The Texas Rangers have been celebrating their World Series championship by letting fans take pictures with the Commissioner's Trophy. Wednesday, the trophy made a stop in Cleburne at La Moderna Field, home of the Cleburne Railroaders.
"For them to come down here for our local fans means a whole lot," says Garey Wylie who says he was season ticket holder number one when the Railroaders first started selling tickets for their inaugural season in 2017.
Wylie says he grew up playing baseball in Little League then high school and college.
"I always watched the World Series every year. That was my Christmas, and I remember this trophy being passed from the Yankees to the Dodgers to the Red Sox to whomever," he says. "This trophy being in Cleburne, Texas is one of the highlights of my life."
Fans could get their picture taken with the trophy and also meet Pete Incaviglia, the current Railroaders manager and a former Texas Ranger. By the time the event started, a line of fans stretched around the concourse at the stadium.
"It's a privilege to have it," one fan said. "I've been following the Rangers for decades, and it took a long time for me to see that."
"Enjoy the moment, just enjoy the moment when it happens," another said. "When you see that trophy, soak it in."
A lot of parents brought their kids, saying they were grateful the Railroaders and Rangers worked together to bring the trophy to fans in a city of 32,000 people.
"It's cool we don't have to travel far to go see it," one boy said.
"I think it's awesome," his mom said. "It's amazing, beautiful. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime event. It took us 47 years to see this, but they're only nine and 13."
The Texas Rangers have a series of other events scheduled over the next few days where fans can see the trophy or get autographs. The Commissioner's Trophy was at a Kroger in Sherman Thursday afternoon.
Thursday evening, several current and former players are giving autographs at Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant. From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Ivan Rodriguez, Fergie Jenkins and current pitchers Dane Dunning and Jon Gray will meet with fans at Choctaw.
Tickets are still available for the 2024 Texas Rangers Fan Fest presented by Comerica Bank. The event takes place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Globe Life Field, and tickets are available at texasrangers.com.
Sunday, the Commissioner's Trophy will be at a Kroger in Mansfield from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.:
3300 E Broad Street
Mansfield, TX 76063
Fans can also get autographs from Dunning and fellow pitcher Jake Latz.
Also from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, fans can get autographs at a Kroger in North Richland Hills:
9150 N. Tarrant Parkway
North Richland Hills, TX, 76182
The World Series trophy will not be in North Richland Hills, but fans can meet Rangers Captain there. Players scheduled in North Richland Hills include first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and pitcher Grant Anderson.
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