Smile of an Angel

The smile is wide and on Mike Scioscia’s face when he walks into the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario.

It’s the same smile that covered Scioscia’s face four months ago, just after the Anaheim Angels had won Game 7 of the World Series and become champions. It was the same smile that was on Scioscia’s face at the Disneyland parade and the Edison Field parking lot celebration and it seems as if that smile hasn’t left Scioscia’s face.

Why should it?

The accomplishment of 2002, of leading the anonymous Angels to one of the most unlikely championships in sports history, should be enjoyed. Scioscia has deserved every honor, every award, every free chicken dinner and pat on the back, every “Way to go, Mike,” that he heard, every “Atta boy,” and every “Let’s do it again.”

Scioscia was at a ballroom in this hotel Sunday night to be the guest of honor at the 2003 Hot Stove Banquet Benefit Gala. Hosts were the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the Angels’ California League affiliate. A jersey autographed by Scioscia was the most popular item in the silent auction, going for $425. Dozens of people left their prime rib and mashed potatoes getting cold as they lined up to get a Scioscia autograph.

And it is clear why Scioscia seems so taut and trim in his well-tailored designer suit. If this is how his winter has gone, Scioscia didn’t get a chance to eat. He spoke to each of the eager men and women, older ones in suits and ties, younger ones wearing T-shirts and sneakers, who wanted to touch Scioscia’s hand, whisper in his ear and get his signature.

The Angels report to Tempe, Ariz., for spring training this week. Scioscia will report as manager of the World Series champions.

It sounds strange still -- Anaheim Angels, World Series champions.

What Scioscia has learned in this most enthralling off-season is how much the Angels and their style of baseball, Scioscia’s style of baseball, has resonated. What Scioscia heard wherever he went -- on a local golf course, at a dinner in New York and anywhere in between -- was how much teamwork is appreciated by fans.

“I kept hearing all winter, what everybody liked was the style of our play, of our effort and the team ball,” Scioscia said. “So much of baseball has become the home run sensation and those type of home run offenses have become so prevalent. When something else comes along, something like us, I think it was a breath of fresh air.”

At this same banquet last year, 295 people didn’t fill the room. This year, 410 people paid $40 each and the room was overflowing. Winning helps, but winning the way the Angels did, as a unit and not a collection of singular stars, has made an impression.

The chatter of this crowd proved what Scioscia had been hearing.

“I’m trying to tell my high school kids to watch how fundamentally sound the Angels are,” said a man at one table.

“Mike Scioscia has a team in his own image,” said a man at another table.

Scioscia was an attentive listener as a parade of local high school softball and baseball players were honored. Scioscia paid attention and applauded. He laughed when it was recounted how Danny Dorn, the local baseball player of the year, had rooted for the Angels because young Danny had once sold peanuts at Edison Field.

This is what the manager of a nouveau riche team, a new arrival on the winning scene, does in the winter. He speaks to groups of tentative fans, the ones who are suddenly interested and who might become serious followers of the Angels, who might buy tickets, who might choose the Angels over the Dodgers.

Scioscia touches people, you can see this in a hotel ballroom on a Sunday night.

He is one of them. Scioscia is not fancy. He doesn’t act famous. He looks them in the eyes. He cares about what they say and what they think.

Scioscia made Danny Dorn’s father feel important. Dorn had told the story of his son’s peanut selling and had accepted his son’s award because Danny is now playing for Cal State Fullerton.

“Last season had some rough edges,” Scioscia said. “Mr. Dorn, I wanted to go up in the stands and sell peanuts and kind of hide out,” Scioscia said.

For nearly 30 minutes Scioscia answered questions and told stories. He was honest, he was funny, he spoke from the heart about attitude. “The type of player I’m drawn to is David Eckstein,” Scioscia said and the crowd applauded. A little boy had asked the question of Scioscia, “What kind of player are you drawn to?”

It was the right answer for the child who might be learning to play baseball, who might not have the athletic talent of a Darin Erstad but who might have the determination of an Eckstein.

Sometimes when sports teams have achieved extraordinary success, they aren’t the same. They become big-headed and cocky. Maybe they take things for granted. Maybe they expect privileges, maybe they get jealous of teammates, maybe they don’t want to lay down a bunt or run out grounders.

Don’t expect that from the Angels. Not from a team managed by Scioscia, who will look his players in the eye, tell them the truth and expect them to do what fans appreciated so much last year -- just play ball. Together.

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Diane Pucin can be reached at diane.pucin@latimes.com.

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*--* Dating Game Key dates: Pitchers and catchers report: Thursday Dodger spring opener: Feb. 27, vs. Detroit (at Vero Beach, Fla.) Angel spring opener: Feb. 28, vs. Seattle (at Tempe, Ariz.) Angel season/home opener: March 30, vs. Texas (5 p.m.) Dodger season opener: March 31, at Arizona (2 p.m.) Dodger home opener: April 7, Arizona (1 p.m.)

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