Angels’ New Home Taking Shape in Anaheim

Feb. 23, 1965 - A $24 million stadium, the future home of the Los Angeles Angels, is rapidly taking shape among the citrus groves of Orange County.

Just across the Santa Ana Freeway from Disneyland, a crew of 300 workmen have hollowed out the diamond and erected part of the stands. The Angels are scheduled to start playing in the stadium April 10, 1966.

Progress has been so rapid in the first six months — ground was broken last Aug. 31 — that the infield grass probably will be planted by next July 1.

“We’re almost two months ahead of schedule,” Bob Reynolds, the club president, said. “We are confident that, with this extra time, we will be able to have one of the finest playing fields in America ready to go on opening day in 1966.”

Anaheim Stadium — it’s being built by the City of Anaheim and leased to the Angels for 35 years — is proving simple to construct compared with Walter O’Malley’s Dodger Stadium, where the Angels have been tenants and will continue to play this season.

Dodger Stadium, set in Chavez Ravine, required extensive excavating, whereas the future Angels’ park, on flat, loamy terrain, does not need so much.

The three-level stadium will seat 45,000, with portable bleachers intended to increase the capacity to 62,000. The increase probably will come after an American Football League team moves in to share occupancy, perhaps by the fall of 1966.

“The American Football League owners showed a great deal of interest in our presentation at their recent meeting in Houston,” said Cedric Tallis, the Angels’ business manager.

It is not clear yet whether the San Diego Chargers will shift their franchise or whether a new team will enter the AFL’s Western division. Anaheim Stadium is 30 miles from Los Angeles, 90 miles from San Diego.

This may seem as if the stadium were in the boondocks, but it is surrounded by freeways, making it accessible (35 to 40 minutes) from downtown Los Angeles and an hour and a half from San Diego.

One thing the Angels have assured their landlords and would like the rest of the American League to know: they will not be known as the Anaheim Angels nor Los Angeles Angels.

Three names are under consideration: the Golden West Angels (the club is owned by the Golden West Baseball Company), the Southern California Angels, and the California Angels.

Precedent, as with the Minnesota Twins, and brevity would seem to favor California Angels.

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