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From Ryan to the Rally Monkey: Local man tells the story of the Angels
It was Game 6 of the 2002 World Series, and Goldman, working for the Angels as he had for several years as a clubhouse assistant, was responsible for taking care of the bubbly for the would-be champs, who at that moment were ahead 5-0 with a 3-2 series lead. Seconds later, Angel Scott Spiezio's memorable three-run blast off Felix Rodriguez in the 7th changed everything. The then Anaheim Angels went on to win the game and the series. Goldman, a career actor and teacher, went on to write his first book. "It just snowballed into this incredible three-year journey, and 80 interviews later I got a darn good book," said Goldman, 49, who lives in Thousand Oaks. The book, "Once They Were Angels: A History of the Team," ($24.95, Sports Publishing, LLC) details the franchise's 44year history through fresh and entertaining insider perspectives. It is filled with colorful diatribes and candid tales of Angels past and present-stars like Reggie Jackson, Rod Carew, Nolan Ryan and Jim Abbott, as well as lesser known Angels like Bo Belinsky, Alex Johnson and Dean Chance. "The book centers around 10 guys," Goldman said. "I picked 10 names that defined the franchise." Instead of injecting too much of his own opinion and insight, Goldman said he decided to allow the Angels to do most of the storytelling themselves. The result, he said, is a oneof-a-kind tale about a ball club full of almost movie-like characters that has universal appeal. "I decided to let the players have this one," Goldman said. "I let the players tell the story and that's what I think makes the book unique-it's their story." Goldman got unique access to players, coaches and management because of a lifelong connection to the team. Because his grandmother was good friends with the wife of the Angel's first general manager, Fred Haney, Goldman was present at the team's first spring training in 1961. "My ties (with the team) are deep. They go right back to their very first year," Goldman said. Goldman, who played baseball collegiately at Mendocino College after graduating from Palisades High School, was a batboy for the team from 1974 to 1976. It was then that he got close with many of the Angels' original players, guys like Leroy Stanton, who Goldman credits for inspiring him to write the book. Goldman said throughout the lengthy process of gathering information (which took three years) for the book, players were more than willing to open up to him and his trusty tape recorder. "Think about it. Those are the greatest moments of their lives," Goldman said. "If somebody came up to you wanting to know about the greatest moment of your life, wouldn't you want to speak with them?" Grabbing players wherever and whenever he got the chance, Goldman said he almost never missed an opportunity to share a few minutes with a former Angel-and some of those encounters led to the most entertaining sections of the book. "I just grabbed them whenever I could. Whenever I had the opportunity," Goldman said. "That's why it took so long." Goldman chose Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, who spent eight seasons with the Angels, to don the cover of his first book. In addition to being a close friend, Goldman called Ryan "one of the greatest individuals I have ever met." "He really came into full bloom when he was with the Angels," he said. "In my opinion, he is the greatest Angel of all-time." Goldman, who has been a substitute teacher in the Conejo Valley for the past 15 years, will be signing copies of the book at 4 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Westlake Village on May 20. He will appear again June 20 at Border's in Thousand Oaks. Early book sales, Goldman said, have confirmed his suspicion that Angel fans were thirsting for this kind of written history of the team-even those residing in what's been considered Dodger Country. "You go into a Barnes & Noble and there are 10 books on the Dodgers and none on the Angels," Goldman said. "Well, now there's one." |
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