Finley Wonders What Might Have Been

Mark McGwire hit his 60th home run and Sammy Sosa hit his 58th Saturday, but Angel pitcher Chuck Finley suggested McGwire might have long since left Sosa--and Roger Maris--in the dust if he played for the Angels.

McGwire campaigned last summer for a trade to Anaheim, but Disney executives rejected a proposed deal with Oakland, and McGwire landed in St. Louis. Still, Finley’s eyes twinkled as he imagined McGwire in an Angel uniform, in a league more conducive to offense and in a lineup surrounded by Darin Erstad, Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson.

“Over here, there’s no telling what he might have,” Finley said, “with all the smaller yards and the protection in our lineup.

“He might be pushing 80 right now.”

McGwire closed within one of Maris’ single-season record Saturday afternoon, but Angel Manager Terry Collins said he was too busy to notice.

“I was watching film of Brian Barber,” Collins said, referring to the Royals’ starting pitcher Saturday night. “I wasn’t turning on the TV to see whether Mark McGwire hit a home run.

“I’m sorry. I have tunnel vision. I can pick up the paper in the morning and see if he hit a home run.”

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Attention, real baseball fans: If you plan on attending tonight’s Angel-Royal game, beware of infiltrators in your midst. The Angels are giving away Beanie Babies, the inexplicably popular animal beanbags that collectors crave. Youngsters 12 and under will receive Mel, a stuffed koala barely bigger than an adult hand.

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How can you distinguish a collector? Listen for telltale comments like, “If these are the Royals, how come George Brett isn’t playing?”

Beanie Babies retail for about $5. But they’re all limited edition, so your kid could sell his or hers to a collector using this handy price guide: $15 for a view-level seat in the first round of the playoffs, $28 for child admission to Disneyland, or $100 for an authentic Cecil Fielder game jersey, cut from $180 after the Angels released him.

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The Angels announced that individual game tickets for potential first-round playoff games will go on sale Saturday. Fans can buy tickets at the Edison Field box office (cash only) or by calling TicketMaster charge lines (credit card only). The tickets will not be sold at TicketMaster outlets.

Ticket prices, set by major league baseball, range from $10 to $40.

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Gene Autry, the Angels’ founder and still the majority owner, visited the clubhouse before Saturday’s game. Autry celebrates his 91st birthday Sept. 29.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’ CHUCK FINLEY

(10-6, 3.20 ERA)

vs.

ROYALS’ TIM BELCHER

(12-11, 4.14 ERA)

Edison Field, 5 p.m.

Radio--KRLA (1110), XPRS (1090)

* Update--The Angels say they aren’t yet worried about Finley, but they will be if his start tonight resembles his last two. Finley, the Angels’ ace, failed to reach the sixth inning in either of those starts. The Angels have juggled their rotation so he can start two of the five remaining games against the second-place Texas Rangers. “You don’t want to hit a bad streak this time of the season,” Finley said. “The problem is, my fastball is a little flat, and my angle on the ball is not what it usually is, so batters are able to see the ball and put more wood on it. I can correct it. I just have to make the adjustment.”