Bonds Aiming for World Series Ring
and it's not the career home run record. It's that elusive World Series ring. And starting this week, he gets yet another chance to win that piece of jewelry Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson waited so long to earn.
( BEN WALKER, AP Baseball Writer, 10/01/2002 07:55 AM EDT)

Braves Ready for More Empty Seats
Turner Field looked as though it was shutting down for the season - not gearing up for the playoffs.
( PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer, 10/01/2002 05:19 AM EDT)

After trying season, Morris faces Arizona again
The world of a big-time pitcher in postseason baseball was new to Matt Morris a year ago. He returns wiser, maybe stronger, after a season of emotional and physical pain.
( BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer, 10/01/2002 03:56 AM EDT)

Baseball Today
Minnesota at Oakland (4:08 p.m. EDT), Game 1 of their ALDS. Brad Radke, who missed 2 1/2 months with a pulled groin, will try to stop the Athletics, led by Miguel Tejada and Eric Chavez who each batted over .400 against the Twins this season.
( The Associated Press, 10/01/2002 03:37 AM EDT)

Twins, Athletics in small-market faceoff
Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire felt thankful just to go to spring training, so reaching the postseason is a huge plus.
( JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer, 10/01/2002 02:29 AM EDT)

Salmon, Angels Make It to Playoffs
Tim Salmon and the Anaheim Angels haven't waited forever to play in the postseason.
( JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer, 10/01/2002 02:28 AM EDT)

Clemens Still Stands in Angels' Way
Jason Giambi knows just what the playoff-novice Anaheim Angels are facing at Yankee Stadium
( JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer, 10/01/2002 02:26 AM EDT)

Pirates' Virdon retires as bench coach
Bill Virdon, who has more than 40 years of major league experience as a player, manager and coach, has retired after two seasons as the Pittsburgh Pirates' bench coach.
( 10/01/2002 12:11 AM EDT)

Home Runs, Scoring Down Again
Forget the long ball. After a decade of record-setting bashing in baseball, pitchers finally are starting to catch up with hitters.
( RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer, 10/01/2002 12:09 AM EDT)

This Date in Baseball - Oct. 1
Compiled By PAUL MONTELLA Oct. 1 1903 - The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Boston Red Sox, 7-3, in the first World Series game ever played. Jimmy Sebring hit the first series home run. Deacon Phillippe was the winning pitcher and Cy Young the loser.
( The Associated Press, 10/01/2002 12:01 AM EDT)

Angels Still Haunted by 'Moore Game'
It was a pleasant Sunday afternoon in mid-October and the fans at Anaheim Stadium were going crazy. Their beloved Angels were one out away from advancing to the World Series for the first time.
( JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 10:17 PM EDT)

Tigers, Cubs Want to Meet Macha
Oakland Athletics bench coach Ken Macha, one of the most sought-after managerial candidates in the major leagues, has been contacted by the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs for their open managerial jobs.
( JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 09:22 PM EDT)

Labor Deal Signing Pushed Back
Lawyers for baseball players and owners pushed back signing their labor settlement to Tuesday.
( 09/30/2002 09:05 PM EDT)

D'Backs' Gonzalez Has Surgery
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Luis Gonzalez underwent successful surgery Monday to repair his separated left shoulder and damaged ligaments.
( 09/30/2002 08:45 PM EDT)

Devil Rays Release Alvarez, Gomez
Often injured pitcher Wilson Alvarez, shortstop Chris Gomez and reliever Tom Martin were released Monday by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
( 09/30/2002 08:44 PM EDT)

Tigers Fire Two Managers in Season
The Detroit Tigers were so bad this year that they fired two managers.
( LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 07:57 PM EDT)

Tigers, Devil Rays Fire Managers
Managers Hal McRae of Tampa Bay and Luis Pujols of Detroit were fired Monday after their teams tied for the worst record in the major leagues.
( LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 07:37 PM EDT)

Baseball Season of Conflict, Records
It was a baseball season full of angst and drama, collapses and comebacks.
( STEVE WILSTEIN, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 07:29 PM EDT)

Brewers' Royster Still Has Job
Jerry Royster met with his new boss for 90 minutes Monday but the Milwaukee Brewers didn't announce any decision on his managerial status.
( ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 07:11 PM EDT)

Yanks' Rivera Ready for Playoffs
New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is ready to pitch more than one inning at a time despite manager Joe Torre's reluctance to push his star too hard.
( The Associated Press, 09/30/2002 07:06 PM EDT)

McRae fired by Devil Rays
Hal McRae saw it coming. He was fired as manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Monday, one day after the team finished a miserable 55-106 season.
( FRED GOODALL, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 06:51 PM EDT)

Mexican Billionaire Looks at Angels
A Mexican billionaire who owns one of his country's most successful baseball teams is interested in buying the Anaheim Angels from The Walt Disney Co.
( WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press Writer, 09/30/2002 06:44 PM EDT)

Bonds gets another crack at ring
Barry Bonds realizes time is running out. At 38, Bonds has no more than a handful of chances left to carry the San Francisco Giants to the World Series. His life could change in the next three weeks - or he could remain one of the greatest players never to reach baseball's biggest showcase.
( GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 06:43 PM EDT)

Angels still haunted by 'Moore Game'
It was a pleasant Sunday afternoon in mid-October and the fans at Anaheim Stadium were going crazy. Their beloved Angels were one out away from advancing to the World Series for the first time.
( JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 06:42 PM EDT)

Angels Must Get Past Yanks' Clemens
The Anaheim Angels waited 16 years to get back to the playoffs and the same intimidating guy is waiting there to stop them.
( JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 06:29 PM EDT)

Playoff Umpire Assignments Announced
Bruce Froemming, a 32-year veteran, will head the umpiring crew that will work Games 1, 2 and 5 of the first-round playoff series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks
( 09/30/2002 06:06 PM EDT)

Major League Attendance Down 6 Pct.
Average attendance in the major leagues dropped 6.1 percent this year, its second straight decline and the biggest decrease since the season after the 1994-95 strike.
( RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 06:02 PM EDT)

Reds' Larkin Has Toe Surgery
Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin underwent surgery Monday to remove bone spurs from his right big toe.
( 09/30/2002 05:24 PM EDT)

Home Runs, Scoring Down Again
After a decade of record-setting bashing in baseball, pitchers finally are starting to catch up with hitters.
( RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 05:14 PM EDT)

Expos Player Arrested for Drugs
An employee of the Florida Marlins was allegedly asked to place a padlocked bag containing a pound of marijuana aboard the team's charter flight from Montreal, club officials said.
( 09/30/2002 03:54 PM EDT)

Twins, A's share similar talents
It's the playoff series the baseball hierarchy never expected to see: two small-market teams making it big.
( JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 03:30 PM EDT)

Karros to Have Shoulder Exam
Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros will have an MRI examination Wednesday to determine if surgery is needed on his left shoulder.
( 09/30/2002 03:22 PM EDT)

Tigers fire Pujols after 106-loss season
It didn't really matter who was managing the Detroit Tigers this season.
( LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 03:03 PM EDT)

Expos win finale as future in doubt
If this was the end of the Montreal Expos, call it a fond farewell.
( MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 08:37 AM EDT)

Expos Win Finale as Future in Doubt
If this was the end of the Montreal Expos, call it a fond farewell.
( MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 03:15 AM EDT)

Bonds Breaks Record for Walks
Barry Bonds bashed his way into the record book last season. This year, he strolled.
( RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer, 09/30/2002 02:08 AM EDT)

Seattle's Sasaki may have surgery
Seattle Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki, who struggled in September, may undergo surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow.
( 09/29/2002 08:45 PM EDT)

Narron's Future With Rangers Unsure
Texas manager Jerry Narron met with general manager John Hart on Sunday to discuss the future of the Rangers, and left not knowing if he would return next season.
( STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer, 09/29/2002 08:33 PM EDT)

Announcer Harwell calls last game
After 55 years of broadcasting big league baseball and a season full of honors, Ernie Harwell nearly got one last going-away present in his final game.
( 09/29/2002 07:15 PM EDT)