Will Anaheim Mayor Play His Playoff Role?

The hometown mayor’s role in the baseball playoffs is largely ceremonial. There’s usually a silly wager thrown in for good measure. And, during games, mayors are shown in tense moments biting their nails along with the rest of the crowd.

But if the first-place Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim qualify this week for postseason play, the team might be without its designated cheerleader -- Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle.

Pringle, an avid sports fan, has yet to attend a game since Angel owner Arte Moreno decided to change the club name from the Anaheim Angels to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. So far, the mayor is mum on his postseason plans.

The city has sued the team to restore the Anaheim name. Trial is set for Jan. 9.

“It’s a very difficult situation,” Pringle said. “It’s important for the community to support the team, but I’m personally not attending. It’s a challenge to be there when you’re suing the team.”

Of course, it’s one thing to miss a mid-July game against a basement-dwelling ballclub.

It’s entirely different to ask a true fan to give up prime seats in October -- as the home team chases the pennant and the World Series.

“It’s breaking my heart,” said Councilman Richard Chavez, who also has skipped every game this season. “But yes, I will continue my boycott. I can’t believe the words are coming out of my mouth. There’s a lot of talent on that team; they have huge potential. I’d love to watch them.”

Under the team’s lease, the City Council and the mayor’s office are provided complimentary suites to all regular-season home games; playoff tickets would be bought at face value. Pringle and most council members have been giving their tickets to nonprofit organizations and family members.

Chavez said he had given his tickets to local organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club and the Eli Home children’s shelter. But Chavez’s parents have been the biggest beneficiary of his boycott, attending more than two dozen games in the city’s suite.

“This whole dispute has been a real blessing for my parents,” he said. “They love the Angels.... I encourage fans to go to the games, but this was my personal way of protesting what I think is poor behavior on the part of the owner. I firmly believe Arte Moreno has taken advantage of the taxpayers.”

Councilman Harry Sidhu is no fan of Moreno’s either. He catches the games on television and radio, but isn’t going to the stadium. “For me to go out and support his team and to hear that name, Los Angeles Angels ... makes me mad,” he said.

Council members Lori Galloway and Bob Hernandez have temporarily put their differences aside and attend games in the city’s suite behind home plate.

“I don’t want the lawsuit to affect my support of the team,” Galloway said. “It’s not the team’s fault. I’m very proud of the Anaheim Angels.”

But with playoff tickets selling out Monday, and the Angels on the brink of clinching the American League West, staying away from the ballpark is becoming harder for Anaheim officials.

Pringle has skirted questions all year about whether he would attend any Angel games. He won’t even call it a boycott.

Even now, Pringle is hedging his bets on whether he will relent and take his seat in the city’s suite.

“I do not want to undercut the success of the Anaheim Angels in our city,” Pringle said. “We’ve made sure there are banners up on city light poles supporting the baseball team. It’s important that our legal dispute is on a separate plane, and we certainly want our team to be successful.”

Jack Pitney, professor of government at Claremont McKenna College, said he didn’t envy the position Pringle and his colleagues find themselves in.

“If I were in their shoes, I’d be torn too,” he said. “On the one hand, you want to uphold the city’s position. But on the other hand, you want to support the local team. City officials face a genuine dilemma.”