| Location | California |
|---|---|
| First meeting | April 30, 1961[1] Wrigley Field,Los Angeles,California Angels 6, Athletics 4 |
| Latest meeting | September 7, 2025[1] Angel Stadium,Anaheim,California Angels 4, Athletics 3 |
| Next meeting | May 18, 2026 Angel Stadium,Anaheim,California |
| Stadiums | Angels:Angel Stadium Athletics:Sutter Health Park |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 1,045[2] |
| Most wins | Athletics |
| Regular season series | Athletics, 545–500 (.522)[1] |
| Largest victory | |
| Longest win streak | |
| Current win streak | Angels, 1[1] |
TheAngels–Athletics rivalry is aMajor League Baseball (MLB) divisionalrivalry played between theAngels and theAthletics. Both teams compete as member clubs of theAmerican League (AL)West division, and both teams have grown a steady rivalry since the Athletics' relocation to California and to the AL West in 1968.[5] Though not as intense as theDodgers–Giants rivalry equivalent in theNational League (NL)West; the A's and Angels have often battled for the division title on numerous occasions, with the added animosity between Northern and Southern California fueling the matchups.[6][7][8][9][10] Despite this; the Athletics' impending relocation toLas Vegas likely wouldn't exclude geography as a factor, as Las Vegas is closer in proximity to Southern California.[11] The Athletics lead the series 543–499, and the two teams have yet to meet in the postseason.[12]
The Angels joined the American in 1961 as an expansion team. The Athletics relocated to Oakland in 1968 after ownerCharlie Finley endured much difficulty in securing a new ballpark in Kansas City, though Kansas City would later be granted an expansion franchise in 1969 known today as theRoyals. The Athletics were one of the oldest franchises in league history, having joined the MLB in 1901 as thePhiladelphia Athletics. Both teams struggled mightily through the 1960s as both encountered mediocre play, however; the Athletics began to quickly emerge as postseason titans, winning three straight World Series titles from 1972 to 1974. The Angels found a brief moment of postseason success as they reached the playoffs for the first time in 1979. The A's continued to stay competitive through the 1980s as they managed three appearances across the decade in theALCS, even managing to win yet anotherWorld Series in 1989. The Angels would also manage two appearances in the ALCS in 1982 and 1986, but lost both times.
Both teams dealt with long term issues stemming from multiple mediocre seasons in which either team made the postseason, however; the rivalry began to have more implications within the division as the A's bolstered a younger lineup of future stars known famously as the "Moneyball" team.[13] The Angels finished the 2002 season as runner-ups in the division, snagging a wild card berth; while the Athletics managed a record-setting 20 game win streak near the end of the season. Much to the shock of sportswriters and fans alike, the A's fell in the ALDS to the Minnesota Twins, while the Angels pushed on to win theWorld Series in an improbable playoff run.[14] During the 2004 season, both teams came down to the wire tied for wins headed into the final series of the season, with the last three games being played in Oakland.[15] Both teams were battling to secure the division title; however, Oakland fell in two crushing losses to the Angels with only one victory in the series coming in the final game of the year. Oakland would find themselves eliminated from the playoff hunt, though the Angels would go on to suffer a crushing sweep at the hands of the eventual champion Boston Red Sox.
As of 2024, both teams have yet to meet in the postseason.[16] The animosity waned yet again during the decade as both teams struggled mightily in either playoff contention or maintaining a winning record. Tension began to resurface between both teams in 2023, when Angels' third basemanAnthony Rendon received a four-game suspension following an altercation with an Athletics fan during the season opener series in Oakland.[17][18] The fan reportedly taunted Rendon for his injuries and play. In retaliation; Rendon attempted to rip the fan's shirt and was subsequently removed from the stadium and given a 4 game suspension. He was also fined an undisclosed amount.[19][20][21]
| Angels vs. Athletics Season-by-Season Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1960s (Angels, 88–74)
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1970s (Athletics, 97–72)
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1980s (Athletics, 70–57)
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1990s (Athletics, 68–55)
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2000s (Athletics, 97–90)
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2010s (Angels, 97–93)
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2020s (Athletics, 44–40)
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Summary of Results
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