Angels pitcher Nolan Ryan, center, is congratulated by Manager Bobby Winkles after throwing a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers on July 16, 1973. What would have happened if the Angels hadn't traded Ryan in 1979? (Associated Press)
A dream I had at 14 — that my hapless Angels officially conquered Los Angeles with owner Nolan Ryan throwing out a ceremonial first pitch during the team's 50-year anniversary celebration — was supposed to come true Tuesday night.
As Dick Enberg used to say on KTLA, "Touch 'em all."
Well, not quite.
This is an Angels story, remember?
Ryan was hospitalized Monday with chest pains. He's going to be OK, but not OK soon enough to get to Tuesday's ceremony.
Dream deferred. The original one, anyway, had only one-hopped the wall.
Here's the script, as originally written:
With our pro football farmed out to St. Louis and Oakland, USC bowl-banned by NCAA probation, Major League Baseball lawyers throwing fits of caveat emptor regarding the Dodgers and the NBA lockout threatening to put the Lakers on hold, the Angels are positioned to dominate the Southland this fall.
It could almost match 2002, when the Angels claimed their lone World Series championship without winning the American League West.
Imagine the Halos not having to share headlines with USC football, the Lakers, or hopefully, by then, the 405 Freeway.
The idea is nearly as farfetched as the idea of Ryan, former Angels superstar and strikeout king, ever becoming a big-league owner.
We figured, post-career, "Tex" would lead a cattle drive from Refugio to Reno. Or maybe become mayor of Round Rock.
Ryan was to be honored at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night — in conjunction with former owner Gene Autry's hall of fame induction — as part of the team's 50-year anniversary festivities.
The "great eight" for me were 1972 to 1979, the years Ryan rocked the rubber.
Ryan returning as Texas' owner, when he does, is the part that will chap my saddle.
The Angels foolishly letting Ryan walk away in 1979 with 14 years left in his bionic arm still gnaws at me like Henry VIII on a turkey leg.
My first thought when hearing Ryan was supposed to throw out Tuesday's first pitch: "What, they couldn't find two 8-7 ceremonial hurlers?"
That was General Manager Buzzie Bavasi's rationale, remember, for letting Ryan walk in 1979 after he finished 16-14.
Bavasi later regretted saying he could find two 8-7 journeymen to replace Ryan, but he must have meant it when he said it.
Buzzie obviously sawed "Zzzs" through the 50 or 60 games Ryan deserved to win.
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