Doing the Math

This season will mark an impressive milestone in the history of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball franchise. This season, the southern California team will celebrate 50 years of various name changes, a World Series victory, and a plethora of on-field memories, however something about this doesn't seem right.

Both the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Angels, as they were called, came into existence in 1961. The Twins, who relocated to Minneapolis-St. Paul from Washington, celebrated their 50 years of baseball last year. However, the Angels will celebrate their fifty years this season. Are you as confused as I am?

If you started playing in 1961, then 1961 would be your FIRST year of playing. 1962 would be your SECOND, 1963 your THIRD, and so on. If the Angels and Twins sown patches on their uniforms to celebrate ten years of baseball playing in their current homes, they would do so in 1970 since that would be their TENTH year of existence.

To the right are patches released by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Minnesota Twins celebrating fifty years of baseball. I know 2011 - 1961 makes a nice round 50, but to celebrate FIFTY years of Angels baseball during your FIFTY-FIRST year of existence makes the party look, in the words of Jerry Seinfeld to Newman about his millenium party, "quite lame".

...this is sad, and I like the Angels!