The Texas Rangers brought the World Series trophy to Dallas City Hall on Wednesday as City leaders celebrated the baseball team’s recent victory.
Mayor Eric Johnson congratulated the Rangers on bringing the Commissioner’s Trophy to Dallas in the City Hall Flag Room along with City staff, Rangers leadership, and team mascot Rangers Captain.
“It’s so great to see all of you here today and celebrate our World Series champion Texas Rangers,” Johnson said. ”… For those of us who grew up here who are sports fans, who are baseball fans, you know what a ride this has been. You know what a journey this has been.”
“I know that so many of us in this room have been waiting for a long, long time to see the Commissioner’s Trophy in the city limits of Dallas,” Johnson added as applause rang out from those in attendance.
Josh Sborz, the Rangers pitcher who closed the series’ last game, discussed what the past week has been like for him.
“Every day my wife and I bring it up. We can’t believe it,” he said. “We’re just fortunate to have a really good team [and] really good coaches. We did it!”
Also in attendance were bench coach Donnie Ecker, managing partner and majority owner Ray Davis, COO Neil Leibman, CFO Kellie Fischer, executive vice president of public affairs John Blake, former outfielder Craig Gentry, and Hall of Fame catcher Jim Sundberg.
Texas Rangers broadcaster Eric Nadel said the Rangers represent not only the entire metroplex but also the entire state of Texas.
“And we’re proud to do so,” Nadel added. He also said it was fitting that the trophy was presented in the Flag Room because the Rangers team comprises players from “so many countries.”
“This year, in addition to players from the United States, we have players born in Cuba … Venezuela … the Dominican Republic … and others,” he said. “It’s wonderful to be an international ensemble.”
The Rangers will take the Commissioner’s Trophy to Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth on November 9.
