8/7/2019 2010 World Series column
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Rally Time
Who will history award baseballs greatest hon
Come Nov. 4, whether it isTexas Rangers or the San
ncisco Giants celebrating aorld Series win, history willmade. The only question is
o will history choose to have anificant mark in the timelineAmericas national pastime.
For the San Francisco Giantss a destiny that has beenting to occur since 1958 whenteam packed up in New Yorksettled in California.
Theyve come close in two ofr World Series appearances.1962 and 2002 the Giantsed the World Series into a
me seven only to lose.
The 62 series can only becribed as a nail biter as thents came close to winninga Willie Mays laser downright field line that would
e scored Matty Alou, but thenkees diving Roger Marisgged the ball, which forcedou to stop at third. WillieCovey lined out to Bobbyhardson in the next at-batthe Yankees won the Series.
In 02, the Giants just couldntd down the Angels. Just like2010 World Series, it was aning moment for baseball.winner would be a first for
eball not only because bothFrancisco and Anaheim
re Wild Card winners, butause neither team had yet tong the World Series trophyheir respective cities. To beest, I was rooting for the
gels since the Giants defeated
Dominic Genetti
my St. Louis Cardinals to winthe National League Pennantthat year, so I was happy to seethem falter. And I would be
happy to see that happen againthis year.
Theres also the 1989 WorldSeries that the Giants lost to theOakland Athletics in a four-gamesweep, but when youre facingan earthquake that postponesthe series and a team led byManger Tony LaRussa with
bash brothers Mark McGwireand Jose Canseco juiced up onsteroids, you dont really standa chance.
Could this be the year for theGiants? Well, it might. However,the story is better for the booksif the golden trophy baseballcomes to Arlington.
Somewhere in theneighborhoods of Washington,D.C., Im pretty sure theres adie-hard baseball fan whois very excited for the TexasRangers. They were only in thenations capital for 11 seasons,
and werent the best team inbaseball, but when the franchisedeparted for the Lone Star Statefans still needed a team to rootfor. The Baltimore Orioles wereclose, and Im sure some loyaltiesshifted to the beltway rivals,
but in a game like baseball thatdevelops a love affair betweenteams and fans its really hard tolet go of that passion.
For the fans that cheeredrookie Tom Grieve dressed in aclassic off-white wool uniformto the aspiring dreamers thatcame to watch games at RFKStadium for a new era of
baseball, this World Series hasgot to be something special. Butits not just Washington, D.C.that should celebrate. The loyalfans that have been waitingand waiting for a World Seriesappearance since the teamarrived in 1972 have received
everything they deserved out ofthe Rangers this season.
This trip to the World Seriesis for the little kids that grew up
watching the area minor leagueteams like the Fort Worth Catsand Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs
with the hope that one day aMajor League Baseball team
would excite the North Texasfans. This is for Frank Howard
who brought his powerful batfrom Washington to amaze thefans in the inaugural game at
Arlington. This is for NolanRyan who is the only Rangerin the National Baseball Hallof Fame. This is for the people
who continue to come out yearafter year to watch our nationalpastime under the blistering
Texas sun.
But who will historWill it say, San Francis waited a long timeheres your first chamin California, Or will
with the Rangers anred and blue faithful,is time.
We have at least fto find out the answersin this beautiful gamcall baseball, where
wind gust, ballpark dspin, bat swing and ruplay a defining role ineach game, all we can dthe edge of our seats ahistory unfold.
Dominic Genetti is a stafor The Community Ne
DOMINIC GENETTI/THE CO
Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was named the 2010
League Championship Series MVP. A total of four players
the League Championship Series MVP and the World Serithe same postseason. One of those four is former Range
Darrell Porter who achieved the honors in 1982.
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