Regardless of what happens tomorrow night in St. Petersburg, this has been the greatest season in Rangers history. (Have they ever won two playoff games before? Case closed.) Watching a frenzied, filled-to-capacity Ballpark over the weekend got me thinking about a few of my favorite memories from a lifetime of following this mostly hapless franchise:
— As a teen, I often decided to take my brothers to a game 30 minutes before the first pitch. We knew we’d have no trouble finding tickets.
— We celebrated one brother’s birthday at a Rangers game every year from when he was in the sixth grade to when he was a college freshman. Our parents might have done the same for all three brothers, if the youngest and I had not both been born in December.
— I was once at a game so sparsely attended that a buddy of mine spotted me in the Arlington Stadium bleachers from three sections away and called out my name, and I had no trouble hearing him.
— Throughout the ’80s, every Rangers victory at Arlington Stadium was punctuated by Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration” playing over the P.A. system. I still can’t hear this song without being bombarded by visions of Pete Incaviglia and Steve Buechele.
— When I was undergoing chemo in ’96, I got a copy of Seasons in Hell, Mike Shropshire’s memoir about covering the Rangers in the early ’70s. The book is so funny that I had to put it down every few pages to laugh. At the time, those were laughs I sorely needed.
Do you have similar Rangers memories to share? I’d love to hear them. We need to build up as many positive vibes as we can before tomorrow night.
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My first game to go to as a kid was against the Yankees, circa ‘79. I was excited to see Reggie Jackson; but just as excited to see Richie Zisk!
I asked my dad how many World Series the Rangers had won and was shocked at the answer. I’ve since had the exact same conversation with my son.
My first kiss was at a Rangers game. Our Girl Scout troop went (probably free tickets) and I met a Boy Scout. We shared a very innocent kiss by the concession stands.
* After a Rangers loss at Arlington Stadium the walking to the car song heard over the PA was Satin Doll.
* On the last game of a home stand Chuck Morgan would make a game of playing songs during the game that were associated with cities of the upcoming road series.
* When Buddy Bell came to the plate the rather dated score board would display BUD first then DY, As to get the crowd to chant BUD-DY, BUD-DY. My brother and I would chant DY-BUD, DY-BUD trying to get a rise out of the 4 people sitting in our section.
* Farm and Ranch night was always circled on the calendar at our house. In between a scheduled doubleheader players would compete in contests associated with the rural life. Cow milking, hay toss, etc. The soft hands of Bump Wills made short work of the cow milking.
During a incredible Rangers rally several years ago, everyone remains in our section and the rally continues until some numbnut gets up and leaves.
At which the rally immediately dies and my superstitious Ranger fan brother yells out at said numbnut “Thank you for ruining the rally !!”
*My aunt & uncle had season tickets when I was a kid. We always took homemade fried chicken, bread and butter, carrots & celery & grapes. Every game.
*We once went to 13 games of a 15-game homestand.
*My heart will ALWAYS belong to Sunny Jim.
*Way-to-be, Oddibe!
*Hello, win column!
*My childhood best friend had a huge crush on Steve Buechele. I never thought he was that cute, but boy did her dad ever give her crap for that.
Growing up as a little kid in the 70s, a neighbor of ours worked for Gardere & Wynne. Every so often they would give us tickets for games they could not attend. First row, in front of the visitor on deck circle. We sat next to the nuns who were so well known for attending Rangers games. They had little transistor radios to listen to the game. Coming early, I could always, always, always get at least 2-3 foul balls during batting practice.
Jim Sundberg and Buddy Bell were my absolute super heroes.
Back then the home games were never televised and the away games were only shown on TV a few times a season. So, to see them play, you had to go in person.
Before the invention of the Dot Race, they had a stagecoach with horses and everything, that would do a lap around the field during the 7th inning stretch. That and being able to run the bases after a Rangers win, was a real treat.
I wrote about this when I was a columnist at the DMN. I took my then-little boys to Fan Appreciation Day at the old Arlington Stadium one year and we saw a guy steal third-base. Literally. After the game, he stepped ove the side rail, raced out onto the field, picked up third base, jumped back into teh stands and attempted to run to daylight. But a security guard had been watching him and as the guy ran full speed down an aisle toward an exit, the guard stuck out his beefy arm and clotheslined the guy. His feet flew into the air and he landed with an metallic echo on the sheet-metal flooring. But he held onto the base until he was handcuffed.
I also sat in a crowd of hardnosed newshounds one year when, on opening day, Baby Jessica, fresh from being pulled from a West Texas well, threw out the first pitch. The newsfolk, sick to the gills of the onslaught of Baby Jessica stories, booed her.
Gentle booing, of course. Ah, good times.
1. First game I ever attended, it was in the mid 70’s, there was a rundown that ended in a brawl. It was against KC. We lost, as we lost most games back then, but I became a permanent fan.
2. Sitting in the stands of Arlington Stadium watching Nolan Ryan pitch his 300th win on the diamond vision.
3. My college fraternity sitting in the bleachers on half price ticket night trying to drink a beer per inning. We’d have the entire bleacher section to ourselves, and it was a good thing. You’d be surprised how tough it is to drink a beer per inning, especially when you have to drink for innings 8 & 9 before they stop selling in the 7th.
4. Rusty Greer’s acrobatics in the outfield, Sunberg’s gold gloves, Senior Octobre, “He struck out the side!,” Pudge throwing out everything that tried to steal second base,
and the human station break. I love them all.
One of my best memories is living within walking distance of the old ballpark. On nights when I was off work, I walked over there. One night it was 97 degrees at first pitch, and at 10:01 p.m. as they went to extra innings it was 101. (Not a hint of a breeze all night.) I drank half dozen beers, and as many cups of water as possible. The liquid went into my mouth and came right out the pores. I walked home without a stagger. (Dang, it was hot!) I think the Rangers won.
Tuesday prediction: I’m sorry, but I’m afraid Nolan Ryan’s preseason prediction of 92 wins is going to be right on the money.
- Throwing out the first pitch of a game courtesy of Southwest Airlines. I waved my complimentary SWA cap to the crowd like I was Nolan Ryan soaking up the cheers of a no-hitter.
Three words: Rootin’ Tootin’ Ranger.
As a kid in the late 80s/early 90s, I was always amazed by the muscles who shot the lights out of the ball. I didn’t understand steroids back then. I also loved sitting near Zonk and the Haaaaaaaawt Daaaaaaawgs guy.
BTW – I think the Rangers will win tomorrow, because all those 96/98/99 guys who were in the pregame like Mike Hiney-man jinxed us.
@Brandon5: The only thing cooler than seeing the Haaaaaawt Daaaaaawgs guy was overhearing him when you watched a game on TV.
Remember that time they lost two home playoff games and canned their best PBP guy since the great Mark Holtz, all in about 72 hours? Yeah, that was awesome. Someone pass the bleach