2023 Los Angeles Angels Spring Training

We volunteered for the Los Angeles Angels again this year at their Spring Training facility in Tempe, Arizona.

Our first event was a welcome dinner held at the stadium. 

 

While we were eating RigaTony's and freezing our butts off, some of the players were running up the hill of The Buttes Marriott Tempe hotel which is visible from the stadium.

Spring Training Schedule

Adam Chodzko, Senior Director of Communications
 for the Los Angeles Angels spoke at our dinner.

Arnold and Dennis, our retired leaders

Opening game of Spring Training!

It was great to see the players warming up on the field again after it was stopped during Covid. 

Mike Trout

Mike Trout and other outfielders

Jo Adell

 

 

Anthony Rendon (center)

Batting Practice

Our new Tempe Diablo Volunteer Leaders (Doug & Rich)

Team meeting for the Tempe Diablo Volunteers at the first game

Lineup

Janie & Jim were back for another Spring Training season.

This lady from the Air Force did an amazing job singing the National Anthem.

My view of the games

Taylor Ward at the plate and Trout on deck

Ohtani at the plate

For all of the games leading up to the Baseball World Classic, we got to see Mike Trout's wife, Jessica, and his son, Beckham seated in our section. 

(They are not in jail, this is a railing around the handicapped section)

Look at his little Trout jacket

I love this photo that Al captured.

Taylor Ward's wife and daughter in the foreground
but look at the batting gloves in Beckham's back pockets!  Too cute!

 

Jessica told Al it was all his idea to put those gloves there just like his dad!

 

My two supervisors, Dennis and Joe, making sure I don't make any mistakes.

 

Tim Salmon was at batting practice

Tim Salmon and xxxx

Ohtani and Trout (see red arrows)

We celebrated Al's birthday again with a message on the scoreboard.

Coach, Phil Nevin, answering reporters questions

The quiet stadium before a game.

The Trout's

Mike Trout looking back to see if Beckham is watching him.

Al and Randy

Al, Dennis, and Brad

Al talking with Taylor Ward's Dad (super nice guy)

 

Al was just talking with this guy and it ends up being Left Fielder, Taylor Ward's Dad.
Taylor Ward's Dad was in town for some of the games and we talked with him several times.  Before he left to fly back to one of the Carolina's, he gave us a Taylor Ward autographed baseball card.  That was nice.

On an off day, we needed a baseball fix so two other couples and us went to Sloan Stadium in Mesa to catch the Angels play the Chicago Cubs. 

Jan & Dave Abbott, Linda & Randy Etzel, and us

At the Cubs game, we ran into a friend we met at the Angels game, Craig, who films a lot of the Angels interviews during spring training.  He was at the Cubs stadium to catch some footage of the Angels. 

Dave & Jan, Nancy, Craig, Linda & Randy

 

 

 

 

 

Dave and Al

Unfortunate for us but good for Cubs Fans, Dave & Jan, the Cubs beat the Angels 0-2.  It was fun for us all to get together and support our teams.

We had a visitor, our friend, John, from Tucson was driving by on the I-10 coming back from California and stopped in to catch a few innings at the park.

John and Al

Unfortunately after the first few games, the Angels went back to practicing and warming up on their other fields on the property.  The players are harder to watch from these fields as they have them blocked off for spectators.  Occasionally a pitcher would throw a ball to the fans watching from afar.

Nancy & Linda out for our pre-game walk to the outer fields

This year we had a unique opportunity to watch a practice game for Team USA in the Baseball World Classic play against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

 

Starting Lineup for each team

Fans waiting to see the Team USA Lineup

Weird to see Mike Trout on the opposing team at this game.

Mike signing autographs by third base.

Mike Trout on Team USA

Team USA third baseman Nolan Arenado (from the St Louis Cardinals), hit a third-inning
grand slam in a 6-0 victory over the Angels

Once the World Baseball Classic began, many of the best players in baseball were with the teams of their country so we missed seeing them play either for or against the Angels this spring.  But, Spring Training continued on without them.
 

This year I ran into a woman who also worked at Experian, April.  I didn't know her well but recognized her walking around at the stadium before the game.  Turns out she had tickets in my section!  Small world!

Nancy and April

I also got a visit again this year from my "sister", Teresa

Janie & Jim watching the game.
It's getting harder for Jim to get around.
I hope they will be back again next spring.

 

Janie made me cry when she was leaving after the last game, she gave me her Angels earrings.  Sweet couple who I hope to see again next spring.

One of my jobs at the game is writing the starting line up.
Good handwriting is becoming a rare skill.

Al, Nancy, Linda, Randy, and Brad

Brad works as a parking attendant at the games and he's always ready to lend a hand for whatever is needed at the game.

I got a little compliment when the Tempe Tourism social media coordinator asked to use one of my photos from Instagram.  

 

This is the Angels Opening Day roster.  After knowing how the season went, there were so many injuries.

Nancy and Linda

2023 Tempe Diablo Baseball Volunteers Team Photo (by Al)
Nancy, Linda, and Randy (front and center)

It was another fun time volunteering for the Angels Spring Training games.  This was our fifth year with the team.   

 

Next up I'll fill in how we spent the rest of our time over the winter in Mesa, Arizona.