History
1965-1968
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Seattle continued success on the field. The Angels, being managed by Bob Lemon, in 1965 finished just two games out of first and won Seattle's last PCL championship in 1966. Even with the apparent success, the team did not capture the hearts of the city. Television was showing more major league baseball and drawing fans from Sick's Stadium to their living rooms. Players developed during this era were not as well known to the fans, but some did stand out such as Jay Johnstone, Rick Reichardt, John Olerud, Sr., Roger Craig, Stan Williams, Chuck Cottier, Tom Burgmeier, Jim Bouton, and Earl Averill, Jr.
Bouton was a former major league pitcher who, after hurting his arm during spring training in 1965, ended up in AAA Seattle after being released by the Yankees in 1968. While at Seattle he began to work on the knuckleball in hopes of returning to the majors with a pitch to replace his once effective fastball.
Earl Averill, Jr. is the son of local hero and hall of famer Earl Averill, also known as the "Earl of Snohomish". Averill was finishing his professional baseball career in his home town after playing in the major leagues from 1956 to 1963.
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Another interesting note for the Seattle Angels was their coach, Jimmie Reese. He began his baseball career with the Oakland Oaks in 1924 as a second baseman. Reese played a total of 13 seasons in the Pacific Coast League. During that time he also spent three years in the majors. In 1930 he began with the Yankees and continued with them through 1931. While with New York, Jimmie will be remembered for really one thing, he was Babe Ruth's roommate. In 1932 finished his major league career as a player with the St. Louis Cardinals. Reese never left the game he loved and in 1972, the California Angels brought him up to become one of their coaches. There he would stay with the game he loved so much until his death in 1994 at the age of 92.
During this time Seattle was lobbying hard for a major league for the next expansion. Finally at the owners winter meeting in 1967, the city was awarded a team. The Seattle Pilots would begin play in 1969 at an enlarged Sick's Stadium with a new domed stadium to begin construction. Little did the city know at the time that their dream would lead to heartache.