Becoming an Angels fan in Yankee country

[NJHalo 3,125]

So many people ask me how the hell I became an Angels fan, living in northern New Jersey, in the middle of Yankee country. Growing up, all my friends were Mets or Yankees fans.

Step 1: I got an Angels plastic batting helmet as a little kid. This was only because by the time my parents took me to get one, (they were all the rave at the time)  they were sold out of Yankees and Mets. So as a little kid, I cried and took the first one (alphabetically) that was available. Not happy, but the seed was planted.

Step 2: Joined little league baseball, and get drafted by the Angels. It was a sign. An old friend of mine shared this on Facebook, in honor of opening day, so I thought I would share it here. My first team picture.

 

 

[DMVol 2,548]

Great stories....all of us "out of area" fans have a story....mine starts with an uncle who lived in Santa Ana.....the Angels remain my connection to him (he passed away in 2003)...

[Chuckster70 20,946]

44 minutes ago, NJHalo said:

So many people ask me how the hell I became an Angels fan, living in northern New Jersey, in the middle of Yankee country. Growing up, all my friends were Mets or Yankees fans.

Step 1: I got an Angels plastic batting helmet as a little kid. This was only because by the time my parents took me to get one, (they were all the rave at the time)  they were sold out of Yankees and Mets. So as a little kid, I cried and took the first one (alphabetically) that was available. Not happy, but the seed was planted.

Step 2: Joined little league baseball, and get drafted by the Angels. It was a sign. An old friend of mine shared this on Facebook, in honor of opening day, so I thought I would share it here.

 

@NJHalo, I'm guessing at that time you still weren't sold.. Are you the kid on the top row, second from the left?

[Tferreri 21]

Same.. Bergen County, Ridgewood. I love rooting against all NY teams

[arch stanton 9,825]

And I ended up playing for a team called the Mets just a few miles from the Big A

[TobiasFunke 3,049]

Try rooting for the Angels in Dodgers country when you were a kid. Wasn't easy.

[arch stanton 9,825]

In the mid-70's everything outside the Autry household was Dodger country

[NJHalo 3,125]

52 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

@NJHalo, I'm guessing at that time you still weren't sold.. Are you the kid on the top row, second from the left?

LOL. I was sold. I am top row, second from right. It was late march here in NJ, so it was still cold out. I had the guns out as I wanted to look like my idol, Brian Downing!  I even had the #5 going.

I don't know whats up with the guy top row, second from left. He looks like he is asleep. Maybe his idol was Garrett Anderson

[NJHalo 3,125]

56 minutes ago, Tferreri said:

Same.. Bergen County, Ridgewood. I love rooting against all NY teams

Not me. Former season ticket holder for Rangers and Giants. Between that and my addiction to skiing, probably explains why I had almost nothing in the bank when I got married.

[Junkballer 543]

Cool, you played with Orel Hershiser, Jack Black, Stephen Baldwin and Greg Maddux (bottom row).

[NJHalo 3,125]

3 hours ago, Junkballer said:

Cool, you played with Orel Hershiser, Jack Black, Stephen Baldwin and Greg Maddux (bottom row).

Lol. I thought the guy in the middle had more of a Lloyd Christmas look to him

[Blarg 30,146]

Kid with the look is wearing the old uni and is not happy about it.