California Bill Could Force Los Angeles Angels to Change Their Name

A big-market MLB franchise may be forced to change its name once again under a state law.

After spending much of the 2000s in World Series contention, even winning it all in 2002, the Los Angeles Angels have been among America's worst franchises. They've made the postseason once since 2010 (in 2014), and that culminated in a sweep at the hands of the underdog Kansas City Royals.

If things weren't already chaotic enough for a struggling baseball club, the Angels may soon be forced to change their name. Again.

Per Josh Koehn of the California Post, California's 68th State Assembly district assemblymember Avelino Valencia has presented a new bill, AB 2512, that would force the team to shift back to the "Anaheim Angels" name:

"Assemblymember Avelino Valencia's bill, AB 2512, would require the Major League Baseball franchise to go back to using the name "Anaheim Angels" in official documents and marketing materials," Koehn wrote.

"But that's only if the city gives the team special legal treatment to help sell, lease or redevelop Angel Stadium and the surrounding land. The bill sailed through the Assembly this week with unanimous support and it now goes to the state Senate."

Valencia offered the following statement to Koehn:

"Anaheim is a world-class city, and I have seen it firsthand growing up here, Valencia told Koehn. "The pride of place our residents carry is real and it is earned. My community has shown up for the Angels franchise year after year, and they deserve more than being treated as an afterthought. It is time the name of our local MLB team reflects the city they play in."

The baseball club was called the Los Angeles Angels from 1961 (their inaugural season) through 1965. From 1965 to 1996, they were called the California Angels, then the Anaheim Angels from 1997 to 2004

Controversial team owner Arte Moreno renamed the club "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" in 2005, only to shorten it to "Los Angeles Angels" in 2016.

Angels Have the Worst Record in Baseball

The Angels enter Thursday's game against the Athletics with a record of 17-33, the worst in baseball. The Colorado Rockies, the second-worst team, are two games clear of the Angels at 19-31.

No team has a worse run differential than the Angels (minus-68). Only four teams have scored fewer runs (199) than the Angels. The Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros (274 runs allowed) are the only clubs to surrender more than the Angels (267).

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 4:16 PM.