TEMPE, Ariz. -- Luke Wrenn believed when others did not.

Wrenn is the Boston scout who advised the Red Sox to draft David Eckstein in 1999. He overlooked Eckstein's 5-foot-6 height and his lack of big league tools because he knew that Eckstein had a big- league sized heart, desire and smarts that would carry him beyond others who possessed more talent.

Eckstein proved Wrenn a great talent evaluator the past couple of years when he became the starting shortstop for the Anaheim Angels, who claimed him on Aug. 16, 2000, when the Red Sox put him on waivers.

Eckstein still stays in touch with Wrenn.

"I talked to him about three weeks ago, just thanking him for giving me the opportunity," Eckstein said. "I talk to him two or three times during the season."

Eckstein has gone from a 1994 walk-on at the University of Florida and a 19th-round 1997 draft pick to a World Series hero, dining with President George W. Bush during the offseason.

Eckstein hit .293, had a .363 on-base percentage and scored 107 runs last year. He led the American League with 14 sacrifice bunts and 27 HBP. He had one more walk, 45, than strikeouts, 44, and stole 21 bases.

Those are not numbers embedded in Eckstein's memory, however.

"I don't do stats," Eckstein said.

Eckstein said part of his job is to move runners.

"I could go 0-for-20, but if I moved runners 20 times, I'm doing my job," Eckstein said.

The only statistic that Eckstein cares about is the number of games the Angels win.

"My goal is to do something every day to help this team win," he said.

He certainly has done that. Since the start of the 2001 season, the Angels are 47 games above .500 (152-105) when he bats leadoff. Eckstein hit eight home runs last year and three were grand slams.

He helped the Angels win their first World Series, hitting safely in 13 of 16 playoff games, including six multi-hit games. He hit .310 and scored six runs in the World Series.

Eckstein said it did not really sink in what the Angels accomplished until he watched the MLB video in mid-December, but did not view the "whole thing" until January.

"Then I can remember everything," Eckstein said. "Game 6 was my favorite part. Nobody cares about Game 7."

The Angels trailed the Giants 5-0 going into the bottom of the seventh in Game 6, but rallied to win 6-5.

After the season, Eckstein toured Japan with a group of Major League All-Stars, appeared on the Jay Leno shot and dined on Nov. 25 at the White House.

"President Bush was very personal and made you feel at home," said Eckstein, who brought his mother, Patricia, with him.

Eckstein, too, makes everybody feel at home around him. He went to a Newport Beach restaurant with his brother after the World Series. By the time he had finished signing autographs for everybody, his party had finished eating.

"I had to eat my meal in the car," Eckstein said. "When I walked out, I got a standing ovation."

Eckstein is unassuming, driving a 1999 Nissan that his sister bought, and doesn't mind the teasing about his height.

"I'm very short," he said. "I know that. I have no problem with that."

The non-stop offseason is over and the non-stop Eckstein is back at work, playing the game he has so much passion for on a team that accomplished what few thought they could do in 2002.

"All I want to do is win another World Series," Eckstein said. "I'm sure it is harder to win the second time. We're not picked to win."