of the public. And he didn’t much care. Or did he?
Mark Maske of The Washington Post wrote: “Angelos has received the bulk of the public criticism for Johnson’s departure, and those around him say that he has been stung by the personal nature of the attacks. An attorney with his Baltimore-based law firm was in the court the other day when a juror approached the lawyer and called Angelos a no-good so-and-so. Many of the letters that Angelos and the Orioles have received have included scathing attacks upon Angelos. Angelos indicated last week that he has little to say publicly at this point about the circumstances surrounding Johnson’s departure. Johnson and Angelos rarely, if ever, spoke…Angelos’ opinion of Johnson largely was formed by what he saw the manager saying on television or in the newspapers, and the owner often didn’t like what he saw and read.”
Mr. Angelos was now winning on the field yet still extremely unpopular in the community where he longed to be loved. Not even winning could make him a hero.
***
ON MAY 27, 1994, JOHN STEADMAN wrote a passionate plea in The Sun for Orioles fans to not rush to judgment of Peter Angelos in defense of his old friend who lambasted the new owner over the initial Johnny Oates-Leo Gomez-Chris Sabo playing time at third base triangle.
This was literally less than eight weeks into Angelos’ active tenure as an owner during a baseball season.
Steadman wrote: “He honestly has too many exemplary human qualities to be subjected to that kind of criticism. He brings with him the potential to be a good owner of the Baltimore franchise, even a chance to be the best because, in truth, when compared with others of the past, he doesn’t have much to beat.
But here’s where Steadman was prophetic: “Angelos promised last winter he would not have a presence in the locker room or dugout. ‘Those areas should be for the privacy of the team,’ he explained – and the players were ecstatic. It was hoped Angelos wouldn’t interfere, become involved in something he knew so little about. That’s what makes a great owner, realizing the limits of his knowledge and background while allowing the athletes and the manager to perform. The jury will remain out on Angelos . . . for 18 months. That’s the appropriate timetable. By his deeds you’ll know him.”
The deeds of Peter G. Angelos were now very public and very scrutinized.
And the scorecard was ugly.
It was now nearly three and half years later. On November 6, 1997, the Orioles were once again searching for a manager – Ray Miller was about to become Angelos’ fourth manager in 36 months and it was clear to everyone around Pat Gillick that he intended to honor his obligation, collect his money and depart at the end of the 1998 season.
The modern day Orioles would never be the same.
(Author note: This is Chapter 6 of my book “The Peter Principles,” which I was working to finish in March 2014 when my wife was diagnosed with leukemia the first time. I will be releasing the entire book for free online this summer – chapter by chapter. These are the true chronicles of the history of Peter G. Angelos and his ownership of the Baltimore Orioles. If you enjoy the journey, please share the links with a friend.)
