As many as 20,000 line up for World Series tickets

By CHELSEA J. CARTER
Associated Press Writer

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Thousands of Anaheim Angels fans scrambled to buy World Series tickets at the ballpark Wednesday, with up to 20,000 fans charging the gates and police in riot gear wading through the crowd around Edison Field.

Fans drove from as far away as Las Vegas and San Francisco for a chance to get a wristband just to participate in the ticket lottery, which limited them to a maximum of four tickets per home game.

``I've been here for three hours and I don't even have a wristband,'' said Dwight Hanson, 33, of Irvine. ``It's kind of weird to see police in riot gear. I've never seen anything like this.''

The unofficial crowd estimate was between 15,000 and 20,000, Anaheim Police Sgt. Rick Martinez said.

Tickets were also sold online.

For the tickets to be worth more than a refund, the Angels must defeat the Minnesota Twins in the AL championship series and advance to their first-ever World Series against the winner of the NL championship series between the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals. Minnesota leads the series 1-0.

Only cash was accepted at ticket windows, where prices ranged from $60 to $175 per ticket for the four possible home games.

For many who showed up in the early morning hours after police banned people from camping out at the ballpark, just the chance to buy World Series tickets was a rare experience.

But 25-year-old Josh Cagle of Covina not only got a wristband. He got tickets to four games.

``It's an opportunity to go to the World Series. That's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially if you're an Angels fan,'' he said.

Diane Myers, 42, of Villa Park, sat in the ballpark's parking lot away from the crowds doing a crossword puzzle.

``We just stayed back here because we thought it was safer. It's getting a little crazy over there,'' she said. ``I don't want them to kick us out of here.''

Police in riot gear joined motorcycle officers to patrol the crowd and stood guard at the ticket line and ticket window for those who were lucky enough to buy tickets. Although several shoving matches broke out, no fights or arrests were reported.

The crowd cheered and whooped as a ballpark employee called wristband numbers.

Among those who won the lottery was 10-year-old Lauren Saner, who missed a day of school for a chance to go to the World Series.

Saner took $2,600 and a list of game days and ticket possibilities from her mother. She returned later, mission accomplished four tickets for each of the four games.

``It was easy. They just said 'Hi, how can I help you?'' she said. ``I gave them the list and the money.''

Her mother, Deanna Saner, 34, of Cypress, watched her daughter go through the line.

``Security understood,'' she said. ``They kept an eye on her too,''

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)