<P> In 1962, under the terms of their agreement with O'Malley, the Angels moved to Dodger Stadium, which they referred to as Chavez Ravine . That year, the Angels were a contender for the American League pennant for most of the season . They led the American League standings on July 4 before finishing in third place, ten games behind the New York Yankees, who won their 27th American League pennant . On May 5 of that year, Bo Belinsky, who was as famous for his dexterity with the pool cue and his dating of Hollywood starlets (most particularly Mamie Van Doren) as for his pitching prowess, tossed the first no - hit game in the history of Dodger Stadium / Chavez Ravine, blanking the Orioles 5--0 . (Though raised in the Jewish faith, Belinsky later became a born - again Christian and counselor, advising against the lifestyle which once was his trademark .) </P> <P> In 1964, the Halos again finished fifth in the American League, and pitcher Dean Chance won the Major League Cy Young Award that year . The need for a new stadium became more evident . It was believed that the Angels would never develop a large fan base while playing as tenants of the Dodgers . Also, O'Malley imposed fairly onerous lease conditions on the Angels; for example, he charged them for 50% of all stadium supplies, even though the Angels at the time drew at best half of the Dodgers' attendance . </P> <P> Stymied in his attempt to get a new stadium in Los Angeles, Autry looked elsewhere . His first choice for a stadium was the site offered by the city of Long Beach . However, the city insisted that the team be renamed the Long Beach Angels, a condition Autry refused to accept . He was able to strike a deal with the suburban city of Anaheim in Orange County, and construction began on Anaheim Stadium (nicknamed The Big A by Southern Californians), where the Angels moved in 1966 . On September 2, 1965, team ownership announced the Los Angeles Angels would thenceforth be known as the California Angels, in anticipation of the team's move to Anaheim the following year . They were the second Major League baseball team to be named after an entire state, following the Minnesota Twins . At the time, though they were one of three major league teams in the state of California, the Angels were the only American League team in the state . (After the move of the Kansas City Athletics to Oakland in 1968 and the establishment of the San Diego Padres in 1969, the Angels retained their California moniker through 1996 despite any objections that other California teams may have had .) They were also the first Major League Baseball team established in California (the Dodgers and Giants were from New York, the A's were from Philadelphia via Kansas City, and the Padres were an expansion team in 1969 .) </P> <P> In their last year at Chavez Ravine, the Angels drew only 566,727 paying customers . In their 1966 inaugural year in Anaheim, the Angels drew over 1.4 million, leading the American League in attendance . In 1967, their second year in Anaheim, the Angels contended for the American League pennant as part of a five - team pennant race (along with Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota and eventual winner Boston) before fading in late August . Eventually the Angels became the "spoilers" by defeating Detroit at Tiger Stadium in the last game of the regular season to give Boston its first AL pennant in 21 years . In 1970 the Angels finished third in the AL Western Division and Alex Johnson became the first (and so far only) Angel to win an American League batting title . Other notable Angels of this period included pitchers Clyde Wright and Ken McBride, shortstop Jim Fregosi, outfielders Albie Pearson and Leon Wagner, and catcher Buck Rodgers . Fregosi and Rodgers later managed the Angels . </P>

When did the california angels change their name