Anaheim Is Site of 1989 All-Star Game : But Ueberroth and the Autrys Miss the Delayed Announcement

You don’t cut the ribbon at the new library when the mayor’s on vacation, and you don’t plan to stick Paul Newman’s hand in cement while he’s shooting on location in Tunisia, which is why the Angels waited until Wednesday to announce they would be the host team for the 1989 All-Star game.

They knew they were getting the game last spring but were waiting for Commissioner Peter Ueberroth to give the official word. Ueberroth, an Orange County resident, wanted to make the announcement himself, so the Angels delayed the press conference until after the World Series, when Ueberroth was finished checking out the field boxes in the Metrodome.

A date of Oct. 27 was set, then postponed. Sorry, Ueberroth said, he couldn’t make it.

So a second announcement was scheduled for Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day. And the commissioner said that was good. He’d just swing on by on his way to Hawaii, shake hands with Angel owner Gene Autry and pose for pictures.

Well, Nov. 11 came. The Angels held their press conference Wednesday.

Ueberroth wasn’t there. Neither was Autry.

Claiming he was detained in New York on business, Ueberroth was a no-show and had to send his regards via video cassette. Meanwhile, Autry and his wife, Jackie, were at home with the flu.

So, the reporters who gathered at Anaheim Stadium were handed a typewritten statement from Autry--”We’re delighted to host this major event”--and treated to a five-minute video of Ueberroth and American League President Bobby Brown talking into a camera from New York.

“I’m with you in spirit,” Ueberroth said. “I’d like to announce that the California Angels and the city of Anaheim have been selected to be the site of the 60th All-Star game. The date will be Tuesday, July 11, 1989 . . . and it’s a great event for Orange County. It (1989) is their centennial year, and as a resident, this gives me an excuse to go back home.”

This will be the second All-Star game held at Anaheim Stadium. The Angels also played host to the 1967 game, which is remembered as the longest All-Star game ever played. The National League won in 15 innings, 2-1.

“We’re glad to get it back,” said Tom Seeberg, Angel vice president in charge of public relations. “To get this game in 1989, we started our appeal in 1983. A lot of cities bid for it, but I think the commissioner weighs all the contributing factors. The centennial tie-in really helped us.”

So, at least in one respect, the Angels had the right timing.