03/28/24 08:04:00
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03/28 19:55 CDT Texas Rangers unfurl franchise's first World Series
championship banner
Texas Rangers unfurl franchise's first World Series championship banner
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) --- The Texas Rangers unfurled a World Series
championship banner for the first time in franchise history before their season
opener on Thursday night against the Chicago Cubs.
The banner was dropped from Globe Life Field's roof support high above right
field. Shortly before, the Commissioner's Trophy was brought to home plate by
manager Bruce Bochy and pitcher Josh Sborz, who recorded the final out in the
clinching Game 5 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in November.
"I want to thank you for your tremendous support," Bochy told the fans.
Championship rings will be presented before the series' second game on Saturday
night.
"Talking to players, I told them to take this in," said Bochy, who previously
managed three World Series winners while with the San Francisco Giants. "Savor
it. Not just tonight but the next game when you get the rings. Soak it in
because it's so hard to do."
The Rangers won their first championship in their 52nd season in Texas and 63rd
overall for the franchise that began play in 1961 as the second iteration of
the Washington Senators.
Texas lost in its two previous World Series appearances --- in 2010 to Bochy's
Giants in five games and in 2011 to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games
after twice being one out from clinching the title in Game 6.
Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer was on the Washington Nationals' championship team
in 2019, but COVID-19 pandemic restrictions prevented fans from being present
for the celebration in 2020. He said their ring ceremony was done by Zoom.
"I really want to enjoy it with the fans this time and soak in the moment,"
Scherzer said.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell, who scored the run that gave the Florida Marlins
the 1997 World Series crown, said of watching the ceremony from the opposing
dugout: "You're jealous of 'em. That's the honesty."
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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