Dallas prepares to greet World Series for first time
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}By Larry Fine
ARLINGTON, Texas (Reuters) - The World Series shifts to the home of the Texas Rangers, whose success-starved fans get their first taste of the Fall Classic with the National League champion San Francisco Giants coming to town.
There should be a rousing homecoming for the Rangers, playing in the first World Series for the franchise.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Well, I think it will mean everything," Rangers manager Ron Washington told reporters. "It's been 50 years.
"Our fans are starving for a championship, and they showed up, and they proved it. Once they come to the ballpark, they're about as loud from the first pitch until the last pitch."
Nolan Ryan, the Hall of Fame pitcher who is president and part-owner of the Rangers, said the club had come a long way since he spent the last five years of his career in Arlington.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I was watching (U.S. talk show host) Jay Leno and he's talking about the World Series and talking about the Texas Rangers, and I'm thinking, gosh, that sounds strange," he said.
"I think that it puts us on the map with a lot of people within the country and within baseball that we've made it to this level."
NOTICEABLE IMPACT
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Native Texan Ryan said the impact had been noticeable.
"What I've seen is how much Texas memorabilia I see around the country now," he said. "You walk through the airport in New York, and you see people wearing it here in San Francisco and places like that.
"Our fans didn't even wear it to the ballpark when I came in 2008," he said about his return to the Rangers 15 years after his playing days to become team president. "I see it all over the Metroplex now, so it's definitely had an impact."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff, grew up in nearby Fort Worth as a Rangers fan and said Ryan was his favorite player.
"I've been a Ranger fan my whole life and obviously he was the face of the franchise," Huff said.
"For me just to see what he's done with that organization already since he's been there, it's been amazing. It's pretty cool being able to play in the World Series against a team I grew up rooting for."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Huff attended games at the old Arlington Stadium where the Rangers played before former club owner George W. Bush, the future U.S. president, helped plan the new Rangers Ballpark.
"I just remember Dollar Hot Dog Night when I was a kid, 12, 14 years old, just up there in the upper deck eating dollar hot dogs all day," Huff said. "And got the World Series coming up there. Pretty cool."
(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by John O'Brien)