The 1962 season opened at old Comiskey Park on the afternoon of April 10, 1962. A slew of the 1961 team was on hand and in the game, with only two players making debuts: Third Baseman Felix Torres and journeyman pitcher Joe Nuxhall (whose first major league game was in 1944). Torres got the start and would be a key player in a successful 1962 season, while Nuxhall got a strikeout in his 1/3 of an inning debut in the bottom of the 8th. In the 2nd game of the season, Frank Leja got the start at First Base, one of only 7 games in which he would appear to end his major league career.
The very next game saw a start by a pitcher named Witt. Not Mike, though, Red Witt (born George Adrian Witt in nearby Long Beach) got the start. His claim to fame was, as a Pirate, facing 15 batters as a reliever in the 1960 World Series and not allowing a run. Later in 1962's third game, Tom Burgess pinch hit for Witt's reliever, Dean Chance, but struck out in his Angel debut. A 6-5 Angel triumph over the Twins on April 15 saw starting Second Baseman Marlan Coughtry debut with an 0 for 4, 2 strikeout performance. He also made an error in the field.
46. Felix Torres
47. Joe Nuxhall
48. Frank Leja
49. Red Witt
50. Tom Burgess
51. Marlan Coughtry
52. Bo Belinsky
On Wednesday Night, April 18, 1962, 7,055 fans at Chavez Ravine saw the Angel debut of pitcher Bo Belinsky, victorious in the team's second home game of the season. Two and a half weeks later he would pitch a no hitter against Baltimore and become a national media sensation.
Another Angel would not debut until May 8, when Bob Botz provided 3 innings of shutout relief. Infielder Billy Consolo was purchased from the Phillies that day and made his debut on May 10 as a mid-game pinch hitter, singling and later scoring the go ahead run. Gordie Windhorn walked in his Angel debut, pinch-hitting on May 15. His last major league game would come 5 weeks later, sold to the Kansas City A's and sent to the minors.
The Twins traded pitcher Don Lee to the Angels (for Jim Donohue) on May 29, and Lee made his debut count, pitching a 2-hit complete game against the A's on June 8. On July 24 Dan Osinski pitched 2 innings of relief. The Angels had paid $35,000 and a player to be name later for him on July 21.
Pitcher Julio Navarro debuted in relief in the second game of a doubleheader on September 3rd in front of the announced Yankee Stadium Labor Day crowd of 56,964 - the biggest of the season there. Back home at Chavez Ravine on September 13, 17-year old rookie Ed Kirkpatrick grounded out as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 9th with his team down by one. Brutal! Fred Newman debuted in relief in the 5th inning on September 16 against the Tigers and walked Al Kaline before getting Rocky Colavito to ground into a double play. More good news: On September 21, Dick Simpson's debut came as a pinch hitter with men on - he singled and drove in a run! 19-year old Righty Bobby Darwin started the final game of the season, the 2nd game of a doubleheader Brutal!, lasting into the 4th inning while surrendering 6 earned runs. The brutality was thusly over.
53. Bob Botz
54. Billy Consolo
55. Gordie Windhorn
56. Don Lee
57. Dan Osinski
58. Julio Navarro
59. Ed Kirkpatrick
60. Fred Newman
61. Dick Simpson
62. Bobby Darwin