Tales from the Angels Dugout: The Championship Season and Other Great Angels Stories

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In the giddy afterglow that still lingers following the greatest season in Anaheim Angels history, Tales from the Angels Dugout relives all the fun and magic associated with the team's first world championship. Follow the team into the clubhouse and find in-depth profiles on all the key members of the club, from manager Mike Scioscia to the unofficial team leader, Darin Erstad, to Frankie Rodriguez, the amazing relief-pitching phenom. With Scioscia's special insight, remember not only the Angels' remarkable season, but also the division series surprise against the Yankees, the ALCS victory over the Twins and, of course, the World Series success versus Barry Bonds and the Giants. But to truly appreciate what the Angels achieved in 2002, it is necessary to understand what they had to overcome to get there -- the 41-year drought, the many seasons of futility and frustration and the various curses and hexes long associated with this franchise in a stadium supposedly built on an ancient Indian burial ground. This is a team that has had more than its share of zany characters and wild moments, from the happy Bill Rigney era to the suicide of a tormented relief pitcher. In Tales from the Angels Dugout the players tell why owner Gene Autry was so revered; Bobby Knoop describes his old double-play partner, Jim Fregosi, the Derek Jeter of his day; and Bobby Grich remembers what it was like to be on the field when Donnie Moore threw that fateful pitch to Dave Henderson in the 1986 playoffs. Read about the special post-2002 meeting of the minds between Scioscia and Hall of Fame basketball coach and admitted Angels admirer John Wooden. Compare your all-time Angels team to the one the author has selected and read his analysis of what the future holds for this team that has captured so many hearts.