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Antlers Up to a Remarkable Rangers Season

eterry
Explorer B

As the saying goes "there’s no crying in baseball". So while, admittedly, I’m a bit bummed that the World Series is over, I’m trying to focus on the positive. My beloved Texas Rangers made it to the big show for the first time in franchise history and I got to be there in person to witness their big win in Game 3! You’ve been able to feel the excitement in the air throughout the entire month of October in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and hosting the Fall Classic for the first time in history was the icing on the cake!


Hailing from Austin, I never had a true home team to root for when it came to Major League Baseball. But for some reason, from day one, my family gravitated toward the Rangers. Even after marrying a born and bred Houstonian (read: Astros fan), my loyalty remained strong. Ruben Sierra, Julio Franco, Steve Buechele, and of course, the often imitated (never duplicated) Nolan Ryan….those were my boys!

Not just a Rangers fan, but a die-hard baseball fan in general, my husband and I set out on a quest to visit each and every Major League ballpark the second I got hired at Southwest. We couldn’t think of a better way to put our newly acquired flight benefits to work! I have to admit that I got a bit of a head start….my family started visiting ballparks back when I was in junior high, so my better half had a bit of catching up to do. But we were determined. Between 2005 and 2010, we managed to catch games at all 30 Major League ballparks! And whenever a new stadium opens, you can bet we’re on the first flight out! Here are a few fan favorites:

Wrigley Field - Chicago, IL

Nationals Park - Washington, D.C.


Target Field - Minneapolis, MN

But even after criss-crossing the country taking in games in some of the most iconic parks around, nothing compares to what we experienced during this year’s Rangers playoffs run. To see the entire "claw & antlers" nation come together in a sea of blue and red to support this year’s star team on the Dallas sports scene was simply incredible. And the fact that Southwest has been a partner of the Rangers (and currently the official airline) for 13 years made the experience even more special.

So I’d like to tip my cap to the entire Rangers organization in celebration of a season that was destined for the history books. From winning the AL West to paving the way for the first-ever World Series held in North Texas, they’ve given us fans memories that will last a lifetime. Here’s to an off-season full of rest, relaxation, and successful contract re-negotiation (oops, did I just say that?!?!). Anxiously waiting to hear the words "Play Ball" on Opening Day 2011!

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