Fans Cheer Angels as Team Returns Home

A few dozen faithful fans gathered at the airport here Thursday afternoon, decked out in team jerseys and jackets and hats and pins, to welcome the Angels home to California.

They may have lost in Boston, but to these fans--just 50 or 60 strong--they were still the favorite.

“I just think that the Angels are the best team in the West,” said Jerry Greenberg of Moreno Valley.

The fans were as loud and enthusiastic as their fallen heroes were somber after the long trip home.

“It’s been a great year, and we’re going to keep supporting them,” said Tony Bautista of Anaheim.

Not far away, in an airport conference room, 8-year-old Brandon Downing waited for his father, outfielder Brian Downing, to arrive. What would he say to help his dad cheer up?

“He almost won,” Brandon said. “He tried hard.”

“I’ll say, ‘Don’t quit baseball,’ ” Brandon said, noting that his own Little League team had come in second. “We almost came in first, but we lost. I was real mad.”

The small crowd’s cheers grew progressively louder as the charter flight touched down, taxied and stopped at Gate 15. Then the cabin door opened and Gene Autry, president and chairman of the board, led his troops off the plane.

“We never really got into it,” Autry said, blaming cold weather, travel and late starts for the Angels’ poor performance in Boston’s Fenway Park. “I think we left it back in Los Angeles.”

Players hardly looked up as they rounded the nose of their jet and walked to buses waiting nearby. Center fielder Gary Pettis signed an autograph and hustled out of the terminal. Bob Boone, the veteran catcher, told reporters the flight home had been uneventful.

“People were playing cards, a little bit of horsing around,” he said. “It’s very disappointing when you put your heart out on the line. . . . “

Some of the fans said they were disappointed that the players didn’t acknowledge their presence at the airport. Others were dismayed that they were part of such a small group.

“If they had won, there probably would have been 64,000 people here,” said Roberta Ortiz of Montclair.

Ken Brady of Rancho Cucamonga was there, though, and he brought his two young sons.

“Basically,” Brady said, “we’re here to get one last look at a real good baseball team before it’s dismantled. . . . For the last five or six years, (this) has been one of the best teams in baseball. It’s hard to see the end of that.”

Before the plane arrived, several fans speculated about the future of this team-- their team--with nine veteran players not yet signed to play next year.

“When they re-sign players like Brian Downing and Doug DeCinces, with players like (Mike) Witt and Pettis, the team is going to be awesome. And we’ll take Boston next year,” Greenberg said.

Next year.

As Lisa Witt, wife of the Angels pitcher, said: “I did hear spring training is in 12 weeks.”