Why I Became an Angels Fan

By Carl Gregory - AngelsWin.com Contributor

April 26, 2002

Ever notice one win can change your mind? The Angels won the final game of their series Wednesday, and suddenly I have had a spring in my step, and a smile on my face. My mood before wasn't so nice. Especially those two games against Oakland they should have won.

With the losses mounting, I've started to wonder why I became an Angel fan. My parents were indifferent to baseball, and my friends were mainly Dodger fans. It took sometime to remember.

It was back in the mid-seventies.

I was walking home from school one day when this older kid saw me and started angling over to me. I tried to change my course hoping to avoid him, but it was to no avail. He started walking with me, and by his ear was a small radio blaring an Angel game. The announcer doing the play by play, and most of the players I had never heard before. Every time the Angels got a hit or made a good play, he would announce to me "did you hear that?"

It didn't take me long to realize that he was mentally retarded. The announcer would warble that what's his name got a single. And now there were runners on first and third.

"Did you hear that?!!"

I told him yes, since it was impossible not to, and we walked a few more paces. I asked him questions about the players, and he was quite knowledgeable. Finally when we got to my house we said goodbye and he walked away, and suddenly he turned and nodded to his radio.

But even if this year the Angels slide out of contention, I will still be there for them. And as the new unknown announcers do the play by play, any time a good play is made or a solid hit, I will turn to anyone that will listen and remark:

"Did you hear that?!!"

Yes, I shouted back. Even though I was totally out of earshot of the radio.

Been an Angel fan ever since. I liked the Dodgers for a while, but quickly lost interest. I kept coming back to that team that always found a way to lose.

I saw my friend several times over the years, and he moved with his family to Texas. I hope he is still an Angel fan.

Someday the Angels will be in the World Series. Doesn't matter if they win or lose (OK it does J ). And there I am way up in the nosebleed seats looking down in wonderment. Sure people will tell me that they were always Angel fans, although every year they root for the team that wins the World Series.

That's my dream.

Can this be the year? Every April I believe so, and this year is no exception. If our pitchers can keep the balls in the park, and hitters can hit it out of the park, we have a chance. Of course that is easier said than done.

But even if this year the Angels slide out of contention, I will still be there for them. And as the new unknown announcers do the play by play, any time a good play is made or a solid hit, I will turn to anyone that will listen and remark.