Nolan Ryan, Thank You

July 20, 1990.  On that date, my dad took me to the old ballpark in Arlington for a Texas Rangers game versus the Detroit Tigers.  It was not the fact that Texas won 5-3 that made it so memorable, as I had been to plenty of games before and have been to many since...it was the fact that it was Nolan Ryan's 299th win.

I remember it very well.  The plans were made last-minute...somehow dad had gotten ahold of some tickets, and we were to make the drive from Abilene to Arlington on short notice.  We sat in the cheap seats, left field lower deck just inside the foul pole by about 5 seats and about 10 rows up.  Of course, the quality of seats did not matter...it was still a great view, we were present and accounted for, we did not sit for a second, and we saw every pitch.  The smells of the Ballpark were dynamic...the hot dogs, the popcorn, and of course the smell of a fermented beverage that I could not yet recognize (hey, I was only 17).  The air and atmosphere was alive, and Texas took a fast and early 5-0 lead while Nolan pitched absolute BB's out there.  Texas held on late as the bullpen saved the win for Nolan.  The crowd was electric, cheering every pitch, every swing of the bat.  There was not an empty seat in the stadium, and we all witnessed history.  It was one of the most memorable moments I have had with my dad.

Lots of things have changed since then.  Via TV, I witnessed many more memorable histrionics by Nolan Ryan....win #300, no-hitters 6 and 7, whipping Robin Ventura's butt when he charged the mound. 

The old ballpark is gone now, replaced by the much-improved Ballpark in Arlington.  Changes have also come in the forms of team logo and personnel.  Nolan Ryan is now the team president and part-owner.  But one thing did not change....no American League pennants and World Series appearances.  Sure, they won 3 division crowns, but nothing more, getting drummed out of the first round each time.

No championships....until October 22, 2010.

That day, while not fortunate enough to be there in person, I shared a Texas Rangers game with my sons via TV.  I sat and paced and sat and paced, explaining every nuance of the budding game to them, cheering every play in our favor, going wild when Vlad and Nellie connected in the 5th inning, and we watched our Texas Rangers defeat the defending champ and hated New York Yankees 6-1.  Texas had won its first American League pennant and thus their first trip to the World Series, the game ending when Neftali Feliz struck out Alex Rodriguez looking (talk about karma)....and we jumped to our feet, shouting and yelling in celebration, vaulting ourselves around the living room in glee at the historic accomplishment.

We watched the fireworks, the mob on the mound, the Yankees slunking away dejected into their locker room with questions abounding, the champagne and beer being chilled in the home locker room all draped with plastic, the team doing a victory lap thanking the fans, and drenching themselves with their pre-alcohol selection of ginger ale.  Then, during the post game ceremony, we saw Nolan Ryan make history again, as he held up the American League Championship trophy for all to see.

I flashed back to win #299.  I realized I too had just shared a Nolan Ryan history-making moment with my sons.  And it meant something...to share it with my boys....to realize what it meant to a baseball franchise that I had followed and cheered on for so long.

They finally won it.  The team with stars the likes of Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Vladimir Guerrero, Elvis Andrus, Cliff Lee, C.J. Wilson, Ian Kinsler.....and most notably the long-time team anchor and captain Michael Young, who stuck with this team over the years, and manager Ron Washington....had finally done it.  They did it for themselves, for the fans, for notable Rangers past.  The early Rangers that never experienced this in a Ranger uniform, like Mike Hargrove, Jim Sundberg, Jeff Burroughs, Charlie Hough, Ferguson Jenkins, Toby Harrah, and forever-Ranger Buddy Bell.  The more recent Rangers like Juan Gonzalez, Pete Incaviglia, Pudge, Kenny Rogers, Julio Franco, Will Clark, Mark McLemore, Hammerin' Hank Blalock, gutsy Rusty Greer, John Wetteland, and Ruben Sierra.

But most memorably, for Johnny Oates, who was smiling and watching from his heavenly home....who too was present and accounted for in love and in spirit.

No matter what happens in the World Series, the Texas Rangers are "tortured" no more.  Texas Rangers fans are long-suffering no more.  Nolan Ryan, in ownership and leadership, made history again.

So, Nolan Ryan, thank you.  Thank you for your leadership, your change in clubhouse mentality, your willingness to step up and teach these guys to win.

The Texas Rangers are American League Champions.

And I shared it with my sons on October 22, 2010.