The Fan from San Clemente

Angel Shortstop Jim Anderson poured champagne over the presidential head, and Second Baseman Bobby Grich completed the double play by adding a beer chaser. The team's best-known fan, Richard M. Nixon, was delighted by the ritual horseplay of the Angel's locker-room victory party. "Anybody want some more good California champagne?" asked Nixon, wiping his pate. "You can squeeze it right out of this towel." Before leaving, Nixon dutifully made his round of the players, offering congratulations and advising Outfielder Joe Rudi about his real estate investments in Oregon.

Nixon was a Washington Senators fan until eight years ago. When the team left town in 1971, Nixon pronounced himself "heartbroken" and switched loyalties to his "home town" Angels, whose Anaheim stadium is 35 miles from San Clemente. True to his word, the former President has shown up regularly at Angel games, autographing baseballs and copies of his memoirs. This year he bought four season tickets, and informed management: "Since you've obtained Carew we know you are making every effort to bring a winner here, and we want to support you." Nixon attended 20 games, 14 of which the Angels won. "Earlier this season he was 6-1," says an Angels spokesman, "but the team slowed down." Some of the players like having Nixon kicking around. Says the former President: "Donny Baylor tells me he needs me here to get those hits. So if it takes me to be here, I'll drop whatever I'm doing to come out."

Nixon, who invited the Angel players to a recent bash at San Clemente, studies the team stats and can fling a cliche as well as the next fan. Dave Frost, he says, is "a premier pitcher," and Jim Barr "a wily veteran." Nixon sees a low-scoring playoff series between California and Baltimore, with the Angels winning in five games. As he told TIME Correspondent Paul Witteman: "Man for man, down the lineup, I believe the Angels can match them.

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