Vaughn Means Mo Season-Ticket Sales

In the first three weeks after signing free-agent first baseman Mo Vaughn to a six-year, $80-million contract, the Angels sold 654 season tickets, about half for the full season and half for 21-game packages. All this without benefit of a marketing campaign, which isn’t scheduled to start until next month. On the day after Thanksgiving, the first business day after Vaughn signed and a day on which the Angels traditionally sell no tickets, they sold 25 season tickets.

The recent ticket sales, generated largely by the Vaughn signing, will add about $1 million to the Angels’ coffers. Of course, the team must pay Vaughn a $5-million signing bonus and another $5 million in salary in 1999.

“I think the impact has been tremendous,” said Larry Cohen, the Angels’ manager of business development. “Did I sell $80 million worth? I don’t think I’m ever going to get there.”