Former Angels announcer to speak at church

NEWPORT BEACH — Rex Hudler, the former commentator for the Angels, plans to speak to nearly 100 high school boys at a church in Newport Beach this weekend.

The ninth- to 12th-graders are part of the three-year-old Newport Beach/Costa Mesa Beach City Services League.

The mission is to promote community service and teach real-life skills to help those in need, said Annie Quinn, whose son, Conner, 16, is part of the group.

Hudler, “the Wonder Dog” to Angel fans, will address the league at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. Since leaving the team’s broadcast booth in 2009, Hudler has been making motivational speeches across the country.

He often commands a pretty hefty price for his appearances, said Susan Friend, a mother who booked Hudler for the event.

“He was willing to do everything for free for us,” Friend said. “But then I felt bad and I found a corporate sponsor (Eagle Real Estate Group.) We’re going to pay him $1,000 now.”

Hudler, 50, played for a variety of professional baseball teams in the course of his career, starting with the New York Yankees in 1984 and ending his career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1998.

The journymen utility player also played for the Angels, who hired him in 1999 as a color guy alongside play-by-play announcer Steve Physioc.

“He’s such a popular speaker,” Friend said. “My boys and my husband are huge Angels fans.”

The speech will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday at the church, 600 St. Andrews Road