Sandy Koufax is my dad's favorite player because he said he was.  And that's all he ever said about him.  I don't think my dad really gave a shit about baseball.  But he gave me a token effort because I loved it so much.  He took me to an Angel game back in 1983 but I don't really remember much.  I was 8.  But as far as father-son bonding, I remember when he took me to a Dodger game in 1988.  On the way down to Chavez Latrine, I asked him who his favorite player was when he was a kid.  He said Koufax.  No reason why, no explanation.  That's it. 

He had just had double bypass surgery not too long before.  He had smoked cigarettes since he was 16.  And he'd had a heart attack at 33 years old.  In '88 he was 45.  I was scared he would die, and he promised that he had quit smoking when he found out he needed the bypass.  Well long story short, we watched the game, Orel Hershiser beat the Reds to continue his scoreless innings record streak.  Walking out to the car, my dad pulls out some Marlboros and lights up.  As a 13 year old kid, I was dumbfounded.  i was pissed.  It was the first time I saw my father as less than perfect.  My dad never stopped smoking.  He died from another heart attack in 1997 when he was 54.

That moment totally effected my life though.  I've never smoked.  Though I begrudge it to nobody.  To each their own.  And more importantly, I have never shown my kids a token interest in their own interests.  I get to know their likes.  Pokemon, check.  My Little Pony, check.  I Carly, check.  Anything else they get into...you get the idea.  I try to raise my kids by example, and always give a damn about what they care about.  So for that I thank my father.  I can never think of Sandy Koufax, my dad's favorite baseball player without hoping I'm doing right by my children.

Hey everyone.  I was wondering if any baseball card collectors out there know if there is any card at all featuring Joe Adcock in an Angels uniform.  I only collect Angels cards in a binder and I don't care about condition of the card.  But it seems for some reason I don't know, that he never got an Angel card even though he played 323 games from 1964 to 1966 with them.  Does anybody know why or if there is a card from a more modern set that has him?  Spent years looking off hand for one.  But today I thought I'd throw it out to you...

Thanks for any help!

Hi everyone.  I was just checking who was still around from the '61 team.  Somewhere on here somebody said that would be great if Arte would bring back the inaugural Angels for a day to celebrate them.  And I agree.  I figured some here might like to know.

Ken McBride, Eli Grba, Ted Bowsfield, Ron Moeller, Ryne Duren, Johnny James, Jerry Casale, Tex Clevenger, Jack Spring, Ned Garver, Russ Heman, Dean Chance, Lee Thomas, Albie Pearson, Earl Averill Jr., Ken Aspromonte, George Thomas, Rocky Bridges, Eddie Yost, Gene Leek, Bob Cerv, Billy Moran, Tom Satriano, Julio Becquer, Ken Hamlin, Buck Rodgers, Jim Fregosi, Chuck Tanner, Dan Ardell, and Lou Johnson

These guys are still around.  And it would be awesome to see some of them out there being celebrated.  There maybe 1 or 2 I missed but all the rest of the players from that first year are gone now.  Come on Arte and bring these guys out while they're still here.

Just an FYI of stuff I looked up.  Use as you will. 

Also sorry if any errors...

i was reading Rev's post about Albie Pearson (thanks by the way Rev.)  It reminded me of reading the book "Once They Were Angels" by Rob Goldman.  Are there any other good books out there like that one that covers the Angels?

I wasn't alive back in those days so reading the book helped bring that era to me.  I want to read about the classic, good old days.  It seems like every book that comes out these days is about rioids or there abouts.  Well just trying to get to 300 with this so..

Is anyone else thinking it is time to see Brandon Wood in the lineup?  Right now the Angels have 6 homeruns for the whole team.  Brandon has 3 homeruns in 4 games languishing in Salt Lake.  I for one would like to see him called up.  He had a great spring and he's taking off already in AAA.  Why waste him there?  There has already been a few games I would have like to see his bat.  Just a thought for today.

Hey has anybody know where I can find a checklist of these cards online?  I've been looking for a few days, and so far no luck.  As filler I will say that a friend of mine gave me about 2/3 of the set and i just want  to know what I don't have.

If I complete this set then I will have complete set of 1987 Topps and 2009 Topps with a big ass gap in the middle.  Yeah it's been 22 years since I collected cards.

Oh and my friend is a Red Sox fan.  The only good one out there!

There hope that's enough..Thanks!

Hey Rev I saw your post over at Talking Chop.  What a bunch of jerk losers over there!  They cuss entirely too much.  Complain too much.  And don't appreciate anything.  They don't realize the quality guy they got with Casey Kotchman.  I'm gonna miss watching him play but am excited with having Tex.  Hopefully he seals the deal on a ring this year.  And if he goes then we've got a decent draft coming up for once!  But Teixeira should really consider extending with the Halos because The teams he is reported wanting to go to (Yankees, and Orioles) are a bad choice.  O's going nowhere always.  And the Skanks aren't going to be much for awhile.  If he wants to win, stay with the Angels.

Jose Arredondo?  Does anyone know why he has fallen off the prospect radar?  I haven't read anything anywhere that says he sucks all of a sudden.  his 2007 stats didn't look like anything special but stats aren't everything so what's up?  I know there is a helluva lot of people well informed here so I'm going to the best source on the internet for Angels info.  Just a little ass kissing to try to get this to 300 characters.  How's that?

Wouldn't that be about a bitch to see Dallas McPherson sign with the Marlins and then start mashing like his name is Miguel?

Just saw that the Marlin's were interested over on Pro Sports Daily.

Nothing new going on in Halo territory so just thought I'd throw that one out there.

Also since this has to be 300 characters...I don't mind Chone Figgins as our 3rd baseman.  '06 was his only bad year and he sets the table nicely.  We could do a lot worse.  Just would like to see the outfield logjam loosen up for a bit of relief help maybe. Blah blah blah blah...there!

I haven't seen this anywhere recently.  But I remember back when WtE signed with the Mariners, that somebody said something about them going to the post season. Doesn't it feel a little prophetic lately? Well here's hoping not.

Well there it is. Another year of idiocy by the HOF voters.

Or I should say half idiocy. Totally cool and expected that Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken go to the Hall. And nice message to Mark McGwire (and others) : No steroids!

Ok, but what about the other side of the message by showing more respect to guys like Blyleven, Goose and Dawson? Their numbers look all that more impressive these days.

I had hopes that they would finally have a chance this year. But it's the same old shit. Same idiot voters.

Oh well I guess there is always the Hall in my head. Congrats to Gwynn and Ripken. Screw you voters!

Today's game was pretty fun...almost would say give the panther to Grinch Anderson.  It wasn't Christmas but he sure stole Halliday away.  I think it would have been a 3-2 lost if Halliday had stayed in.  But anyways, I was down with my sons watching Tim Salmon warm up and he had brought a bag out with him.  Bunch of smart ass grown-ups kept trying to get his autograph by saying stupid stuff and he ignored them.  After warming up he gave away some batting gloves and wristbands to some kids then signed autographs for the polite kids away from the wise-asses.  My son got one and said "Please and Thank you"
It's nice to see manners pay off with a class act like Salmon.  Thanks Mr. Salmon.

Man I hate to say this but I wish Donnelly, Carrasco and even Gregg were DFA'd or sent down.  Everytime they come into a game it's an extra 3 or 4 runs added to the opposing teams score automatically.  I would rather see anybody in the minors than these guys...It would give a rookie some seasoning and couldn't be worse than our current situation.  Close games get killed everytime our starter can't go 7 innings.  Man these guys are hurting us more than anything else I think.

i just wanted to say that i love this web page.  i've been checking this out for a couple months now and it has become the first thing i check when i log on to net. angel fans are the best.  i only go to about 4 games a year but last one i went to was vs. dodgers...angels have fans, dodgers have gang members. but anyways, just wanted to thank the rev and all you contributors for making my everyday.  oh and yeah i took this name back when we were losing bad and our rally monkey was getting spanked.  thought we were gonna need a rally bunny.  well thanks again!