This film was not the only connection between Disney and the Angels. Two years after the film's release, the Walt Disney Corporation bought the Angels, and owned the team until 2003. In addition, Walt Disney was one of the Angels' original board members.
On July 15, 2024 the film was finally released on Disney+ to coincide with the film's 30th anniversary
The character of Hank Murphy, the Angels' owner, is loosely based on owner, actor and country music star Gene Autry, right down to the cowboy hat. Autry passed away October 1998. When the Anaheim Angels won the 2002 World Series, they dedicated their win to Autry.
Leslie Nielsen was the first choice for the role of head Angel Al, but he was busy with Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994). After Tony Danza signed on, he persuaded his old Taxi (1978) cast member, Christopher Lloyd, to take the role. Nielsen and Lloyd co-starred the following year in Rent-a-Kid (1995).
Two of the actors who played Angels players, Adrien Brody and Matthew McConaughey, would go on to win Academy Awards for Best Actor.
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