A quiet anticipation filled Chase Field as Ranger’s pitcher Josh Sborz took the mound for a pitch that could determine the fate of the World Series. With two outs and two strikes, the tension in the air was thick. Rangers fans everywhere held their breath as the curveball soared through the air before falling into catcher Jonah Heim’s mitt. The crowd cheered as the Rangers won their first World Series in franchise history. The Rangers, formed as the expansion Washington Senators in 1961 before moving to Arlington in 1972, had been the MLB’s oldest franchise without a World Series title. This long-awaited win gives Ranger’s fans a newfound sense of pride and has implications beyond the diamond for the local community.
“This win is big for the city, especially for the older generation that has been waiting in Texas so long for this,” senior Conner Schlegel said. “It’s been so long without a title, and so to be able to celebrate this as a community and to say that we won it as Texas was an amazing feeling.”
Excellent performances by key players helped shape the Rangers’ playoff win. Among these was that of shortstop Corey Seager, who emerged as a reliable team member. Seager broke the scoreless tie in game five with his crucial hit and earned the World Series MVP title. Catcher Jonah Heim’s offensive contributions, including a critical RBI single, positively impacted the team, underscoring his value in high-pressure situations. Another star player’s performance contributed to the win, and his role has special meaning to local fans. Rangers’ third baseman Josh Jung is a Texas Tech alum, and his win brings more notoriety to the school.
“Seeing Josh on that stage and knowing that a couple of his hits were one of the reasons they won, that’s big for my university,” baseball coach Tommy Sparks said. “It’s awesome to see a Tech guy that has built his way up and [is] now at the pinnacle of his sport.”
Earning victory the hard way, the team overcame obstacles, the most notable being the injuries of key players. Both Ranger’s pitcher Max Scherzer and slugger Adolis Garcia were removed from the World Series roster due to injury. Scherzer left game three of the series after suffering from a mild strain of his right teres. Later in game three, Garcia also exited after experiencing sharp tightness in his left side.
“I think that was a really big moment that changed the intensity of the World Series,” Schlegel said. “People said it was over for the Rangers that their season was over. Then we just had a couple of backup guys step up and play for the team and [add] to the type of chemistry that we had. [It] really contributed to not just the World Series but the entire season. Those players are what make a team solid.”
The positive impact of this win can be seen throughout the DFW community. Hundreds of Rangers fans came together outside of Globe Life field on November 3 to celebrate the team’s accomplishment. The festivities lasted several hours as chants and cheers echoed through the sea of people donned in red and blue Rangers gear. Parents even pulled young fans out of school to participate, and the entire Arlington school district was closed for the occasion. The Ranger’s underdog victory also has implications for the sport of baseball in the community and as a whole.
“Another great thing that comes from this championship is the opportunity to hopefully bring more people into the game and get them excited about baseball,” Sparks said. “Getting more kids playing baseball can only be a positive thing and it can all be because of you know, a team winning a championship, which is awesome.”
