Angels celebrate World Series conquest

ANAHEIM, Calif., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Amid a sea of red ThunderStix and rally monkeys, the Anaheim Angels celebrated the first World Series title in their 42-year history with a parade that started at Disneyland and ended at Edison Field on Tuesday.

Jackie Autry, the widow of Gene Autry, who formed the expansion team in 1961 before selling it to the Walt Disney Co., rode alongside Mickey Mouse in the Disneyland parade.

The Angels had never won a postseason series before embarking on a magical postseason run in which they beat the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins in the American League playoffs before defeating the San Francisco Giants in a thrilling seven-game World Series.

Tens of thousands of fans clad in red hats and shirts cheered as Manager Mike Scioscia" class="tpstyle">Angels Manager Mike Scioscia raised the World Series Trophy aloft at Disneyland's theme park.

"The players on this team deserve to be champions," Scioscia said. "They deserve to be champions and you deserved a championship team."

A second parade followed, beginning at Arrowhead Pond, home of the National Hockey League's Mighty Ducks, as players, coaches and their families rode on fire trucks and vehicles to Edison Field, home of the Angels.

World Series Most Valuable Player Troy Glaus, shortstop David Eckstein, first baseman Scott Spiezio and relievers Troy Percival and Francisco Rodriguez received the loudest ovations.

"I hope we showed to all of you out there that when someone tells you you can't do something, don't listen," Eckstein said.

"We proved that we could be champions, even though nobody gave us a chance."

The Angels became the first team to rally from a five-run deficit when facing elimination in a World Series on Saturday and captured the decisive seventh game on Sunday.