On Deck: New Image

They have a new name and logo, brighter team colors, with fresh uniforms and a remodeled home on the way. About the only thing left to do for the new owners of the California--er, Anaheim--Angels is some major make-over work on the baseball team’s losing record.

Angel President Tony Tavares said that part might take a while, even for the masters of magic at Walt Disney Co., which bought controlling interest in the team and took over management last month.

Standing in Anaheim Stadium, which is undergoing a $100-million renovation, Tavares helped unveil the new logo and name--as of Tuesday the team officially became the Anaheim Angels--and showed off stadium construction work.

But he acknowledged that all this might not mean much unless Angel bats get hot--the team this year finished 70-91 and last in the American League West. He shrugged at the glossy posters behind him that displayed a slick new red, white and blue Angel logo, complete with a wing and speeding white baseball over two gold bats.

“All of this is great, but really the only thing that’s going to dull the senses of a losing reputation is a winning team,” he said. “The colors, the new name, all of it’s hunky-dory. But unless you put winning people in those fancy new uniforms, who cares?”

Disney officials said they hope the new logo and the renovation, which will reduce the number of seats and make it a more intimate, traditional ballpark, will raise the spirits of the team and fans. Especially with the addition of “Anaheim” to the team’s name.

“The logo’s got to say something to the fans, and this one does,” General Manager Bill Bavasi said. “It’s got everything but apple pie in there.”

At least 200 ideas were scrapped in favor of the winning logo, which has a red-scripted “Angels” over a light-blue home plate with the word “Anaheim” above. In its 36-year history, the franchise has changed its name three times--from the Los Angeles Angels (1961-65 seasons) to the California Angels (1966-96) to the Anaheim Angels--and has sported six logos.

Tom McMillin, who helped design the logo with 25 others at Disney Consumer Products, said the look gives the feeling of fluidity and motion of the game.

“Baseball is a very traditional sport, so we tried not to go too high-tech or modern with anything,” McMillin said. “But at the same time, we wanted something fresh and contemporary, and I think we’ve found a nice blend of old and new.”

Likewise for the stadium, which is undergoing an 18-month overhaul.

Kevin Uhlich, the team’s director of operations, said the change will incorporate the advances of the country’s newest ballparks, with the charm and openness of the stadium’s birth in 1966, when the Los Angeles Angels moved to Anaheim and became the California Angels.

“We’ve had a lot of great years here,” said Uhlich, who started working for the Angels 18 years ago as a batboy. “This place was always pretty impressive. Now we want to bring it back around to those glory days again.”

By the first game in April, Uhlich said the stadium will seat about 30,000 people--down from the current 64,593--and have a “completely different feel to it” than before. Almost all of the outfield seating will be gone, the massive Jumbotron screen will be moved to right field, and 10 dugout-level suites may be completed. Restrooms, parking and most concession stands will be the same, he said.

“When fans come in here next year, it will be a much different experience,” Uhlich said. “But they won’t get the full taste of what it will really look like until the [1998] season.”

By then, the Big A will sport new club-level suites, at least 15,000 more seats, two upscale dining facilities with views of the field, new concession stands, luxury boxes and a patio with music and food where fans can “bring their tailgate parties,” Uhlich said.

Disney officials, however, are keeping quiet about other changes, including the new uniforms and a hush-hush “outfield extravaganza” event that will occur after each Angel home run.

“It’s going to be big,” said Uhlich, who hinted at the involvement of water and lasers. “But that’s all I can say.”

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The Evolving Angels Logo

Tuesday’s announcement of a logo change represents the sixth style in the franchise’s 36-year history. A look back:

1961-65

Name: Los Angeles Angels

Colors: red, white, navy and silver

1966-70

California Angels

red, white, navy and silver

1971-72

California Angels

red, white, navy and yellow

1973-92

California Angels

red, white, navy and yellow

1993-96California Angels

red, white, navy and silver

1997

Anaheim Angels

navy, periwinkle, medium blue, light blue, red, gold, bronze and white

Source: Anaheim Angels