New York ? The World Series trophy never would have made it to Anaheim this year if baseball had gone through with a plan to fold the Angels.

Arizona, Florida, Kansas City, Minnesota, Montreal, Oakland, San Diego and Tampa Bay all initially were examined for consideration as possible contraction targets, according to a Dec. 11, 2000, memorandum by baseball lawyers Tom Ostertag and Ed Whang that was obtained Tuesday by the Associated Press.

In addition, an undated list of “Contraction Issues” prepared by the commissioner’s office added Anaheim, stating “Angels want to ‘sell;’ Athletics want to move.” The issues list said Anaheim’s situation was “complicated by public ownership of the Angels,” who are a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co.

Former Angels president Tony Tavares said baseball examined two plans involving Anaheim, one which would have led to the dispersal of the Angels’ roster after the 2001 season.

“There was a concept that Oakland would have gotten contracted and the ownership of Oakland would have taken over the ownership of the Angels and remained in Anaheim,” Tavares said. “There was another concept that the players on the Angels would have been disbanded, and the players on Oakland would have moved on to Anaheim.

“I would say it was not that serious. The principals never spoke.”