Ardell spent most of that year in the lower minors, but was recalled for a seven-game Major League trial in September.

[1] Ardell threw and batted left-handed and was listed at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and 195 pounds (88 kg).

He was signed by the Angels on July 15, 1961, after his college baseball career at the University of Southern California.

He was one of two players signed off the campus of 1961 NCAA tournament champion USC that season; Tom Satriano, who joined the Angels a week after Ardell, would fashion a ten-year Major League career.

Ardell was loaned to the Class D Artesia Dodgers for the 1961 season (where he batted .240 in 33 games) before his September recall.