Gary DiSarcina remembered the buzz.
DiSarcina was the shortstop for the Angels in 1997 when they welcomed the San Diego Padres on a mid-June night for their first interleague game, a stretch of matchups against the National League West that included San Francisco as well as the Dodgers. It felt like opening day. There was the anticipation. For many on the roster, it was the first time they would face a Hall of Famer named Tony Gwynn, too.
“Everyone was a little curious how long this was going to go,” DiSarcina said. “We thought it might have been like a gimmick, almost like when the wild card was introduced.