[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22796]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATING THE ANAHEIM ANGELS 2002 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDWARD R. ROYCE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2002

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate the Anaheim Angels on 
their tremendous achievement. I am pleased to join my fellow colleagues 
from Orange County as we congratulate the Anaheim Angels on their 
miraculous World Series win.
  For those of us who grew-up in Orange County, this is a tremendous 
moment. Gene Autry formed the team in 1961. Now, after more than 40 
years, the Angels have won their first World Series Championship.
  The Angels' victory was far from predicted. They were the underdog 
all the way. After all, the previous season, the Angels finished 41 
games out of first place.
  Anaheim was the wild card team--most gave them little chance of 
knocking off the perennial favorite New York Yankees for the American 
League Division Series. The Angels then went on to defeat the Minnesota 
Twins to win the American League pennant. And then finally, defeated 
the San Francisco Giants in the World Series in seven hard-fought 
games.
  The atmosphere in the stadium was electrifying. Fans across Orange 
County came equipped with their rally monkeys and thunder sticks to 
cheer our team to victory.
  The Angels' victory over the Giants was truly amazing. The Angels had 
never won a playoff series before beating the Yankees. Anaheim is the 
first team since 1912 to win the World Series without having any player 
who had ever played for a World Series winner previously.
  The victory is a testament to the teamwork and abilities of the 
Anaheim players.
  They were led by manager Mike Scioscia; Tim ``the Kingfish'' Salmon, 
who has played his entire career for the Angels; Pitcher John Lackey--
who was the first rookie to win a Game 7 in 93 years; and I think it is 
fitting that third baseman Troy Glaus--a native of Orange County--was 
named most valuable player of the World Series.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Angels' players, coaches, staff, and 
the fans, who were instrumental in bringing the World Series 
Championship to Anaheim.

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