Ranch Wilder

Evil-doer
Full Name	Ranch Wilder
Alias	The Voice of Angels
Origin	Angels in the Outfield (1994)
Occupation	Baseball broadcaster Baseball player Manager of the Angels Rival to George Knox (all formerly)
Powers / Skills	Broadcasting skills Lying
Hobby	Insulting people. Interrupting other broadcasters. Saying "Less is more." Drinking on the job. Smoking.
Goals	Destroy George Knox's career in baseball. Root against the Angels team and make sure they lose. Keep his broadcasting job (all failed).
Crimes	Assault Bullying Incrimination
Type of Villain	Egotistical Bully

“	Easy, Wally, less is more.	„
	~ Ranch Wilder after shutting off Wally's microphone for the umpteenth time.

“	All I can say is... it's about time.	„
	~ Ranch Wilder, when he had faith in the Angels.

“	(Hank Murphy: Ranch? You're fired.) You can't fire me! I got a contract!!! I'M RANCH WILDER!	„
	~ Ranch Wilder's last words after getting fired.

Ranch Wilder is the main antagonist of the 1994 remake Angels in the Outfield. He is the loudmouthed Angels broadcaster, a former baseball player, and a former manager of the Angels. He is the rival of the current Angels manager George Knox.

He was portrayed by Jay O. Sanders, who also portrayed Harry Rowan, Sr. in Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Biography

Baseball Player

During his days as a baseball player, Ranch Wilder was responsible for ruining George Knox's career as a baseball player when purposely sliding into him with his nails up, which caused Knox to suffer a knee injury just when he was coming into his best years. Ever since then, the two have developed a mutual hatred of each other. Before Wilder became the California Angels broadcaster, he was the Angels' manager, but he presumably had the same problems Knox had when he was managing the team.

Sports Broadcaster

During a game between the Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays, after Knox is thrown out for causing a spat with one of his players, Wilder says that the owner, Hank Murphy, is out of his mind to put up with this. When the other broadcaster, Wally, asks Wilder if he thinks he could do better, Wilder tells him he could do blindfolded. Wally then reminds Wilder about the problems he had when he was managing, the latter shrugs him off. Then Wilder makes a broadcast about Murphy dealing with Knox's behavior, which the latter was listening to. Afterwards Wilder does an interview with Knox, which leads to an argument between the two, that ended with Knox sucker punching Wilder, knocking him out and giving him a black eye. The next day Murphy informs Knox that Wilder is planning on pressing Assault Charges against him which did not happen but he was planning on suing him. After the Angels' impressive wins against the Blue Jays the Oakland Athletics, Wilder complains to Wally and his female assistant to explain what is going on here but neither of them knew. After the past his prime pitcher Mel Clark pitches an amazing shut-out game against the Detroit Tigers, Wilder wonders how Clark was able to do that and expresses his anger about Knox getting the credit for that.

In the end, he didn't support the Angels and watched them win the Pennant. As soon as they won, Hank fired him. He told Hank that he can't fire him because he has a contract, but Wally stood up to him and says his words "Easy, Ranch. Less is more". Wally took over Ranch's role as the sole broadcaster for the Angels.

Personality

Wilder is surly, arrogant, nasty and disrespectful. He was also a huge liar, had no regrets in trying to ruin Knox's career and no faith in the Angels. In addition, if anything good happened to the Angels, Ranch would only say things like "It's about time."

Trivia

• As a running gag throughout the film, Wilder constantly shuts off the microphone of his fellow broadcaster Wally when he talks during the games.
• He is similar to Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Jerry Lawler and Jesse Ventura who roots for the heels in WWE.
• It's unknown what happened to Ranch after he lost his broadcasting job with the Angels.
• Before Jay O'Sanders was cast, Jim Varney was the original choice for the role, but his voice was too raspy, also Tommy Lee Jones, who worked with Sanders in JFK was considered for the role as well.