Free Republic

<p>The Times reported this week that former Los Angeles Dodger Kirk Gibson is auctioning off the bat he used to hit his historic homer in the 1988 World Series –- along with his jersey, helmet and World Series trophy.</p> <p>And now comes news from CNBC that Robert Castillo, the former Angels production manager who created the Rally Monkey, is selling his World Series ring, valued at $19,000.</p>

Moreno becomes new Angels' owner Thursday May 22, 2003 By KEN PETERSAP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) The Angels' new owner grinned, opened the big gift box and helped manager Mike Scioscia and general manager Bill Stoneman put on huge red sombreros.Arturo Moreno was introduced Thursday as the third owner of the Angels in their 43-year history after completing his $184 million purchase from The Walt Disney Co.``This is what I got for that,'' he said, laughing and holding up two keys to the stadium.Moreno wants to be called Arte and started off his tenure by giving the hats to...

By Jeffrey Goldfarb NEW YORK (Reuters) - Disney has reached a tentative deal to sell its Anaheim Angels baseball team for about $180 million to a Mexican-American billboard magnate who aims to attract more Latinos to watch the defending World Series champs, people close to the situation said on Tuesday. Arturo "Arte" Moreno, with a net worth approximating $940 million, must await approval from Major League Baseball and its owners before closing any deal with Walt Disney Co. . Disney declined to comment. Baseball officials and Moreno could not immediately be reached. Moreno's bid appears to have edged out separate...

A little comparison between France and the United States. Even monkeys can tell the difference. FRANCE UNITED STATES

In a startling development, it has been learned by this reporter (by overhearing a conversation in the men's room of a trendy San Francisco restaurant) that the Giants may have committed the most horrific violation against Major League Baseball since the Black Sox scandal of 1919. (Editor's Note: Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the Baseball Commissioner, may have never been able to help solve the scandal had Patrick Leahy been around at the time. Landis would have been held up in committee awaiting confirmation.) Here is what I have learned. Kubla Kahn, a former mental patient and distant cousin of the...

Just heard on the radio that 50 Angel fans are on a catamaran in McCovey Cove, with a pirate flag and rally monkey songs. The Giants fans are, of course, chucking batteries at them. In other news, I left my sprinklers on since Sunday....keep sending the water NoCals! My lawn won't be green enough until Hetch Hetchy is empty.

ANAHEIM -- After waiting 16 years for another meaningful game in October, Angels fans had to wonder early Friday night if it was worth the wait. There wasn't much for them to cheer about. But maybe it was by design. Everyone entering Edison Field for Game 3 of the American League Division Series were handed two Thunder Sticks. To make them work, fans had to blow them up on their own and that, undoubtedly, left them breathless for a few innings. So, when the Angels fell behind the Yankees by five runs after just 2 1/2 innings, the fans were...