 |
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist
For years the Anaheim Angels signed stars to their roster in the belief that what worked for the New York Yankees would also be their best route to a World Series.
Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan, Mo Vaughn and Dave Winfield all passed through what was once known as the Big A and the best known Champion the franchise had during that period was then-owner Gene Autry's horse of the same name.
Associated Press
Who knew all the Angels really needed was a rally monkey?
The Anaheim Angels have rallied around a monkey to reach their first World Series, which starts Saturday.
It wasn't another pitcher they lacked, it was the right primate. They had enough sluggers, what they required was simian inspiration.
In this most improbable of pairings for the first all-wild card World Series that opens Saturday, how else to explain the presence of the Angels, the joker in the postseason deck? Though if you are George Steinbrenner it hasn't been much to laugh about.
Until this year the Angels were a World Series team only in the movies. Away from reel life, the Angels were a 40-year study in frustration and bad karma. Disappointment and tragedy followed them through three homes: Wrigley Field (the late Los Angeles version), Chavez Ravine and Anaheim.
They busted piggy banks to sign can't-miss bonus babies who fell short. They brought in accomplished managers and general managers who were unable to deliver.
All the while they languished in the considerable shadow cast by their neighbors an hour up the freeway at Dodger Stadium.
More recently they were the team that the parent Disney corporation tried to unload but couldn't. Even as the series opens, the "for sale" sign is still in the window and the future is up in the air.
The problem with the Angels playing in October has long been what came before that, September. They would inevitably hit a skid in the stretch drive, once losing what had been a 13-game lead. Twice they had the champagne stored in the clubhouse and never got a sip.
Once — and this pretty much summed up the Angels' luck — they lost a starting pitcher for the playoffs when he broke his hand during a party celebrating the team's first division title.
But the rally monkey has taken away the dark cloud that hovered over these Angels. So, raise a pair of thunderstix in honor of a franchise that has finally gotten the monkey off its back.
