1979 California Angels season

The 1979 California Angels season was their 19th in Major League Baseball. The Angels reached the postseason for the first time by winning the American League West Division with a record of 88–74, three games ahead of the Kansas City Royals in Jim Fregosi's first season as manager. The Angels were defeated by the Baltimore Orioles 3–1 in the 1979 American League Championship Series. Don Baylor had an outstanding season, playing in all 162 games, scoring 120 runs (tops in the American League), hitting 36 home runs and driving in 139 runs (also leading the American League) on his way to being named the American League Most Valuable Player, gaining 20 of 28 first place votes.

Offseason

 * December 4, 1978: Ron Jackson and Danny Goodwin were traded by the Angels to the Minnesota Twins for Dan Ford.
 * January 9, 1979: 1979 Major League Baseball draft
 * Al Newman was drafted by the Angels in the 3rd round.
 * Otis Nixon was drafted by the Angels in the 1st round (4th pick) of the secondary phase, but did not sign.
 * January 29, 1979: Bobby Jones was released by the Angels.
 * February 3, 1979: Ken Landreaux, Dave Engle, Paul Hartzell, and Brad Havens were traded by the Angels to the Minnesota Twins for Rod Carew.
 * March 27, 1979: Willie Davis was signed by the California Angels as a free agent.

Notable transactions

 * April 19, 1979: Curt Brown was signed as an amateur free agent by the Angels.
 * May 4, 1979: Dave Chalk was traded by the Angels to the Texas Rangers for Bert Campaneris.
 * July 31, 1979: Terry Humphrey was released by the Angels.

Game log

 * - style="text-align:center;"
 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Postponement Bold = Angels team member

Starters by position
''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Other batters
''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

ALCS
The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Angels, three games to one.

Postseason game log

 * - style="text-align:center;"
 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Postponement Bold = Angels team member

Awards and honors

 * Don Baylor, American League MVP

Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Salt Lake City