“Great time for it”: Los Angeles Angels commemorates their 2002 World Series title

“Great time for it”: Los Angeles Angels commemorates their 2002 World Series title

Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels commemorated the 20th anniversary of their World Series title in 2002 with a special ceremony at Angel Stadium before Wednesday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. Los Angeles Angels’ legends Tim Salmon and Darin Erstad voiced as part of the ceremony, which was hosted by long-time Angels’ radio broadcaster Terry Smith.

Former Angels manager Mike Scioscia was also tipped a hat off by the Angels fans in attendance, while former closer Troy Percival also threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Angels great Garret Anderson. There’s no forgetting the moments that made the Los Angeles Angels World Series champions in 2002, the comebacks and big hits and postgame celebrations. So, when you have a chance to relive them, that’s what you do.

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Among the players who put in an appearance at the occasion were Alex Ochoa, Jeff DaVanon, Jose Nieves, Scott Schoeneweis, Brendan Donnelly, Ben Weber, Kevin Appier, Al Levine, Brad Fullmer, Aaron Sele, Benji Gil, Scot Shields, Matt Wise, Shawn Wooten, John Lackey, Scott Spiezio, Adam Kennedy, David Eckstein, Troy Glaus, Percival, Erstad, Anderson and Salmon.

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Angels remember efforts put in to bring World Series 2002 home at Angel Stadium

Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels

“You need to celebrate achievement in this game,” manager Mike Scioscia (2002) said. “That’s why you pour champagne after a series win or after you make the playoffs. Something as big as winning a world championship for an organization, particularly winning the first championship, needs to be celebrated. It’s a great time for it.”

“The past 20 years have flown by and it’s important to keep these memories alive for the fans and players,” Legendary Tim Salmon told the fans at Angel Stadium. “I’m sure every team that wins a World Series championship says there was a special bond and chemistry, unlike any other team. Same with his team. We had the spit, grit and tenacity to overcome our April start. This team was a blue-collar team. Check your ego at the door. It was more than just words on the wall in that clubhouse, it was a mindset backed by selfless play every night.”

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Michael Lorenzen, who was 10-years-old when the Angels won their first ever World Series, said he was playing in a baseball tournament during Game 7 and found out the Angels won after the game.

“I just remember finding out the Angels had won the World Series and we all just hopped in cars and started driving up and down the streets,” Lorenzen said. “It was really cool. On that team, everyone loved Eckstein, the X-factor. He was the man and I loved the way he played. Just a good baseball player. And Spiezio was great with the homers he hit. Anderson, all of them were so different but so good. And Erstad was the man, too, and Mr Consistent.”

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