Say it ain't so Wally!?!

by Match Day 5 on Nov 9, 2025 8:20 AM PST

I was stunned by the steroid revelation on ESPN last night. I'm sure others feel differently about him given how his career with the team ended but he was my childhood idol.

I only got to see him play once in a loss to Cleveland at the the old Municipal Stadium. All I remember is that Langston started, the Angels lost and Wally ripped two huge doubles off the right-center wall which were the only extra base hits of the game. I have two really crappy Polaroids of those hits. After the 8th my Uncle suggested that we leave to get ahead of the rush. I was disappointed and expected that my Dad, not an Indians or Angel fanatic by any means, would agree. Instead, he said we would stay for 2 more batters, for Wally's last at-bat.

I'm biased but I give him credit for not selling his soul and not becoming "Wally Juicer." He was a great player who wanted what he thought he was worth. When presented with the chance to artificially inflate his value he decided he didn't want to be that guy. Those are the kind of ballplayers that I want to root for.

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Agreed

I have a couple of personal memories of Wally Joyner. The main one is watching the first nationally televised Angels game of 1986. I couldn't believe the Angels were replacing the great Rod Carew (my favorite Angel player prior to that) with some guy named WALLY JOYNER (I was 10)? My brother was making fun of me saying how bad they're going to suck, etc etc. I don't remember what exactly he did that game, but I know it must have been good, because by the end of the game my brother and I were like "holy sh$$, this guy can play"... and we was my favorite player for the duration of his Angels career after that.

Another memory I have is some idiot throwing a knife at him in Yankees stadium (just another reason to hate the Yankees and their fans) after a Halo victory. The knife stuck in his shoulder. He grabbed it, threw it to the ground, and that was about it.

This brings me to discussion I was having with a Cubs fan the other day. Alot of teams/fans have that one guy they identify with more than anyone else. In our era, for the Cubs it's Sandberg, for the Yankees it's probably Mattingly or Jeter. He assumed Joyner was this guy for the Angels, but I didn't think so since he didn't spend his entire career there.

What are you guys' thoughts? I suppose Salmon might be the closest although these last couple years may have hurt him (too bad he didn't retire after '02), maybe a guy like Finley should be. Thoughts? Lots of possibilities from the 80s teams, but none really stick out to me. (Grich, Schofield, Doug D, Downing, etc)

by thewebb on Nov 9, 2025 9:27 AM PST reply actions

Team Signifier

That is an excellent issue you brought up - who was THE Angel.
60s - Fregosi
70s - Nolan Ryan
80-85 - Brian Downing / Rod Carew / Reggie Jackson
86-91 Wally Joyner
90s - 03 Tim Salmon
Now: Vlad

by Rev Halofan on Nov 9, 2025 11:57 AM PST reply actions

Help!

What is this diary about? Are you telling me that Joyner has admitted to steriod use? I don't have ESPN. Please advise.

Nolan Ryan for president!

by Dodger Hater on Nov 9, 2025 5:46 PM PST reply actions

here's the story...

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635159841,00.html

"I don't have to be nervous... It's a baseball game."

by proletariat on Nov 9, 2025 9:26 PM PST up reply actions

The Angel...

His injuries have decreased his profile lately but I gotta go with Garret Anderson. He similar enough to Vlad on stats and personality (meaning neither are jerks) but I give him the edge because he's not a transplant. In a few years that won't be such a big deal especially if he helps us win another WS.

My favorite GA moment came after he won the HR Derby in Chicago a few years ago. If you remember, they did that silly Century21 thing where they pair up a fan with a player and if that player wins then the fan wins a house. At the trophy presentation they take a second to ask the fan how he feels, etc. and instead of thanking GA, the fan throws out the old "Anythings possible through Christ", "Thank you Jesus" line. The interviewer and the Century21 people smile politely but GA turns and stares at the guy with a look that says "Excuse me but JC didn't hit those home runs, I did!!" I know GA's a religious guy but, like everything else, he doesn't wear it on his sleeve. He doesn't showboat and he doesn't brag, but don't think for a second that he's not a ferocious competitor.

by Match Day 5 on Nov 10, 2025 6:30 AM PST reply actions

j

90s: Finley, Salmon, DiSarcina in order.

Pre 90s: Autry
Aughts: Moreno

Eat My Angel Dust.

by Angels95 on Nov 10, 2025 11:01 AM PST reply actions

Danaheim...

That's a hard roll!!!!!!

I wish I could see the look on Garret's face for that one. Anyone have this taped?

by atomburn on Nov 10, 2025 3:17 PM PST reply actions

Derbies...

ESPN replays these things around all-star time but I doubt they show the whole trophy presentation. I wonder if one can purchase a video from them? It was definitely a classic moment.

by Match Day 5 on Nov 11, 2025 6:49 AM PST reply actions