Week in Review : MAJOR EVENTS, IMAGES AND PEOPLE IN ORANGE COUNTY NEWS : MISCELLANY / NEWSMAKERS AND MILESTONES

Gone were the sleeping bags and lawn chairs. Eager Angel fans held no camp-out to wait in line for tickets to the American League playoffs.

The overnight gear was replaced by an orange plastic wristband.

Each bracelet marked a fan’s position in the rush for seats to the Angels-Red Sox match-up at Anaheim Stadium on Oct. 10, 11 and 12.

The Angel’s front office came up with the idea a year ago, when the Angels were contending for the division title but were beaten out by the eventual world champions, the Kansas City Royals.

Employees at the stadium began handing out the wristbands Monday to fans who showed up wanting tickets. The fans were instructed to return Wednesday in the order designated by the numbers on their wristbands.

But that did not eliminate the lines. Wednesday morning produced a throng of fans, all waiting for their wristband numbers to be summoned.

The man wearing wristband No. 1--and a T-shirt emblazoned with No. 44, Reggie Jackson’s number--was pleased with the system, although he admitted to feeling a little cheated.

“It would have been nice to camp out here for a couple of nights and still be the first in line,” said Jim Reeves of Orange.

But he conceded the advantage of the wristband system.

“Of course,” he said, “I smell a lot better today.”