ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – After 19 seasons on Sunday, Mike Scioscia has stepped down as Los Angeles Angels manager, ending the longest term in the league.

He guided the Angels for the only franchise series in the world in 2002.

The Angels sent him the winner in his last game, beating the Oakland Athletics 5 to 4 in the playoffs on the ninth round of the ninth round of Taylor Ward.

Scioscia was in the last year of his contract and his departure was expected. He said that he had spoken to his wife, Anne, and that he had made his decision at that time.

The Angels finished 80-82, the first time they had three consecutive losing seasons under Scioscia. They have not won a playoff game since 2009.

The owner of Angels, Arte Moreno, thanked Scioscia in a statement and said that he would still be part of the franchise family.

Scioscia hijacked the questions about the details of his departure, repeating that he only wanted to talk about the game that had just ended.

"It's amazing, it's amazing," he said about his tenure in Anaheim, tears sparkling in his hazel eyes.

Scioscia, two-time receiver of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1980 to 1992, thanked current and former players, coaches and Angels fans.

"I'm really happy, guys," he insisted as his voice broke. His wife was standing along the wall in the crowded room. Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun were among the players who sat down and listened.

Moreno credited Scioscia for helping the franchise evolve into what the owner calls "an elite organization."

"Mike's tenure as director of the Angels includes six division titles, a pennant and a world championship that has transformed this franchise, as well as its perception at the local and national levels," Moreno said in his statement.

Scioscia said that the success of the franchise during his term was not due to him.

"This game is not about the manager, the GM or the owner," he said. "The game is about the players and that will always be the case, we had guys who put everything in play, whether we were doing well or we were not going well, that's what I'm going to take from them."

Scioscia asked, "And then?" and then answered his own question, saying that he and his wife would go to dinner near their home in Ventura County. She said that there might be a surprise waiting for her and Scioscia joked that they would be joined by 30 of her closest friends.

When he did not become emotional, Scioscia's humor came out.

"I have nothing to do with today, with composition or pitch changes," he said. "It's probably why we won."