Texas Rangers fans lined the streets of Arlington Friday afternoon to celebrate the first World Series championship. The route began in the entertainment district south of Globe Life Field and looped clockwise for about 1.9 miles.
The team secured its milestone win with a 5-0 road win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday to secure a 4-1 series victory. The franchise’s long-awaited victory finally came in its 63rd season. The team began as the Washington Senators in 1961, moving to Texas in 1972.
Arlington police were allegedly A crowd of 250,000 to 300,000 was expected on Thursday, an estimate that increased as the day progressed:
All those supporters were waiting for Rangers players and Texans manager Bruce Bochy to cruise through the entertainment district between downtown Fort Worth and downtown Dallas.
“It’s about the fans. They’re the reason we do this, why we play. We feed them and for them to win a championship. That’s what makes this special,” Bochy he said when everyone came to the ceremony stage. “They’re all special, the World Series. But to get the first one and for it to happen to them is what makes me feel so good.”
Creed’s “Higher,” the team’s postseason anthem, played as players took turns lifting the trophy on stage. If Bochy’s comments didn’t excite fans enough, All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien apparently did. He assured the crowd that a World Series title was the new standard for the team.
World Series MVP Corey Seager and AL Championship Series Adolisa Garcia’s commentary was also a highlight. García, who shined in the series opener with a decisive homer in the 11th inning, got a start that would send anyone running through the wall.
“It’s great to be part of this team,” the Cuban star said through a translator. “Thank you to each and every one of you who believed in us.”
Seager missed an opportunity to drop the mic
While García thanked the fans who believed in the Rangers, shortstop Corey Seager added a punch.
“It’s been really special, we appreciate all your support, but I just have to say one thing,” Seager said calmly. “Everybody was wondering what would have happened if the Rangers hadn’t won the World Series. I guess we’ll never know.”
He then politely handed the microphone back to the Master of Ceremonies.
It was an A-plus dig that probably could have used a little more flair in its delivery. Seager was talking about the Astros’ victory over the Rangers for the American League West division title on the final day of the 2023 regular season.
At the time, Astros third baseman Alex Bregman celebrated the victory in the locker room with the same reference to Kanye West’s acceptance speech at the 2005 Grammy Awards.
“People were wondering what it would be like if the Astros didn’t win the division,” Bregman said. “I guess we’ll never know.
But the Rangers got the last laugh when they defeated the Astros in the American League Championship Series en route to the World Series title. Then they laughed again Friday when Seager comically drove it home.
It was a great all-around moment for Seager, who won the 2020 World Series MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He won the title at the Rangers’ home stadium, Globe Life Field, which was chosen as a neutral venue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He didn’t take part in the parade that year, but his speech was probably the best part of the Rangers celebration this time around.
During this postseason, Seager had six home runs and 12 RBIs while batting .318 with a 1.133 OPS. He and Reggie Jackson are the only position players in MLB history to win the World Series MVP twice.
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