Associated Press4 Minute Reading
The Rangers celebrated the first World Series title in franchise history
The Rangers celebrated after Josh Sborz struck out Ketel Marte to earn their first World Series win.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Tens of thousands of Texas Rangers fans lined up and stacked dozens deep in several spots along a 2-mile route near the team’s ballpark for a parade Friday to to celebrate the franchise’s first World Series championship.
“This is why we come back, for the parade,” All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien said.
The parade came two days after the Rangers wrapped up the World Series title with a 5-0 Game 5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. It came a week after Texas won the series opener at home on Adolis García’s 11th inning homer after Corey Seager hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to tie the score.
“It’s about, the fans. They’re the reason we do this, why we play. We feed them and get them a championship. That’s what makes it special,” said the Texas manager. Bruce Bochy. “They’re all special, the World Series. But to get the first one, and for it to happen for them, is what makes me so good.”
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.
World Series MVP Seager, AL Championship Series MVP García and Rangers players were part of the parade in Arlington’s entertainment district.
Seager was also the World Series MVP in 2020 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won that title in a neutral-site MLB postseason played at Globe Life Field during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no celebratory parade at that time.
“Real tight group, just the ability to come together and compete every night,” Seager said. “It’s a difficult thing to do, and this group has done it and we have to achieve something special.”
The Rangers arrived home in North Texas on Thursday, where Semien was the first to step out and hoist the World Series trophy into the air as he stepped off the plane. At that time, fans are already looking at places along the parade route.
After starting on the south side of Globe Life Park, the parade winds its way past AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and up around Mark Holtz Lake, named after the late Rangers broadcaster known for his “Hello Win Column!” call. The parade passed the Rangers’ former ballpark where they played when they made their other World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.
The players are scheduled to address fans in an outdoor ceremony after the parade back to the retractable-roof stadium they’ve called home since 2020.
“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 Rangers manager a year ago, when the team was coming off a sixth straight losing season.
“My hope is that this will only generate more interest and love for baseball here. And it’s not that they don’t have it, but when you have a lot of lost seasons, it’s hard for the fans,” said Bochy. “Our job is to keep this winning streak going. It’s great to win this championship. But you know, we don’t want this city to go without another one for too long.”
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.