The Big A Sign is a 230-foot-tall (70 m), 210-ton red metal sign in the shape of the letter "A" with a halo on top (mirroring the Los Angeles Angels logo), situated in the parking lot of Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The sign was originally installed in 1966 behind the left field fence[1] but was moved to the parking lot in 1979, one year before American football's Los Angeles Rams started sharing the stadium with MLB's Los Angeles Angels.[2] The sign is also responsible for the nickname of Angel Stadium as "The Big A".[3]
The halo lights up after every Angels win (regardless of whether it happens at home or on the road), which gives rise to the catchphrase "Light That Baby Up!" amongst Angels fans. (When Dick Enberg was an Angels broadcaster in the 1970s, he would punctuate the team's victories with the phrase "And the halo shines tonight!")
Historyedit
The sign was erected in 1966 outside then-Anaheim Stadium specifically to hold the scoreboard.[4] The $1 million construction cost was covered by Standard Oil of California in exchange for a 10-year advertising rights deal on the sign.[5] The sign was initially colored white and stood beyond the left field wall.[6] Measuring 230 feet (70 m) in height,[7] at the time of its construction it was the tallest structure in Orange County, at 23 stories tall.[5]
In 1979, one year before the Los Angeles Rams moved in, Anaheim Stadium was retrofitted to make it suitable to host American football games, including all decks of seating wrapping around the entire stadium. As a result, the Big A Sign was moved from its position overlooking the stadium into the parking lot, despite protests from Angels fans and owners.[8] Approximately 1,000 people came to watch the sign be moved. However, after it had been moved approximately 10 feet (3.0 m), one of the dollies started to tilt the sign, requiring the seven-hour move to be postponed until the next day.[4]
In 1995, when the Rams moved out of Angel Stadium to become the St. Louis Rams, a number of the 1979 retrofits were removed. As a result, there were proposals to move the sign back to its original location. However, this did not occur owing to the cost of moving it[3] and because it had become a good meeting place for fans and afforded the Angels the opportunity to advertise to passing motorists.[2]
Useedit
Since its move to the parking lot, the Big A Sign has been used to advertise for the Angels' sponsors, and the old scoreboard has been used as an electronic marquee to promote upcoming Major League Baseball games to passing motorists on the nearby freeway.[9] The halo on the top of the sign lights up to signify to passersby and nearby motorists that the Angels have won a game.[10]
In 2017, the electrical system of the Big A Sign was tampered with, possibly in an attempt to charge a cell phone, as part of an outbreak of vandalism around Angel Stadium. A county supervisor said "the voltage on the ‘Big A’ is so high that you have to have a special certification just to get inside the fence. This guy could have been fried."[7]
Referencesedit
^Pahigian, Josh (2017). The Amazing Baseball Adventure: Ballpark Wonders from the Bushes to the Show. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 42. ISBN978-1493025084.
^ ab"Popularity of Big A Landmark Hasn't Been Dimmed by Age: Anaheim Stadium: Angel and Ram Fans Find Structure the Place to Meet and Eat Before a Game". Los Angeles Times. July 27, 1990. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
^ abKnight, Graham (July 15, 2007). "Angel Stadium of Anaheim – Los Angeles Angels". BaseballPilgrimages.com. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
^ abWeyler, John (April 19, 1986). "Some Goose Eggs Are on Anaheim Stadium Scoreboard". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
^ abReichard, Kevin (April 14, 2016). "Fifty Years Ago: Designing Angel Stadium". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
^Paulas, Rick (July 8, 2010). . ESPN. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
^ abGraham, Jordan (March 9, 2017). "Bulldozer joyride at Angel Stadium, influx of homeless prompts Angels to ask for more police". Orange County Register. Santa Ana, CA. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
^"Rams: History is repeating itself". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, CA. November 23, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
^Ramsey, Shawn (October 20, 2016). "Top Reasons to Visit Each MLB Stadium". Fox Sports. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
^. ESPN. July 12, 2010. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
January 01, 1970
sign, foot, tall, metal, sign, shape, letter, with, halo, mirroring, angeles, angels, logo, situated, parking, angel, stadium, anaheim, california, sign, originally, installed, 1966, behind, left, field, fence, moved, parking, 1979, year, before, american, foo. The Big A Sign is a 230 foot tall 70 m 210 ton red metal sign in the shape of the letter A with a halo on top mirroring the Los Angeles Angels logo situated in the parking lot of Angel Stadium in Anaheim California The sign was originally installed in 1966 behind the left field fence 1 but was moved to the parking lot in 1979 one year before American football s Los Angeles Rams started sharing the stadium with MLB s Los Angeles Angels 2 The sign is also responsible for the nickname of Angel Stadium as The Big A 3 Big A SignYear1966 1966 SubjectLos Angeles Angels logoDimensions 230 ft in Weight210 tonsLocationAnaheim California United StatesOwnerLos Angeles Angels The halo lights up after every Angels win regardless of whether it happens at home or on the road which gives rise to the catchphrase Light That Baby Up amongst Angels fans When Dick Enberg was an Angels broadcaster in the 1970s he would punctuate the team s victories with the phrase And the halo shines tonight History editThe sign was erected in 1966 outside then Anaheim Stadium specifically to hold the scoreboard 4 The 1 million construction cost was covered by Standard Oil of California in exchange for a 10 year advertising rights deal on the sign 5 The sign was initially colored white and stood beyond the left field wall 6 Measuring 230 feet 70 m in height 7 at the time of its construction it was the tallest structure in Orange County at 23 stories tall 5 In 1979 one year before the Los Angeles Rams moved in Anaheim Stadium was retrofitted to make it suitable to host American football games including all decks of seating wrapping around the entire stadium As a result the Big A Sign was moved from its position overlooking the stadium into the parking lot despite protests from Angels fans and owners 8 Approximately 1 000 people came to watch the sign be moved However after it had been moved approximately 10 feet 3 0 m one of the dollies started to tilt the sign requiring the seven hour move to be postponed until the next day 4 In 1995 when the Rams moved out of Angel Stadium to become the St Louis Rams a number of the 1979 retrofits were removed As a result there were proposals to move the sign back to its original location However this did not occur owing to the cost of moving it 3 and because it had become a good meeting place for fans and afforded the Angels the opportunity to advertise to passing motorists 2 Use editSince its move to the parking lot the Big A Sign has been used to advertise for the Angels sponsors and the old scoreboard has been used as an electronic marquee to promote upcoming Major League Baseball games to passing motorists on the nearby freeway 9 The halo on the top of the sign lights up to signify to passersby and nearby motorists that the Angels have won a game 10 In 2017 the electrical system of the Big A Sign was tampered with possibly in an attempt to charge a cell phone as part of an outbreak of vandalism around Angel Stadium A county supervisor said the voltage on the Big A is so high that you have to have a special certification just to get inside the fence This guy could have been fried 7 References edit Pahigian Josh 2017 The Amazing Baseball Adventure Ballpark Wonders from the Bushes to the Show Rowman amp Littlefield p 42 ISBN 978 1493025084 a b Popularity of Big A Landmark Hasn t Been Dimmed by Age Anaheim Stadium Angel and Ram Fans Find Structure the Place to Meet and Eat Before a Game Los Angeles Times July 27 1990 Retrieved March 19 2017 a b Knight Graham July 15 2007 Angel Stadium of Anaheim Los Angeles Angels BaseballPilgrimages com Retrieved March 19 2017 a b Weyler John April 19 1986 Some Goose Eggs Are on Anaheim Stadium Scoreboard Los Angeles Times Retrieved March 19 2017 a b Reichard Kevin April 14 2016 Fifty Years Ago Designing Angel Stadium Ballpark Digest Retrieved March 19 2017 Paulas Rick July 8 2010 Pilgrimage Angel Stadium continued ESPN Archived from the original on March 20 2017 Retrieved March 19 2017 a b Graham Jordan March 9 2017 Bulldozer joyride at Angel Stadium influx of homeless prompts Angels to ask for more police Orange County Register Santa Ana CA Retrieved March 19 2017 Rams History is repeating itself The Press Enterprise Riverside CA November 23 2014 Retrieved March 19 2017 Ramsey Shawn October 20 2016 Top Reasons to Visit Each MLB Stadium Fox Sports Retrieved March 19 2017 Pilgrimage Angel Stadium ESPN July 12 2010 Archived from the original on March 20 2017 Retrieved March 19 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Big A Sign amp oldid 1110699281, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
