Angels fans: Be glad for Vlad
Guerrero chooses Angels over Expos and will be the first player to represent the team in the Hall of Fame.
There will be a halo in the Hall.
Vladimir Guerrero said Thursday he would wear an Angels cap on his Hall of Fame plaque, becoming the first player to do so.
The Angels, founded in 1961, were one of five current major league teams without their cap on a Cooperstown plaque. The others: the Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins (1993), Tampa Bay Rays (1998) and Washington Nationals (2005).
Guerrero, a nine-time All-Star, chose the Angels over the Montreal Expos. He played the first seven full seasons of his career in Montreal, where he posted better statistics than he did in his six seasons with the Angels.
However, he won his MVP award in Anaheim, where he played in the postseason five times. In his first winter as the Angels’ owner, Arte Moreno signed Guerrero as part of a $144-million freeagent spending spree.
Guerrero said he made his decision in part because the Expos no longer exist.
“I will forever be thankful to the Expos and to the beautiful people of the city of Montreal, sad that the team does not exist any more, and in a way it made the decision a little easier,” he said in a text message to The Times, via interpreter Jose Mota.
“But, with the Angels and how much Arte believed in me when he invested in me, the chance to win, the great memories with the playoffs, the fans, celebrating championships, that’s what drove me to this decision.”
Guerrero is the 11th former Angels player to be selected for the Hall of Fame; seven played three or fewer seasons with the Angels. Nolan Ryan played the longest in Anaheim — eight years — and the Hall identifies the Angels as Ryan’s “primary team.” The Angels retired Ryan’s number.
However, Ryan chose to enter the Hall of Fame representing the Texas Rangers, the team with which he pitched in his final five major league seasons.
Guerrero made the announcement in New York, where he joined Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones and Jim Thome at a news conference for the players elected Wednesday. The four players will join Jack Morris and Alan Trammell, each selected last month by a veterans’ committee, in the July 29 induction ceremony.
Moreno and his wife, Carole, attended Thursday’s news conference.
“Having Arte and Carole here meant the world to me,” Guerrero said, “especially because it was about supporting me as a person, supporting my family, and showing the same love — especially to my mom — that he showed us in Anaheim.
“I thank God that I signed late that offseason and landed with Mike Scioscia and a tremendous group of winners.”
Said Moreno in a statement: “This is such a proud and special day for Vladimir Guerrero, his family, his countrymen in the Dominican Republic and of course all Angels fans. His election into the Hall of Fame is so meaningful and impactful for so many.
“We are proud and privileged that he becomes the first player enshrined in Cooperstown wearing the Angels logo. He represented four quality organizations during his playing career and his induction is special for each.”