Obama Campaign, 1979 Angels and 'Yes We Can!'
The Barack Obama presidential campaign likes the expression, "Yes We Can!" His supporters often chant it. Kinda catchy.
Long-time Angels fans could tell you all about it.
The first group to latch on the phrase "Yes We Can!" were fans of the 1979 California Angels (as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were known then).
Angels fans chanted "Yes We Can!" for the final weeks of that memorable season. They rocked the stadium, actually, with the chant. Right up to the night the club clinched the Western Division.
It was a slogan that fit the franchise aptly because its history had been one big stretch of "No We Can't" -- the club didn't make a postseason appearance until that year, 1979.
Just as the Rally Monkey was associated with the 2002 Angels, "Yes We Can!" was the earmark of the 1979 Angels. The team of Don Baylor, Rod Carew, Bobby Grich, "Disco" Dan Ford, Carney Lansford, Brian Downing, Rick Miller, Nolan Ryan, Frank Tanana, Don Aase and Mark Clear. Managed by Jim Fregosi.
Where "Yes We Can" came from, I don't recall. It seemed to be almost spontaneous.
But it was a constant refrain the final month of the season ... and right into the playoffs, which the Angels lost to the Baltimore Orioles, 3-1, in a best-of-five series.
Oh, and if you're nostalgic for the whole period ... somebody on eBay is selling a "California Angels Yes We Can" 12-inch vinyl LP. (Narrated by the late Don Drysdale.) For $11, plus shipping.
"Yes We Can!"
Perhaps Obama will have greater success with the slogan than did the Angels. Who did well ... but not well enough.