Anaheim Angels' Troy Glaus. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        CINCINNATI — Interleague play gives Cincinnati Reds manager Bob Boone a chance to go home.

        The Reds open a three-game series Friday night in Anaheim, where Boone played from 1982 to 1988. It's the first time the Reds have played the Angels in the regular season.

        Boone played the first 10 years of his career with Philadelphia, which sold him to the Angels after the 1981 season. While with the Angels, he earned the last of his four All-Star Game selections at catcher.

        During the time he played in Anaheim, Boone moved his family to California. He lives about six miles from Edison Field.

        “I think of myself as a Phillie, but I have nothing but fond memories of Anaheim and the Angels and what they did for my career,” Boone said. “It was a great time.”

        Boone had a little culture shock when he moved his family from the East Coast, and it wasn't just because of the climate.

        “It's a completely different atmosphere. People go to games out there like they're going to the movies,” Boone said. “In Boston or Philadelphia, people are born into it. It's in the soul. I played a lot of games in Anaheim where they'd be cheering for the Yankees. Diverse groups come to the games.”

        After finishing his 19-year career with Kansas City in 1990, Boone did some scouting and liked the way the Angels' ballpark looked after it was renovated in 1996 and 1997.

        “For scouting, that's one of my favorite places to watch games,” he said. “They completely gutted underneath. When I go in there, I don't know where I am. They did one of the nicest refurbishing jobs of any place, to where you say 'You don't need a new stadium.”'

        Instead of playing American League Central Division teams this year, the Reds are playing opponents from the AL West. Boone hasn't given much thought to the change in format for interleague play.

        “It's something different, something that's fun and exciting,” he said. “If we win, we'll be real happy that we did it. If we don't, we'll be real sad and think it was stupid.”

Reds 3, Cards 2 Reds box, runs Schedule crunch squeezes Reds-Indians AL West foes ring a bell Boone returns home to start interleague play Haynes gives Reds their money's worth Reds at Angels series preview Rangers 9, Angels 8 Twins 8, Indians 3 Louisville 4, Pawtucket 0 Notes from Thursday's games Twins will play ball in 2003

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