No Change in Angels Name, Signers Say

Rep. Loretta Sanchez and 16 other members of the Orange County and Los Angeles County congressional delegations have issued a statement urging the Anaheim Angels not to change the team name.

The Anaheim City Council is investigating whether the Angels have broken the terms of the team’s lease with the city by removing “Anaheim” from jerseys, scoreboards and press releases.

In addition, the city has sent letters to the Angels and Major League Baseball seeking clarification of whether owner Arte Moreno wants to rename his team the Los Angeles Angels.

Both the Anaheim and Los Angeles city councils oppose the change. And, in a statement released over the weekend, Sanchez (D-Anaheim) and the other congressional leaders said:

“To change the name would not only be a breach of faith with the people of Anaheim and all Angels fans, it would be a breach of contract. Legal contracts are important, but there is something bigger in jeopardy. There is something in a name -- identity, pride, a sense of belonging, a sense of community.... Fans have made the call: The Angels are safe at home in Anaheim.”