryhoski and Dick Kokos, hit back to back home runs in that 5 run first inning.

Game four saw the Browns score three early runs to grab the lead, but 2 Angel runs in the fourth and one in the sixth tied it up. Jason Thompson's run scoring single had tied it in the sixth, and his two-out 8th inning single gave the Angels the lead. Thompson was the game MVP despite the game program giving it to Brian Downing, who had three hits.

Mark Clear finished off the Browns in the ninth to capture the series for the Southern California crew.

--submitted by Bike Mike--