ARLINGTON, Texas — Corey Seager took the stage to loud chants of “MVP!, MVP!” as the Texas Rangers celebrated the franchise’s first World Series championship on Friday.
“Really this was truly special, we appreciate all of your support,” said Seager, the two-time World Series MVP, during the ceremony after a two-hour parade along a 2-mile route near the team’s ballpark.
Arlington fire officials estimated 400,000 to 700,000 fans attended the celebration.
While typically stoic, although he has had a couple of emotional expressions during the playoffs, Seager took a swipe at the Houston Astros, the team that took the American League West title from Texas on the final day of the regular season. time. That made the Rangers a wild-card team, and they then set an MLB record by winning all 11 of their postseason road games.
“I just have one thing to say. You know, everybody’s wondering what’s going to happen if the Rangers don’t win the World Series. I guess we’ll never know,” said Seager, a tin- well answer the third Astros. Baseman Alex Bregman said to start their champagne celebration when they clinched the division title.
MVP!
MVP!
MVP! pic.twitter.com/DWdFdBPsbU– Texas Rangers (@Rangers) November 3, 2023
Texas defeated the Astros in the AL Championship Series, with the Rangers winning all four ALCS games played in Houston, including the Game 7 clincher.
Fans were piled deep in some areas during the parade, which took place two days after the Rangers wrapped up the World Series title with a 5-0 road win in Game 5 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It came a week after Texas won the series opener at home with an 11th-inning homer by Adolis Garcia after Seager hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to tie the score.
“Years from now, I’ll think about this moment, and I’ll appreciate the time I had to spend [these players]”Manager Bruce Bochy told the crowd. “We talked about it in spring training. We are going to do something special. Well, friends, we’re doing something special here together. Thank you.”
Bochy then shared that his grandson, who was with him in the parade, said he wanted to do it again.
“Well, I’m with him. I want to do it again. Let’s go,” said the 68-year-old Bochy, the oldest manager in the majors.
Thanks, Boch! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/5xIs6AxdZg
– Texas Rangers (@Rangers) November 3, 2023
The Rangers won their first championship in their 63rd season as a franchise, which began as an expansion of the Washington Senators in 1961 before the team moved to Texas in 1972.
AL Championship Series MVP García, Seager and all the Rangers players were in the parade through the entertainment district of Arlington, the city where they play on Interstate 30 halfway between downtown Fort Worth and downtown Dallas.
Seager was also the World Series MVP in 2020 when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won the title in a neutral-site MLB postseason during the COVID-19 pandemic at Globe Life Field, the Rangers’ retractable-roof stadium that opened that. time. There was no celebration parade in Los Angeles that year.
The Rangers arrived home in North Texas on Thursday, with All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien first out and hoisting the World Series trophy into the air as he stepped off the plane. At that time, some fans were already looking at places along the parade route.
After starting on the south side of Globe Life Park, the parade passed by AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, and around Mark Holtz Lake, named after the late Rangers broadcaster known for his “Hello Win Column!” call. The parade passed through the Rangers’ former ballpark where they played when they made their other World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.
“The Texas Rangers’ World Series victory was a dream five decades in the making,” said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross.
It was Bochy’s fourth World Series title. He hit three with the San Francisco Giants, the first in 2010 with the Game 5 clincher at Texas. Bochy was named manager of the Rangers a year ago, when the team was coming off a sixth straight losing season.
“I was asked: ‘Hey, is it getting old?’ It never gets old, trust me,” Bochy said. “No, not when you see these guys with a deep determination, their strength and heart that brings them together and plays as one to do what they do. [a] collective power to win a world championship here with the Texas Rangers for the first time in our franchise.”
At least six local school districts were closed Friday so students and teachers could participate in the celebration. Several high school bands participated in the parade which was held on a picture perfect day, with clear, sunny conditions and temperatures around 70 degrees.