A STRIKING SUBJECT

What’s in store for Angel fans as the team begins its seventh season affected, in one way or another, by labor unrest? If history is indicative, it could be a long season. In 1985, the last time there were such problems, the team ended up just one game out of first. Before that, however, their showing was a good deal less stellar. Here’s how those labor-troubled seasons compare: Year: 1969 Type of Labor Unrest: 10-day player boycott of spring training Number of Regular Season Games Affected: 0 Angels’ Won-Loss Record: 71-91 Rank in the A.L. West Standings: third Number of Games Out of First Place: 26 Year: 1972 Type of Labor Unrest: Players’ strike Number of Regular Season Games Affected: 86 total; 13-day strike Angels’ Won-Loss Record: 75-80 Rank in the A.L. West Standings: Fifth Number of Games Out of First Place: 18 Year: 1976 Type of Labor Unrest: 17-day owners’ lockout of spring training Number of Regular Season Games Affected: 0 Angels’ Won-Loss Record: 76-86 Rank in the A.L. West Standings: Tied for fourth Number of Games Out of First Place: 14 Year: 1980 Type of Labor Unrest: One-week players’ boycott of spring training Number of Regular Season Games Affected: 0 Angels’ Won-Loss Record: 65-95 Rank in the A.L. West Standings: Sixth Number of Games Out of First Place: 32 Year: 1981 Type of Labor Unrest: Players’ strike Number of Regular Season Games Affected: 714 games total; 50-day strike Angels’ Won-Loss Record: 51-59 Rank in the A.L. West Standings: Fifth Number of Games Out of First Place: 13 1/2 Year: 1985 Type of Labor Unrest: Players’ strike Number of Regular Season Games Affected: Three-day strike; games rescheduled Angels’ Won-Loss Record: 90-72 Rank in the A.L. West Standings: Second Number of Games Out of First Place: 1 Year: 1990 Type of Labor Unrest: 32-day owners’ lockout of spring training Number of Regular Season Games Affected: Rescheduled Angels’ Won-Loss Record: ? Rank in the A.L. West Standings: ? Number of Games Out of First Place: ? ANGEL DUST SETTLED Except 1985, when they finished a game out of first place, the Angels have played five other seasons marred by strike, boycott or lockout since the introduction of divisional play in 1969. They finished an average of more than 20 games behind the Western Division leaders and only as high as third (at that, 26 games behind). In the 15 other seasons since 1969 (during which they won three divisional titles), the Halos have finished on average 14 games out of first. * Season with labor problems Source: The Baseball Encyclopedia, Joseph L. Reichler, MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., New York; the California Angels