‘Mygoodness,’ Hudler Is in Seventh Heaven

So this is what it feels like to be Rex Hudler for a day, thousands and thousands of Angel fans running around all giddy and bubbly, the Rally Monkey conga line forming behind the Wonder Dog.

Darin Erstad might be an awesome fielder, and Scott Spiezio an RBI machine in the playoffs, but every day of the year, win or lose, rain or shine, Hudler, the former Angel player, has been this team’s Energizer Broadcaster, feeding anyone who will listen with hope and promise no matter what the score.

And so there he was, clapping, jumping up and down and hugging everyone along the third base line after the Angels’ World Series victory, and no matter how hard I yelled, he wouldn’t put me down.

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THEY ANNOUNCED Troy Glaus had been selected most valuable player, Hudler heard it, and hugged me again while screaming in my ear: “Troy David, Troy David,” and I had done my homework and knew Glaus’ middle name was Edward, and so obviously “the Hud Man” had really lost it.

“We’re going to have a baby,” he said, and I told him we had just hugged, but he wasn’t listening. “We know we’re going to have a boy in December, and I’m going to name him Troy, after the MVP, and David after David Eckstein,” he yelled, and I turned in his arms so he could have the chance to blow out the other ear drum.

Shouldn’t you check with your wife? I said.

“I might have had some trouble naming him ‘Kingfish,’ after [Tim] Salmon, but this one’s mine to name,” he said, while showing me a World Series ball from Game 7. “When Troy David arrives, I’m going to give him this.”

In the Hud Man’s excitement, I hope one of the nurses catches the ball when he flips it to the baby.

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WHEN THE fans come together again in the Edison Field parking lot Tuesday to honor their heroes, Hudler will serve as master of ceremonies -- as it should be -- with broadcasting partner Steve Physioc, although I fear no one will understand what the Hud Man is saying in his excitement.

“Mygoodness,” he said, and that was after thanking Fox honcho David Hill for not assigning him TV duty right after the win, “becausei’llbetooexcited.”

Translated: If you attend the Rolling Stones concert here later this week and catch Mick Jagger going crazy jumping up and down, that’s what you get from Hudler when you say, “Hello, Rex.”

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BEFORE THE noise sticks, and the red T-shirts appeared here to spur on the Angels, the most excited guy in this empty place was Hudler -- night after night. He was the rally monkey long before the two video kids put the critter on the scoreboard, and the only mystery at this point is why didn’t those two kids put a picture of the Hud Man up there jumping up and down like a monkey.

“Mygosh,mygosh,mygosh,” he gushed, both arms above his head like Rocky making it to the top of the steps, and I believe for a second there, he was crying.

“You know when all this started?” he said, and I’m sorry for jabbing him in the stomach and forcing him to take a breath, but I wanted to understand what he was saying. “The night before the strike when the fans here threw the baseballs back onto the field, that changed everything. They got into it. That didn’t happen in any other stadium that night, and those pictures went back to the player reps in New York and there was no strike.

“Then it really took off, the fans knowing the Angels really had a chance to play it out all the way, and they haven’t stopped screaming since.”

Of course, that also includes Hudler, who will tell you he’d like to be a credible broadcaster, but knows he’s a homer. “Hey, they feed my family, and I love them,” the Hud Man said. “Maybe next year I’ll be credible,” and then Jackie Autry held up the Cowboy’s hat on stage, and Hudler turned to mush.

“Mygosh,mygosh ... “ he blubbered.

“Don’t you dare pick me up again,” I said.

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THE TROPHY ceremony took place beyond second base on a stage, and the Hud Man watched it like a proud parent watching his child graduate from high school.

The night before he brought his 8-year-old daughter with him to share in his joy, and now he said, “I’m the luckiest man in the world to be a part of this.”

He has two sons, “Will the Thrill,” named for Will Clark, and “Cade,” a 5-year-old Down syndrome child, which motivated Hudler and his wife, Jennifer, to begin the “Team Up For Down Syndrome” foundation.

Hudler, of course, calls it “Up Syndrome,” because there’s no down about Hudler or anyone around him, which probably explains why so many of the Angels, support personnel and coaches returned the Hudler hug with such obvious affection.

“Mygosh,mygosh.... “ he said, and I pointed to Bengie Molina as the Hud Man came charging at me with open arms, and said, “I don’t think you’ve hugged him yet,” and managed to get away with ribs intact.

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THERE’S TALK the Dodgers might go after free agent Jeff Kent. But that was Dodger Chairman Bob Daly sitting 10 rows or so up from where Kent kept striking out.

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THE WALL Street Journal reported Barry Bonds is buying an $8-million home in Beverly Hills. Only a matter of time, I guess, before Bonds, Bum Garner, Kevin Brown and I are playing as a foursome at Bel-Air.

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CORRECTION: IT was incorrectly reported here a few days ago that “The SIMERS Show,” also known as “Around the Horn,” would debut today on ESPN and then be canceled by Tuesday. ESPN reports the show has been delayed a week, presumably because it’s no good, leaving the possibility it might be canceled before making it on air.

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T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com