CHAMPIONSHIP RING 2010 AMERICAN LEAGUE TEXAS RANGERS
The Texas Rangers' 2010 season was the 50th in franchise history. The team,
managed by Ron Washington, won their first division title since 1999 and reached the
World Series for the first time in only their fourth playoff appearance. Washington would
become only the second manager in franchise history to lead the Rangers to the post
season and the first to ever win a post season series. They would win the American
League pennant by defeating the defending World Series champions, the New York
Yankees in six games in the ALCS. In the World Series, they lost to the San Francisco
Giants in five games. Because the National League held home-field advantage in this
World Series, Arlington, Texas, is where the Curse of Coogan's Bluff died.
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CHAMPIONSHIP RING
THE STORY OF 2010 AMERICAN LEAGUE
TEXAS RANGERS
The 2010 season showed the results of a 5-year plan implemented by GM Jon Daniels
in 2007 with the Mark Teixeira trade. The 2007 trade deadline and the amateur draft a
month prior would all be key pieces of the successful Rangers season. Dominant
rookie of the year closer Neftalí Feliz, defensive All-Star Elvis Andrus, and platoon
outfielder David Murphy were all acquired at the trade deadline, while starting pitcher
Tommy Hunter, centerfielder Julio Borbon and first baseman Mitch Moreland were
each selected in the June 2007 draft. And trades which resulted in Cliff Lee, Bengie
Molina, and Jorge Cantú were each completed with a member of the Rangers 2007
draft class being sent in return.
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CHAMPIONSHIP RING
THE STORY OF 2010 AMERICAN LEAGUE
TEXAS RANGERS
Mirroring the 2009 revelation of Josh Hamilton getting drunk at a bar in Arizona prior
to spring training, the Rangers' team members learned that manager Ron Washington
failed an MLB drug test prior to the All-Star game in 2009. Instead of dividing the
locker room or casting doubt with the players, the teammates stood behind their
manager. "I've got Wash's back. He's my manager", third baseman Michael Young
told team mates during a meeting where Washington informed the players of his
failed drug test.
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CHAMPIONSHIP RING
THE STORY OF 2010 AMERICAN LEAGUE
TEXAS RANGERS
The pitching staff, looking to be a strength for one of the first times in recent history,
would depend on the #3 and 4 starters, C. J. Wilson and Colby Lewis, due to a lack of
expected production from Scott Feldman and free agent Rich Harden. Wilson, Lewis,
and trade deadline ace Cliff Lee would each finish in the top 20 among American
League pitchers in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, and WHIP. A complicated team
sale that would end up in bankruptcy court and possibly cost the team president Nolan
Ryan and GM Jon Daniels would be an outside threat the team would have to ignore
until it was resolved in August.
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CHAMPIONSHIP RING
THE STORY OF 2010 AMERICAN LEAGUE
TEXAS RANGERS
Thanks to utility infielder Esteban Germán the "claw and antlers" would become an
active part of the Rangers in-game celebration. Following a play involving strength a
Rangers' player would look to the bench and raise his right arm with fingers
outstretched to make a claw. After a play involving speed a player would place his
thumbs on each side of his head and outstretch his fingers to make antlers. The
fans would embrace the "claws and antlers" and a "claw and antlers" T-shirt,
designed by Rangers equipment manager Richard "Hoggy" Pricewould, would be
the top selling MLB T-shirt sold in 2010, selling over 360,000, even though the
design was not introduced until after the All-Star game. On the final day of the
season fans would participate in a pre-game "claw and antlers" parade.
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CHAMPIONSHIP RING
THE STORY OF 2010 AMERICAN LEAGUE
TEXAS RANGERS