The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / Sports / Lackey, Halos make it a Series to remember

Lackey, Halos make it a Series to remember

October 30, 2002 by Brian Roe

By Brian Roe, Sports Writer

Front Roe Seat

Even writers from the Disney owned Anaheim Angels could not have written a better script for the magical team that won its first World Championship on Sunday.

The Angels won the best of seven series over the San Fran-cisco Giants in the highest scoring World Series in Major League history. The Angels quietly crept into the playoffs as a wild card team but chaotically plowed the Yan-kees, Twins and now the Giants en route to the team’s first World Championship in the franchise’s 42-year history.

Led by the “rally monkey” and Abilene native John Lackey, the Anaheim Angels make the unlikely leap from chumps to champs. Lackey, who graduated from Abilene High School, was the first rookie to win a decisive World Series game since 1909. Lackey earned the victory in Game 7 of the World Series by giving up a single run in five innings pitched.

In a stroke of angelic luck, the Angels recalled Lackey from the minor leagues on June 30. He started his season by pitching in relief against the New York Yankees, and completed the season by defeating the Giants for a World Series title.

The Anaheim Angels won the World Series because of team chemistry, which was considered non-existent in the Anaheim clubhouse just a season ago.

This is the same team that just three seasons ago cried out for unity and commitment. This is same team that finished at the bottom in offensive rankings last season and helped score the most runs in World Series history this season. And this is the team that helped save baseball from the depths of another near-strike experience by creating a Disney-like moment that was the 2002 World Series.

Filed Under: Sports

Other Sports:

  • Wildcats return home for three-match weekend homestand

  • Outdoor track and field season to open at home

  • Breaking down the madness: Predictions, upsets, contenders

About Brian Roe

You are here: Home / Sports / Lackey, Halos make it a Series to remember

Other Sports:

  • Wildcats return home for three-match weekend homestand

  • Outdoor track and field season to open at home

  • Breaking down the madness: Predictions, upsets, contenders

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
23 Mar

BREAKING NEWS: Josh Hamm is the new student body president and was elected with 90.1% of the votes. Luke Talley is the new student body vice president and was elected with 70.2% of the votes.

Reply on Twitter 2036113948026482716 Retweet on Twitter 2036113948026482716 Like on Twitter 2036113948026482716 1 Twitter 2036113948026482716
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
17 Mar

BREAKING NEWS: Voting is open for the 103rd student body president and vice president. The voting will close on Friday at 3 p.m.

Reply on Twitter 2033954960866418736 Retweet on Twitter 2033954960866418736 Like on Twitter 2033954960866418736 Twitter 2033954960866418736

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist is with ACU Journalism and Mass Communication.

4 days ago

The Optimist
The Optimist staff won several awards and competed at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association 2026 convention in Denton this weekend. Students participated in live contests and submitted work from the past year into the competition.Here are the results.- 1st place: Live print news writing, Ashley Henderson- 1st place: Live print sports writing, Roman Raffaeli- 2nd place: Live tv announcing, Zion Webb- 2nd place: Live news photo, Daniel Curd- 2nd place: Newscast, Optimist Staff- Honorable mention: Documentary (video), Makayla Clayton- 2nd place: Documentary, JMC documentary production class- 3rd place: General news, Callie Leverett- Honorable mention: General column, Zion Webb- Honorable mention: Sports reporting (video), Roman Raffaeli- Honorable mention: Live sports action photo, Daniel Curd- Honorable mention: General news video story, Ashley Henderson- Honorable mention: Photo illustrations (Daniel Curd & Optimist staffStudents also received awards for their work through KACU and ACUTV.- 1st place: In-depth news reporting (audio), Ashley Henderson- 1st place: General news audio story, Baylie Simon- 1st place: Live sports coverage (video), Roman Raffaeli & London Gray- 2nd place: Live sports coverage (video), Josiah Wonnell & Londyn Gray- 3rd place: General news audio story, Ashley Henderson- 2nd place: Sportscast (audio), Daisy Strine & Zion Webb- 3rd place: Sportscast (audio), Daisy Strine & Zion Webb- 3rd place: Feature reporting (audio), Baylie Simon- Honorable Mention: Feature reporting (audio), Josiah Wonnell#acuoptimist #abilenechristianuniversity #studentmedia #tipa2026 ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 months ago

The Optimist
Sororities and fraternities began New Member Orientation with Bid Day, officially starting the pledging process this weekend.Originally scheduled for last week, the start was delayed due to winter weather that brought snow and ice to campus. Clubs and their sponsors gathered at designated locations on and off campus to complete tasks assigned by their officers.To view the full photo gallery, visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acuoptimist #abilenechristianuniversity #greeklife 📸: Daniel Curdacuoptimist.com/2026/02/gallery-clubs-begin-new-member-orientation-after-weather-delay/?fbclid=PA... ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2026 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved