A House no longer divided
People with short memories — or those who only recently started paying attention — may not believe this. But only a few years ago, playing in Angel Stadium, and before that Anaheim Stadium, frequently infuriated the home team players.
The Angels of the lean years grew to resent the fans? allegiances, which definitely were not with them. The only big-crowd dates were against visitors from the Establishment — Detroit, Boston, Baltimore, White Sox — who drew from Southern California?s vast transplanted population.
Talk about Big A. Those were the days of the Big Annoyance. It was said the only way the Angels would have been able to draw three million was to schedule the New York Yankees 81 times.
Typical were scenes such as in early 1984, when the Tigers hit town amid a historic getaway during which they would have 35 wins before their fifth loss. Crowds of 50,000 packed the then-enlarged ballpark, rooting for the Bengals with one voice.
Players such as Doug DeCinces, Bobby Grich, Bob Boone and even Reggie Jackson would complain after games about feeling unwelcome in their own house.
Tables and turnstiles have turned, of course. In a shrunken house, the Angels keep setting attendance records, and it?s safe to say that of this season?s draw of 3,404,686, 3,404,685 were red-wearing, Thunder Stix-toting, Rally Monkey-doting Angels fans.
?The last three, four years, it?s been a pleasure to play here,? says Adam Kennedy, the Angels second baseman. ?It?s taken to being other places like New York. Fans take a lot of pride in the stadium. They enjoy coming to the game. We felt it in the last series. I can?t imagine it changing now.?
You White Sox may want to consider some earplugs. Check with Rafael Palmeiro, who doesn?t need his anymore.
— Tom Singer/MLB.com
ALCS: Angels vs. White Sox 
GO WHITE SOX, WE ALSO HAVE PRIDE U KNOW.. GO SOX..
^^^ And that is saying a lot. I mean, its been 88 years since their last World Series title, along with the tainted “Black” Sox years; its a wonder why these people still have pride!
You SOX fans are true fans. I admire you sticking with your team through thick and thin! There was a 95 year old guy at the game the other night that they interviewed. He was like 7 years old the lsat time the SOX won the series and I guess he was there or something.
i said it before and i’ll say it again, thundersticks and a monkey have nothing to do with baseball for real baseball fans.
Thanks also for the lovely comments on the new feel of the Big A, Tom. I’ve been an Angel fan my whole life and I remember the down years. I’m just so glad our fans have finally grown into the type our team can be proud of.
To guseric, are you telling me that real baseball fans can’t show their spirit and their pride? Just what do you you think thunderstix and rally monkeys are for? It’s a way for the fans to show their love and support for a team. How does that make it not “real”?
I know the Angel fans are passionate and fervent supporters of their team. It’s evident from all the postings on the White Sox blog. I just hope they don’t take that passion out on the poor ump.
Doug “the Eyeball” Eddings is a man with supreme sensory capabilities. Such visual and auditory acuity is rare and should be celebrated, not threatened. Analyst have been pouring over that replay in slow motion for days now. The Eyeball didn’t have that luxury and made a judgement call. Luckily for us, he made the correct one. Go Sox!
The poor ump? Are you kidding? If he had made any indication that the play was still in motion, Paul would have tagged him out. No, the Angel fans definitely have a right to gripe! Give me a break.
You have a right to gripe all right. Gripe about JP not doing what either of the Molinas woulda done. You don’t have a right to go all bezerk and assault “the Eyeball”. Why does he need security? What do you crazy, monkey-lovers got up your sleeve?
Angels fans: We have to bite the bullet and realize that not only were the Angels victims of a blind and mute umpire, but the White Sox actually needed a break to give them a little hope. The Angels have wiped the field with the Sox all year, so it’s only fitting that the ACLS become more of a challenge than an utter defeat. It’s just too bad that we will now need to humiliate them on their own field.
Hey, Eddie, I’m a consultant for Ophthalmologists and I can get you a GREAT deal on lasik surgery. Just let me know when you’re ready. đŸ˜‰
Angels in 6.
In reference to your comment about griping, the umpire was quoted as saying he wished he had made the call more emphatically. Check out MLB.com – “ANAHEIM — The day after, the only thing a self-assured Doug Eddings regretted was not being more emphatic in the call he made to set up the disputed end to Game 2 of the American League Championship.”
So that is why we have a right to gripe. Who said anything about assaulting Eddings or going berzerk? The only thing that happened was the fans booed him. This is a free country…something called free speech ring a bell?
At the same time, though, I won’t take away from the Sox that they are playing well. If you want to talk about that, that’s a different issue. Unfortunately, the Angels continue to get screwed on calls and at the same time, the Sox are playing well. I don’t see the Angels pulling out of this (but God I hope I’m wrong). It’s disappointing to watch them because they are hurt and tired and are just not themselves. It’s too bad. I hope the White Sox make our pain worthwhile and win it all. Cause next year, watch out, here we come again for the 4th postseason in five years.