Trip Gets a Little Hairy for Rookies

If you’re going to finish last and suffer one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, well, you might as well have fun doing it.

That seems to be the Angels’ approach on this trip, when nine rookies, as part of the traditional hazing process, have to wear wigs, purchased by reliever Chuck McElroy, on flights and bus rides from airports to hotels.

“They’ve got it easy compared to what I had to do,” McElroy said. “I had Roger McDowell [at Philadelphia in 1990] my rookie year--he made us bring coffee from the bullpen to the guys in the dugout during one game, one time he made us wear platform shoes. . . . “

Said rookie reliever Mike Holtz: “Somehow I think this is only the beginning, but I’m a pretty good sport with this stuff. A little humiliation never hurt anyone.”

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Jim Abbott (1-15) will make his first major league start since Aug. 10 today when the Angels play the Twins in the series finale. Abbott went 0-2 with a 3.41 earned-run average in three starts for triple-A Vancouver, his first stint in the minor leagues.

“We’d like to see a successful performance on his part for his well-being,” interim Manager Joe Maddon said. “I can’t imagine going through the season he has and handling it as well as he has. But hopefully going to the minor leagues for a while gave him a chance to relax a bit.”

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Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad announced during a ceremony honoring former Twin star Kirby Puckett that his No. 34 will be retired next season, joining Harmon Killebrew (3), Rod Carew (29), Tony Oliva (6) and Kent Hrbek (14) on the list of Twins to have their jerseys retired. . . . Carew, a former Twin who received a warm standing ovation from the Metrodome crowd, took part in the festivities, catching the game’s ceremonial first pitch from Puckett. . . . Acting Commissioner Bud Selig and American League President Gene Budig attended the game. Selig was booed.