As the 2017 season opener approaches, die-hard Halos fans are eager to see the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim take the field yet again. To increase their chances of catching that once-in-a-lifetime home run ball, true fanatics will strategically locate themselves within Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
Angels in the Outfield
It all began in 1961, when the Angels finished their inaugural season with the best winning percentage of any expansion team in MLB history (to date). The team got their superior start in Los Angeles but relocated to Anaheim Stadium for the 1966 season – facing off against their home-state neighbors, the San Francisco Giants. Since then, the Cali-based squad has appeared in the playoffs a total of 10 times, emerging victorious just once as World Series Champions in 2002.
With plenty of sluggers and flamethrowers making up the team’s supercharged roster, Anaheim is ready to welcome back fan favorites like Albert Pujols, Mike Trout, and Matt Shoemaker this season.
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Located in the heart of Orange County, the suburban ballpark is capable of hosting 45,050 Halos fans to witness each big game unfold right before their eyes. The stadium’s architecture went through a phase of “Disneyfication” after then-Angels owner, The Walt Disney Co., renovated the park in 1998. As it still stands today, fans approaching the SoCal ballpark are greeted by two giant red baseball caps with the team’s logo on either side of the entrance. The deep outfield features a Yosemite-styled design, with mountain rocks and a gushing fountain intended to create a scenic landscape.
Angel Stadium encompasses a variety of elements that represent the Golden State as a whole. To show our appreciation for die-hard Halos fans, the home run experts at Fanatics developed a heat map to pinpoint the landing locations of home runs hit by their Angels.
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
If we’re being honest – it’s every fan’s childhood dream to experience the adrenaline of catching their favorite player’s home run ball in the stands. Although there is no surefire way to guarantee a homer lands in your lap, our heat map indicates that settling yourself along the fenceline increases the likelihood of bringing that keepsake ball home.
While the fenceline is an attractive option, your best shot at catching one of those out-of-the-park homers is situating yourself in sections 236, 240, 257, or 260. Watching the game from behind the bullpen can never hurt, either, and you may even see an Angels pitcher or staff member catch a homer with their hat.
During the 2016 season, Angel Stadium of Anaheim recorded a total of 187 home runs, each traveling an average distance of more than 400 feet. Detroit Tigers hotshot Miguel Cabrera slammed the longest long ball in Anaheim a distance of 456 feet. It was an impressive feat by the seasoned slugger, but it’s one that doesn’t come close to the record-setting homer launched 484 feet by Nelson Cruz in the 2012 season.
Now that you have a head start, you can purchase your season tickets with some peace of mind. If you plan on attending a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, be sure to come prepared. Head over to Fanatics to arm your wardrobe with the latest navy blue and red fan gear in the game!
Sources
- http://mlb.mlb.com/ana/history/timeline.jsp
- http://www.baseball-reference.com/
- http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/ana/ballpark/ballpark_history.jsp
- http://ballparkdigest.com/200811281006/major-league-baseball/visits/angel-stadium-los-angeles-angels-of-anaheim
- http://www.hittrackeronline.com/
- https://www.mitchellandness.com/company/longest-home-runs/
