ANAHEIM, Calif. -- As the champagne poured down on the Anaheim Angels in celebration of their victory over the New York Yankees, Disney chairman Michael Eisner suggested for the first time that the company might retain partial ownership in its bid to sell the team.

Eisner acknowledged Saturday that "the right buyer" has not been easy to find given the economic downtown and the company's insistence that the team remain in Anaheim.

"There are not a lot of people like that," Eisner told the Los Angeles Times. "We may or may not sell. If we do, we may very well stay in as a partner."

Disney recently hired an investment bank to handle the sale of the team, which has struggled through the years both on the field and in the bank.

Since Disney retained the investment bank, those expressing interest in acquiring the team include Mexican billionaire Carlos Peralta, former baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth and the Nederlander family.

After Saturday's game, Eisner, who was drenched in champagne, saluted the Angels for their first postseason series victory.

"I think it's great for all of Southern California, for Orange County in particular and for the Walt Disney Co.," he said. "It demonstrates the kind of teamwork we like to have in everything we do -- making movies, building theme parks, whatever."