Personal Security Becomes a Priority

In 21st-century America, where major leaguers are not only athletes but wealthy celebrities, managers and coaches aren’t the only ones preparing players for the season. Kevin Hallinan, the security chief of major league baseball, met with Angel players Thursday as part of his tour of spring training camps.

Hallinan covered a variety of issues, including security at home and at the ballpark, firearm safety and prevention of identity theft, the latter a particular concern because criminals would love few things more than discovering the Social Security number of a millionaire athlete, assuming his identity and accessing his line of credit.

“We have noticed that phenomenon with professional athletes and entertainers,” Hallinan said.

Hallinan distributed a card for players to keep in their wallets, with numbers to call in case of any incident, at any hour. He also assured players that officials were worrying about stadium security so that players could focus on the game.

“We’re on the highest alert, but we don’t want to transfer that paranoia to our fans and our players,” he said.

Hallinan and his staff have met with officials from Edison Field and every other venue in the major leagues, as well as with local police agencies, the FBI, Secret Service and hazardous materials experts in an effort to anticipate and prevent incidents as well as respond quickly to them. The Angels, for instance, screen all mail and thoroughly search Edison Field before gates open for each game.

“We don’t have to have a tank in front of every park,” Hallinan said. “We have to do the things behind the scenes before the fans even get there.”

*

Terry Smith, one of the Angels’ new radio voices, was so excited to get to spring training that he drove to Arizona from his Ohio home and got here four days before his first broadcast. Smith got his call-up to the major leagues after 19 years of broadcasting the triple-A Columbus Clippers.

“I wondered if I was ever going to achieve my dream,” he said. “I had people tell me the only reason dreams don’t come true is if you give up on them. I never did. It’s very gratifying.”

*

The Angels’ radio broadcasts start with today’s Cactus League game against the Seattle Mariners. Smith and Rory Markas handle the English broadcast on KLAC (570), with KPLS (830) airing games when KLAC airs the Lakers. Ivan Lara and Jose Mota handle the Spanish broadcast on XPRS (1090).

The Angels defeated Cal Poly Pomona in an exhibition Thursday, 10-2. Aaron Sele and Scott Schoeneweis each pitched a scoreless inning, and Jorge Fabregas caught them both, but otherwise the Angels gave their veterans the afternoon off and fielded a lineup of minor league hopefuls.

Sele needed only nine pitches to finish his inning, but he wouldn’t have been bothered if a couple of hitters had taken him deep.

“As long as you come out of spring training healthy, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “In my first two or three outings, I’m just working on what I need to work on. If I give up hits, I don’t really care. If I give up home runs, I don’t really care. I don’t need to come out of spring training with a 3.00 ERA.”