The Chicago Cubs were the unfortunate opponents of the Texas Rangers as they kicked off their season opener against the defending World Series champions. The Rangers began their celebration with a banner drop from Globe Life Field’s roof support high above right field, marking their first ever World Series championship in franchise history.
The Commissioner’s Trophy was brought to home plate by manager Bruce Bochy and pitcher Josh Sborz, who recorded the final out in the clinching Game 5 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in November. Bochy expressed his gratitude to fans for their tremendous support and emphasized the importance of savoring this momentous occasion. Players were encouraged to take it all in and enjoy the celebration as they received their championship rings before the second game of the series on Saturday night.
This championship marked a significant milestone for the Rangers, who have spent 52 seasons in Texas and are celebrating their 63rd overall as a franchise that originated in 1961 as the Washington Senators. Despite falling short in both 2010 and 2011, the Rangers finally achieved glory in 2021 with Max Scherzer leading them to victory. Scherzer, who was part of the 2019 Washington Nationals championship team, recognized how important it is to celebrate with fans after missing out on doing so last year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell couldn’t help but feel a sense of jealousy towards the Rangers’ accomplishment, watching from his dugout as his team fell short once again. However, he knew that this was an opportunity for his players to learn from their mistakes and come back stronger next time around.