7 Baseball Players who Played for Yankees and Angels
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the Los Angeles Angels and the New York Yankees.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found 6 players who played for both the Angels and the Yankees.
Chili Davis
Chili Davis was a switch-hitting designated hitter and outfielder who carved out a noteworthy Major League Baseball career from 1981 to 1999. Davis spent his career with several teams, including the San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins, and California Angels.
Known for his power at the plate, Davis hit 350 home runs in his career and drove in over 1300 runs, finishing with a .274 lifetime batting average.
He was a three-time All-Star (Giants, Angels) and played a pivotal role in the Twins’ 1991 World Series victory (he also won rings with the Yankees in ’98 & ’99). With his consistent offensive production, Davis was an integral part of every lineup he joined.
Hideki Matsui
Hideki Matsui, known affectionately as “Godzilla,” was a prolific player in Major League Baseball from 2003 to 2012, following a successful career in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.
Most known for his time with the New York Yankees, Matsui made an immediate impact with his power hitting. He ended his MLB career with a .282 batting average, 175 home runs, and over 760 RBIs.
He was named to two All-Star teams (Yankees) and is perhaps most celebrated for his performance in the 2009 World Series, where he was named Most Valuable Player after hitting .615 with three home runs and eight RBIs in six games.
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson was one of my favorite baseball players growing up. In fact, somewhere in a closet, I have a baseball card binder with over 150 Rickey Henderson baseball cards.
Most of us probably remember Henderson as an Oakland A, back in the late 80s playing on the same A’s teams as the Bash Brothers.
But, he played for an incredible 25 years in the majors and played on 9 different teams during that span.
Rickey played 14 years with the A’s, but he also played for the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, LA Dodgers, Anaheim Angels, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays.
So, not only is he an acceptable answer for a player who played for both the Angels and the Yankees, but Rickey Henderson is a very versatile Immaculate Grid answer that you can use quite often.
In fact, he also had over 1400 career stolen bases, over 2200 runs and over 3000 hits (all of which could appear as possible categories).
Dave Winfield
When you have an amazing 22-year career, you usually find your way onto multiple teams over the course of that time.
Dave Winfield played for 6 different teams over the course of his Hall of Fame career – the Yankees, Padres, Twins, Angels (California Angels at the time), Indians (now Guardians) and Blue Jays.
Winfield led the league in RBIs with 118 in 1979 with the Padres (finished 3rd in MVP voting that year). He finished with over 1800 RBIs over his career.
Reggie Jackson
“Mr. October” Reggie Jackson is easily considered one of the best baseball players of all time.
The 14-time All-Star played for 4 different teams in his 20-year career – the Athletics, Angels (California Angels at the time), Yankees and Orioles.
Jackson is one of the all-time career home run leaders in MLB history with 563 and he also holds the all-time record with 2597 strikeouts. He was an MVP with the Athletics in 1973 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.
Bobby Abreu
Bobby Abreu, who played from 1996 to 2014, is most recognized for his time as an outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees.
Abreu had a productive career, collecting over 2400 hits, 288 home runs, and a .291 career batting average. He also amassed 400 stolen bases, making him one of only a few players to reach the 200-400 club in home runs and steals.
A two-time All-Star, Abreu won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger Award (all awards with the Phillies), demonstrating his balanced skill set. His best season might have been 2004, when he hit .301 with 30 home runs, 105 RBIs, and 40 stolen bases.
Rich Hill
Rich Hill is an Immaculate Grid beast. The left-handed pitcher has played for 13 different clubs over his incredible 19-year career – one that is still ongoing as I’m writing this (he’s currently pitching with the Padres).
Hill’s MLB journey began when he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2002. After making his major league debut in 2005, he had initial success with the Cubs, particularly in 2007 when he had a standout season. However, injuries, inconsistency, and command issues led to him bouncing around the minors and various MLB teams for several years.
After refining his pitching approach and mechanics, he experienced a career resurgence starting in 2015. At an age when many players see diminished returns, Hill became one of the most effective starters in baseball. This late-career renaissance led to stints with the Red Sox, Athletics, Dodgers, Twins, and Rays.
