It's hard to say that any one part of and AngelsWin.com Spring Training Fanfest is any better than any other. Having the opportunity to hear Tim Salmon speak, listening to a round table discussion from members of the media, listening to Jerry Dipoto take questions from the fans all have their unique appeal.
But, there is one part of every AngelsWin.com Spring Training Fanfest that is truly special: The Dugout Talk With Tim Mead held on Sunday, after the Fanfest Dinner. As part of the festivities, AngelsWin.com fans are allowed into the stadium early in the morning on Sunday to watch the full batting practice and to hear Tim Mead talk about the organization.
Over the years, this Dugout Talk has evolved as the Angels have grown in national prominence and as the AngelsWin.com Spring Training Fanfest has grown in size. This year, there were over 100 fans lined up at 9:00 to get into the stadium to hear the speech. More importantly, they were given the opportunity to ask their questions to Tim Mead, the man affectionately known as the walking encyclopedia of Angels history.
This year, in his longest speech to the AngelsWin.com community, Tim Mead spoke about a wide range of topics, from the ticket prices to whether or not he would write a book when he is done with the Angels. He talked about his career and how others could have a similar career. At times he was very philosophical, and at other times humorous. It was a talk that all Angels fans should before the season gets underway.
Please click below to watch the full video of the 2013 Dugout Talk with Tim Mead.