"There were fires that day. Oct. 9, 1982. The California Angels were in Milwaukee, about to play the Brewers in the American League Championship Series. The Angels needed one more win to reach the World Series. Just before the game, the Angels clubhouse got unsettling news: Fire was spreading through Anaheim Hills, where several players had homes and families. "The fire was near my house," Angel centerfielder Fred Lynn said Saturday, while signing autographs at the OC Dugout. "The game started but it was hard to focus." By the fifth inning, word came that their families were safe. "I led off with a double," Lynn said, "but it was too late. We couldn't catch them." The Brewers eventually won the playoff series, 3-2. "Everyone thought we were the better team that year," Lynn said. "That's hard to swallow. I still think about it today." Lynn played for the Angels from 1981-84 - slugging 71 home runs, making countless diving catches and going to three All-Star games in that span. For that, and a sterling 16-year career, fans lined out the door Saturday to meet him." Read more: http://www.ocregister.com/sports/lynn-289019-angels-series.html
