Angels Tell Palm Springs Officials About Trip to Florida

PALM SPRINGS â€”  The sabers are rattling louder around the Cactus League.

Monday, Angel representatives met with Palm Springs officials to discuss the results of their recent Florida “fact-finding� tour and today, acting Arizona Governor Rose Mofford will meet with the eight Cactus League owners to discuss the future of their league.

“I think Arizona is finally realizing how serious a problem this can be,� said Kevin Uhlich, Angel manager of stadium operations. “Now, they’re trying to do something to save the Cactus League.�

Uhlich and Angel executive vice president Michael Schreter spent three days in Florida last week, visiting cities along the Gulf Coast and listening to sales pitches. According to Uhlich, six cities in the Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach areas made the Angels proposals to build the club a new training complex by 1990.

Each of the other seven Cactus League clubs have also received offers to move to Florida, with the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs reportedly giving them serious consideration.

“It’s no secret that the Florida cities have been very aggressive,� Uhlich said. “Their proposals to us have been very impressive.�

“People are asking me, with all these proposals, why even listen to Palm Springs? If Palm Springs can put the money together to improve the complex here, we don’t know.

“Today was a chance to let the people from Palm Springs know what they’re up against.�

The Angels’ spring-training lease with the City of Palm Springs expires in December, 1989, and the Angels are asking for a reported $10,000 in improvements at Angels Stadium, including another full practice field, a larger clubhouse, a larger press box, expanded seating capacity and more parking.

Uhlich said the city has made no counter-proposal, but called Monday’s meeting “very positive. I think the city now realizes the seriousness of the situation. Right now, we’re leaving it in the hands of Palm Springs.�

Uhlich said the Angels will reach a decision by the end of the year--�Building a new complex is about a 14-month project,� he says--and offered a handicap of the current derby, just to make sure Palm Springs got the point.

“The only proposals we have received have been from Florida,� he said. “Obviously, if we had to decide right now, Florida would be a clear-cut winner.

“The next move is up to Palm Springs.�