In 1977, Baylor signed with the California Angels as a free agent. He led the American League (AL) with 139 runs batted in (RBIs) and 120 runs in 1979, and he was an AL All-Star. He won the AL's MVP award, gaining 20 of 28 first place votes and led the Angels to their first-ever AL Western Division title. After Tommy John allowed three runs through the first three innings of the ALCS against the Brewers, Baylor came up to John and said, "If you hold them to three runs, I'm personally good for four runs against [Milwaukee starter Mike] Caldwell." Baylor, in fact, had five RBI as California won 8–3. John called him the team's "catalyst".