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In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors.
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Selig lauds Angels' success
Wednesday April 02, 2003
By KEN PETERS
AP Sports Writer
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Baseball commissioner Bud Selig considers
the Anaheim Angels' success a testament to baseball's new
economics.
``They were the first club that won because of changes in our
system. Without revenue sharing, there is no way they would have
kept that club together,'' Selig said Tuesday night after
presenting the Angels their World Series championship rings.
``From being around them, watching them play, there were no
superstars, and they played the game the way you're supposed to,
went farther than anyone ever expected and stunned some people.
They were the first big beneficiaries of revenue sharing.''
The Angels won the World Series title with a $62 million
payroll. The New York Yankees, who lost to Anaheim in the first
round of the playoffs, finished with a $138 million payroll.
``We're in the first year of a new labor agreement, and given
that it's the first year, we're very satisfied with the early
returns,'' Selig said. ``There is no doubt in my mind that a year,
two years from now, everyone will realize the importance of it.''
Selig said that, finally, there is ``labor peace.''
``Given the last 35 years, this is our time in history to do
something with the game,'' he said. ``There will always be thorny
issues, but I believe this is our time. We need to take advantage
of this time of peace in the game. If not, then shame on us.''
When Selig's name was introduced at the beginning of the pregame
ring ceremony, there was scattered booing among the fans in
Anaheim, but the boos turned to cheers as the players began
receiving their rings.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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