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 longtime Rangers radio announcer Eric Nadel’s goosebump-inducing call on the final out.

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.

Peace,

Allan