Angels Name Attorney to Lead Ballclub : Baseball: Owner Gene Autry, 83, will make room for Richard M. Brown as president and CEO. Mike Port is retained as general manager.

Richard M. Brown was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Angels today, a move that means the duties of owner Gene Autry will be reduced.

Brown, 47, has been a member of the Angels’ board of directors since 1986 and the team’s legal counsel since 1981.

It was also announced at a news conference at Anaheim Stadium that Mike Port will continue full-time baseball activities as the Angels’ executive vice president and general manager.

“The baseball environment has exploded within the recent past with regards to both technical aspects and talent, search and evaluation requirements,” Port said.

“The new structure will enable me along with Dan O’Brien, senior vice-president of baseball operations, Bill Bavasi, director of minor league operations, and Bob Fontaine, our scouting director, to devote full attention to improving the Angels’ on-field product.”

As president, Brown will oversee the entire operation and be responsible to ownership.

Autry, who turned 83 last week, is a former singer and actor who has owned the Angels since they were formed as an American League expansion team in 1961.

“I am obviously honored by the Autrys’ confidence and the position entrusted to me,” Brown said. “My responsibilities will include a portion of the demands previously handled by Mr. and Mrs. Autry and a portion of the corporate administrative duties previously handled by Mike (Port).

“I hope to contribute to a bright new future in Anaheim with all my energies directed toward this goal.”