BASEBALL: DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Sojo Told to Dress for His Promotion

Luis Sojo couldn’t understand why Edmonton Manager Chuck Oliveras insisted he bring a sport jacket on the team’s trip to Calgary Thursday.

“I went back (to his lodgings) to get it, but I didn’t take my other clothes with me,” he said. “Then they told me something had happened, but they wouldn’t tell me what.”

Sojo didn’t learn until midday Thursday that some of his teammates had been injured in a bus crash early that morning, and that he would need the jacket when he was recalled by the Angels to replace Bobby Rose, who has a severely sprained right ankle.

“It’s a terrible thing to happen,” said Sojo, who hit .297 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 30 games with the Trappers. “You don’t want (a promotion) to be because of something like this.”

Sojo, who was beaten out by Rose for the starting job at second base during spring training, said he played three games at second, one at short and 27 at third for Edmonton. He has no preference as to where the Angels play him. “If they want me to pitch, I’ll pitch. It doesn’t matter to me,” he said.

Of those in Friday’s starting lineup, center fielder Junior Felix, first baseman Lee Stevens, third baseman Gary Gaetti and shortstop Gary DiSarcina were on the bus that crashed. Gaetti was unhurt and the other three had bumps and bruises. All of the pitchers were in another bus.

Hubie Brooks, who spent Thursday’s off-day in New York, heard about the accident on the radio. “I’m just happy we didn’t have anyone dead,” he said. “We were very lucky. After seeing pictures, I don’t see how Buck (Rodgers) got out alive. It’s a miracle he’s alive.”

Bullpen catcher Rick Turner, who sustained a gash under his left arm that required 26 stitches, couldn’t perform his usual duties. A substitute catcher will be hired. Roving minor league instructor Chuck Hernandez was summoned to help Turner and Ken Macha--who had bruises and puncture wounds in his leg--handle the pitchers.

Angel players were impressed with their first look at the new Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The failure Tuesday of a bank of lights in right field was one of the few problems at the stadium; a faulty fuse was to blame and was easily replaced.

“We tried to incorporate the arches from Comiskey Park, the Wrigley bleachers and the Ebbets Field right-field wall,” said Oriole General Manager Roland Hemond, whose office is in the red-brick warehouse that looms behind right field. “It’s a little like Comiskey and Tiger Stadium, except for the extra deck.”