1961 Front Office

OWNER
Gene Autry
1961 - 1997

1995 Gene Autry Autographed Angels ticket

After gaining huge success on radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades as The Singing Cowboy, Gene Autry became the owner of the MLB expansion team Los Angeles Angels in 1960. He had originally been interested only in broadcasting rights, but was persuaded to become the owner of the new team. After debuting in 1961 at LA's Wrigley Field, the team shared Chavez Ravine with the Dodgers. This led Autry to build his own stadium and in 1966 relocate the team to Orange County, renaming them the California Angels, then later the Anaheim Angels. Autry remained active in the front office until his death in 1997.


GENERAL MANAGER
Fred Haney
1961 - 1968

1991 Topps 1953 Archive

Fred Haney began his baseball career as a player in the Pacific Coast League in the '20s, and made it to the big leagues for parts of seven seasons. He followed his playing days with stints as manager for several teams, finally winning a World Series in 1957 with the Milwaukee Braves. He was chosen by Gene Autry as the Angels first General Manager when the American League granted an expansion franchise to Los Angeles. Haney was instrumental in selecting future stars such as Jim Fregosi and Dean Chance, and in keeping the team competative the first several years of it's existence.


DIRECTOR of SCOUTING/MINOR LEAGUES
Roland Hemond
1961 - 1970

Custom All-Time Angels Autograph card

Roland Hemond was hired as the Angels first Scouting and Farm Director by Fred Haney, who knew him from his managing days in Milwaukee. Hemond has been in baseball since 1951 serving in various roles with the Hartford Chiefs and Boston Braves, and then Assistant Farm Director of the Milwaukee Braves, prior to joining the Angels. After his days with the Angels he went on to become the General Manager of the Chicago White Sox (1970–85), Baltimore Orioles (1988–95), Senior Executive Vice President of the Arizona Diamondbacks (1996–2000), Executive Advisor to the General Manager of the White Sox (2001–2007), and President of the Association of Professional Baseball Players of America (APBPA). He twice was awarded Major League Baseball's "Executive of the Year" award and is credited with the original idea for the Arizona Fall League.

Custom Index card

Roland Hemonds response to questionaire