Congratulations to Adrian Beltre on his first-ballot election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Hitting home runs from his knees, playing every day through injury and pain, creatively avoiding Gatorade showers, physically moving the on-deck circle, busting Elvis Andrus’ chops, interacting with fans in the front rows, dancing at home plate after an inside pitch or with the second baseman during a rundown, all while winning Gold and Platinum Gloves and Silver Slugger awards–there has never been a third baseman more fun to watch play, or more deserving of this highest honor. I feel like, next to Beltre’s bust in Cooperstown, there should be a little Elvis Andrus bobblehead.
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And, happy birthday to our little middle! Valerie turns 27 today. And she is still awesome! I love you, sweetie. If you’ll get in your car right now and drive from Tulsa to Midland, we can take you out for a late birthday dinner tonight.
There are many, many more Astros fans than Rangers fans in Midland, Texas. And it feels like most of them are members of our church. Some of the louder and more obnoxious among them belong to the Travis McGraw clan. All of them.
So when Travis and his two boys wanted to bet a lunch at Cancun Grill on the results of the American League Championship Series, they found three eager takers in Stephen Lowery, Alan McGraw (Travis’ nephew), and me.
Yesterday was payday and it was delicious on every level. We wore our Rangers World Series gear and crowed for two solid hours over enchiladas and tacos and those awesome jalapenos grilled in soy sauce. The losers proved to be good sports about the whole thing — Travis even wore an old Rangers pullover he had saved from a Missions Resource Network fundraiser from nearly a decade ago. At one point, though, Travis did complain, “It’s like you guys have never won a World Series before.”
Today, I figured it was time to replace my Texas Rangers license plate frame. I don’t know exactly how old this one is, but it’s so sun-faded and worn out, it’s completely un-readable.
I’ve wanted to replace it for several years now, but, you know, I never think about it at the right time and it’s never been a huge priority. Now, the Rangers license plate holders are bright and glittery and they proclaim that Texas won the World Series. So, yeah. Done.
I think it increases the Blue Book value on my truck.
I don’t know what to write. I know I am so much more emotional this morning than I was last night. And last night was pretty special. The Texas Rangers are on top of the baseball world, the last team standing. The dust has settled on this weird, improbable, crazy, maddening, exhilarating 2023 season, and for the first time in history, the Rangers are champions.
I’ll share this. When the Rangers were one strike away, I had to say it out loud. I had to recognize the moment. This dozen-year demon had to be exorcised. With my wife of nearly 34 years to my left and my first-born daughter to my right, I said, “We are one strike away!” Carrie-Anne recoiled in horror. She is the Jinx Sheriff in our house. She will not allow anything to be said that might cause the universe to reverse a favorable outcome just to make a point. Whitney reacted by grabbing my hand. And when Josh Sborz paralyzed Ketel Marte with that called third strike, we all three came completely unglued. Yes, there were tears of joy and big bear hugs. Yes, we did pop a bottle of champagne and celebrate like big leaguers. And, yes, by the time I got to my phone I had received 53 texts from friends and family at once reveling in the unlikely championship and expressing deep shock and disbelief.
I’ll have more to write on this historic Rangers win later today. For now, enjoy these:
This is the final out and the immediate celebration from the television broadcast on Fox.
This is a great piece from ESPN that details the Rangers road from losing 200 games the past two seasons to this World Series title.
And, if you don’t do anything else this morning, read the game story from longtime Dallas Morning News Rangers beat writer Evan Grant. It’s excellent, of course. It’s worth reading just for the quotes he relays from former Rangers players and managers.
The wait is over. The Texas Rangers have finally won the World Series. It’s “Hello Win Column!” for the last time this season in the last game of the season. They went and took it. I forgive Nellie Cruz.
Congratulations to Adrian Beltre on his first-ballot election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Hitting home runs from his knees, playing every day through injury and pain, creatively avoiding Gatorade showers, physically moving the on-deck circle, busting Elvis Andrus’ chops, interacting with fans in the front rows, dancing at home plate after an inside pitch or with the second baseman during a rundown, all while winning Gold and Platinum Gloves and Silver Slugger awards–there has never been a third baseman more fun to watch play, or more deserving of this highest honor. I feel like, next to Beltre’s bust in Cooperstown, there should be a little Elvis Andrus bobblehead.
And, happy birthday to our little middle! Valerie turns 27 today. And she is still awesome! I love you, sweetie. If you’ll get in your car right now and drive from Tulsa to Midland, we can take you out for a late birthday dinner tonight.
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