Top-50 Greatest Moments in Angels Baseball: #48 – Chuck Finley becomes all-time Angels leader in Wins

Top-50 Greatest Moments in Angels Baseball: #48 - Chuck Finley becomes all-time Angels leader in Wins

“Fin to Win!” And he did. More than any other pitcher in Angels franchise history.

It was Tuesday evening, July 29,1997, when Chuck Finley took the mound in Cleveland to face an Indian lineup that included Manny Ramirez, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Matt Williams. In the bottom of the second inning, Finley gave up two runs on three hits — the only runs or hits he would surrender on the night en route to a 7-2 complete game victory. Jack Howell homered twice to pace the Halos.

In front of 42,975 at Jacobs Field, Finley upped his record to 10-6 on the season, but more importantly, he had just notched victory No. 139, surpassing Nolan Ryan as the team leader in career wins.

A five-time All-Star, Finley ended his Angels career with 165 wins — a record that still stands (and should for several more seasons — John Lackey is the team’s active leader with 79 victories.)

Chuck Finley Trivia – Finley is the only Major League pitcher to strike out 4 batters in one inning more than once, accomplishing the feat 3 times (twice as an Angel)

Anaheim Angels IP H R ER BB SO
Finley, W (10-6)      9    3   2   2     2    9

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