In the words of pop singer Lizzo, “It’s about damn time!”
A lot of folks waited a long, long time for the celebration that took place in the Metroplex on Wednesday night, Nov. 1. The Texas Rangers are finally champions of the professional baseball world.
Much like the ugly duckling or a certain reindeer that was never invited to play with the rest, the Rangers stood out among our local pro sports franchises as the loveable team yet to claim the ultimate prize. We hoped a championship would find its way here some day, but until now the closest was the painful memory of getting oh so close in 2011, only to have it yanked away like Lucy with Charlie Brown’s football.
This time, however, it is the Diamondbacks - and John Smoltz, of course - who are saying “Good grief,” while the Rangers celebrate finally getting off the kick. In fact, they kicked in the proverbial door, winning the whole dang thing in the process.
Like so many, my memories of the Rangers run deep, to the very year they moved to Arlington. I was living in East Texas at the time and was a wee lad just entering my teenage years. One of the things I remember most about their relocation, oddly enough, is their final game in Washington, which was a 9-0 forfeit to the Yankees when fans stormed the field before the game was actually over.
Admittedly, there wasn’t much reason to do any field storming those first couple of seasons in Arlington, with just 111 wins total. Then, legendary manager Billy Martin raised hopes with an 84-76 record in 1974.
There were other times throughout their history that stand out in my memory that brought hope, such as going 95-67 in 1977, and of course, the 1996, 1998 and 1999 playoff appearances under manager Johnny Oates. Damn those Yankees!
In 2010 it was so sweet when Alex Rodriguez, with the Yankees by then and celebrating a world championship from the season before, struck out for the final out as the Rangers reached the brink of the summit before falling in five games to the Giants and manager Bruce Bochy. Yes, the same Bochy who in one season became the greatest manager in Rangers history.
By the way, Bochy is the only manager ever to win a World Series with a team he defeated in an earlier World Series.
A year later in 2011, though all indications were the Rangers were the best team in baseball, again they fell short, dropping the final two games to the Cardinals. I will never forget jumping for joy alongside so many others at a watch party - including my now wife, the lovely Mrs. Junell, when Josh Hamilton’s home run in the 10th gave the Rangers a two-run lead.
Now, after a dozen years, the name Nelson Cruz will no longer be considered curse words in our household and a lot of others. Looking back, it would have been an impressive catch. Funny how a championship can bring some clarity - and forgiveness.
ALEDO CONNECTIONS
Of course, local eyes were on former Bearcat Cody Bradford, who had several bright spots in the postseason after getting called up from the minors in September. He won a game against Baltimore in the second round and pitched two perfect innings in the World Series.
Another local connection for whom I am very happy is Randy Galloway. Before becoming a legendary sports columnist he was a beat writer for the Rangers with the Dallas Morning News.
Now, after all these years, he can raise a beer - or several - to toast Bradford, Bochy and the rest of the Rangers. This one’s for you Randy, the beer and the championship.
I’ve certainly had some special moments with other championships in the Metroplex. I covered the last Super Bowl the Cowboys were in - and won. At the time, I was young and new to the area and thought to myself, “This is cool. The Cowboys go to the Super Bowl as often as I go to the kitchen.”
Well, as my wife and physique will attest, I am still going to the kitchen a lot. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ championship cupboard has gotten pretty bare since then.
Junell and I were in attendance - thanks to a good friend who couldn’t use his tickets - in 2011 when the Rangers clinched the American League pennant at The Ballpark. That still ranks right up there as one of my all-time favorite sports - and romantic - moments.
There were many games to which I took my son Justin as he was growing up. I remember we sat through a 15-inning contest at the old Arlington Stadium, which the Rangers won.
In the late 1970s, a high school friend and myself made the trek from Tyler to see the Rangers overcome a 7-0 deficit against the Cleveland Indians to win 8-7 on a Richie Zisk home run in the ninth.That same season we saw them rally from a 6-1 deficit to defeat the Yankees 11-7.
I was also fortunate enough to cover their first ever playoff season in 1996. That included winning their first playoff game ever - followed by nine straight losses to those damn Yankees.
Did I say how sweet it was to beat A-Rod and the Yankees to get to that first World Series?
My best friend Mark and I were at the watch party at Globe Life Field with about 20,000 others when the Rangers clinched their first World Series championship on Nov. 1. And yes, it was every bit as special as it would have been had we actually been at the game - and with the $1,000 or so bucks we saved on tickets we were able to get some great championship gear.
Being there, alongside other long-suffering fans (and some young suffering, but the more the merrier) made it all the more special. One elderly lady in the row in front of us - she was 85 if she was a day - said she can now move on to the next life a happy person.
Next to us was a young man with his girlfriend. They were probably not even in kindergarten in 2011, but they held their own celebrating alongside us old-timers.
When the final strike was called, Mark said he actually fainted for a moment. I was too busy celebrating to notice, if I am honest, but he bounced right back up without missing a beat or any high-fives.
Of course, he’d had both a COVID booster and flu shot earlier that day - but we both prefer to believe it was because the moment was so emotionally overwhelming.
Honestly, I might have fainted as well, but I was too busy pinching myself.
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