Baseball Time in Texas

This year was another great year for Texas Rangers baseball, and we were thrilled to be in the middle of it all, as usual. Anthony has been following the Rangers for almost as long as he's been alive, and I became a baseball fan about 13 years ago by default. Nowadays we share our love of all things Texas Rangers (and we're quickly brainwashing our girl and soon-to-be newest little fan). Can't wait till the kids go off to college so we can finally get our season tickets. ;)

Anthony & I were at the regular season game on September 23 -- the AL West clincher. We stayed after the game and fireworks show to watch the end of the Oakland/LA game on the jumbotron. The game itself was a great one (including Gentry's first HR - an inside-the-park HR, at that), and it was really awesome to see our guys realize they would be headed to the postseason once again.



We had tickets to see the Rangers play Tampa Bay during the ALDS, but of course, we spent that evening in the hospital dealing with my lovely kidney stones. :( At least Andrea & Justin were able to go and enjoy the game in our place.

During the ALCS against Detroit, we enjoyed two great games. We had awesome seats for game 1 and enjoyed the game with Justin and one of our good friends. We did experience several really long, cold and wet rain delays, but they pulled out a win in the end.







Game 6 of the ALCS was freaking awesome. We put on our brave faces and took the sweet girl along with us, Ralph and Katherine. The game was a blowout, and our girl (and we) got to see our team advance to the World Series in person!




Someone really enjoyed the music played during one of many Detroit pitching changes!

Okay, Mom...



She was out cold by the time we got to our car. We managed to get half of her pj's on her but gave up on the shirt. :)


The World Series game wasn't quite as good of a game. We got blown out by St. Louis, but it was still pretty amazing to watch our team battle for the big prize in person (and from a seat, which was much better than our standing room tickets last year!).


The 2010 and 2011 AL Champion flags

Our man, Wash!

And my man, Murph!


Dirk throwing out the first pitch. I think that's the highest/tallest wind up I've ever seen in my life.



I doubt we'll get to see as many games in person next year, but we'll definitely be cheering them on from our living room couch for all 160+ games! Only a few more months until spring training begins...

And just for fun, here are a few pics of Baby R2 getting in on the 2011 Rangers season.