FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) — Sports Addict, a popular sports store in Fountain Valley, has long been a go-to spot for Angels fans in Orange County. But this year, the store has seen a new surge in Dodgers fans.
In 1976, former Dodgers pitcher Charlie Phillips said, “It was very popular in 2002 when the Angels won, but the Angels haven’t been there since. The Dodgers won the pennant 12 years in a row. ” he said.
Owners Mike Gaspar and Leah Bacchanti said Shohei Ohtani has been a key element in driving the new wave of Dodgers blue.
“It was amazing. We were very lucky. Ohtani was a local Angels player and he left to go to another local team, so it’s really a best-case scenario for us,” Bacchanti said.
“We’re pretty much an angel store, and people have been calling us an angel store for the last 20 years. And this year, we sold almost twice as many Dodgers as Angels. So it’s an amazing transformation.” Gaspard said.
Fans flocked to stores in September when Ohtani made history with his 50-50 record.
“His performance this year was incredible, hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases, so I wanted something to commemorate that,” said Huntington Beach resident Joe Beaubon.
And now, with the Dodgers in the World Series, fans are rushing in again for gear.
“If you need anything, this is the place to go,” Seal Beach resident Bob Turner said.
“They take care of our needs. Everything I’ve ever wanted, if they don’t have it, he orders it for me,” said Steve Luciano, a Huntington Beach resident. We can have it within a week.”
As the Dodgers continue in the postseason, Bacchanti and Gaspard said they are preparing for a potential World Series championship and for added demands.
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