Top 5 moments in Angel Stadium history

ANAHEIM -- The Angels have been playing at Angel Stadium since 1966, and there have been many unforgettable moments at the Big A over the years.

Here’s a look at the five best moments in Angel Stadium history.

1. Angels clinch World Series title
Oct. 27, 2002

After an epic comeback in Game 6, the Angels hosted the Giants for a Game 7 at Angel Stadium. Rookie John Lackey took the mound for the Angels and went five innings, allowing only one run on four hits to become just the second rookie in World Series history to start and win a Game 7. Bengie Molina hit an RBI double in the second inning and Garret Anderson ripped a three-run double in the next frame that proved to be enough for the bullpen combination of Brendan Donnelly, Francisco Rodriguez and closer Troy Percival. Percival retired Kenny Lofton on a fly ball to center fielder Darin Erstad to clinch the franchise's first and only World Series championship.

2. Angels rally in Game 6 victory
Oct. 26, 2002

While Game 7 relatively lacked drama, Game 6 had plenty of it, as the Angels appeared headed to a Fall Classic loss to the Giants before some late-inning heroics. The Halos were down 5-0 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, but they scored three runs in back-to-back frames to come away with a 6-5 win to set up the deciding Game 7 the next night. Scott Spiezio etched his name into Angels lore with a three-run homer off Felix Rodriguez in the seventh to spark the rally. Erstad smacked a leadoff homer in the eighth, and World Series Most Valuable Player Troy Glaus clubbed a two-run double to give the Angels the lead. The five-run comeback was the largest in the history of the Fall Classic in an elimination game.

3. Cole and Peña throw combined no-hitter to honor Skaggs
July 12, 2019

After the sudden death of left-hander Tyler Skaggs in Texas on July 1, the Angels returned home with heavy hearts to play the Mariners at Angel Stadium in their first home game since his passing. Skaggs’ mother, Debbie, threw a perfect strike as part of a ceremonial first pitch, which set the stage for an unforgettable night at the Big A with all Angels players wearing No. 45 to honor Skaggs. Taylor Cole served as an opener and threw two hitless innings before handing it over to Felix Peña. Peña completed the no-no with seven hitless frames in a 13-0 win. In a memorable and emotional moment, Angels players and coaches laid down their jerseys on the mound after the no-hitter to commemorate Skaggs’ legacy.

4. Kennedy slugs three homers in Game 5 of ALCS
Oct. 13, 2002

It was the best offensive postseason performance in club history, as Adam Kennedy crushed three homers against the Twins in a 13-5 win at Angel Stadium that sent the club to its first World Series appearance. Kennedy, who was batting ninth in the game and was 1-for-10 in the series prior to Game 5, had hit only 23 career homers in more than 1,600 regular-season games. But Kennedy found his stroke against the Twins, hitting a pair of solo homers off Joe Mays before delivering a crucial blow with a go-ahead three-run shot off Johan Santana in the seventh inning. He became just the ninth player to hit three homers in a postseason game.

5. Trout signs a 12-year contract extension
March 24, 2019

Mike Trout has undoubtedly been the best player of his generation and could go down as one of the best players in the history of the game, so it was one of the biggest days in club history when he signed a 12-year extension worth $426.5 million that would keep him in Anaheim through the 2030 season. The press conference was held outside Angel Stadium between the two oversized Angels caps near the home-plate entrance of the ballpark. That allowed fans to view the press conference and cheer on Trout for his decision to become an Angel for life.