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As I anxiously await opening day of America’s past time my mind wanders to such critical concerns as the name of our local team. If you have read any of my stuff you will understand that I am a strong free market capitalist. That doesn’t mean that I like every decision that is made for business purposes. I understand WHY Angel’s owner Arte Moreno made the name change from Anaheim Angels to the ridiculous “Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim” – it was purely and simply to make more money marketing the team. The decision still ticks me off.
I have been to Anaheim Stadium for every season of Angel’s baseball. I am old enough that I was there for Mickey Mantle bat day when they gave every kid in attendance a full size wooden bat (I cringe thinking about what would happen if they tried to do that today). I remember the glee from hearing 45,000 fans pound those bats against the stadium in rhythm to the play of the organist. I remember learning to keep score sitting in the outfield seats – a skill I wish I had never learned as I sit keeping score at all of my kids’ games. I remember the smell of the fresh grass, the peanuts and the oddly out of place space capsule that used to occupy the area out beyond center field. All of those things took place in Anaheim – NOT Los Angeles.
True the Angels started out in LA playing first a little Wrigley Field and then sharing Dodger Stadium for a couple of seasons, but the Angels have been a key thread in the fabric of life in the OC for almost a half century. I live in Orange County for a reason – I like it here. I also don’t live in LA for a reason – LA is the place you go if the show you want to see isn’t going to make it down to the Performing Arts Center and that is about the only reason to go there. Lots of people disagree with me and that’s OK – its a free country and we are all entitled to our opinions.
By the way, if we want to “earn” a quick strip search, just ask the officers working the stadium at game day if they work for the “Los Angeles Police of Anaheim.”
I normally agree with about 1% of what you write, but this time I agree with you 100%.
I am 32, born and raised and have never lived anywhere but the OC. But you have to understand why they did it. Having LA in the name instantaneously made the team far far far more profitable because of TV Contracts and the like. It is NOT a coincidence that they got a much better TV contract as the LA Angels. It is NOT a coincidence that since becoming the LA Angels they have enjoyed their most productive decade ever and yea I know they won the WS as the Anaheim Angels.
And oh yea this is coming from someone with front row season seats in the Diamond Club that have been in my family since the Angels moved to Anaheim.