It took 52 years in the making, but after Game 5 of the 2023 MLB World Series, the Texas Rangers will be returning to Arlington, Texas with the Commissioner’s Trophy and their very first World Series title. A game that seemed as though it could go either way, as the score was 0-0 in the first six innings, quickly turned in favor of the Rangers. The team scored one run in the seventh inning and secured their championship title in the ninth inning with 4 runs, causing the score to be 5-0 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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This championship win could not be more impressive, as the Texas team had a losing season in 2021 with 102 losses and entered the 2023 season with the 17th-best odds to win the World Series. Following the team’s harsh 2021 season, the Rangers spent $561.2 million the following offseason on free agents such as Corey Seager and Marcus Semien who were critical players throughout this World Series.
The Arizona Diamondbacks put on a good competition as the franchise was perhaps the most unexpected team to make it to the 2023 World Series. The Diamondbacks began this season with 125-1 odds of winning the championship title. Like the Rangers, the Arizona team also endured a losing season and ended the 2021 season 52-110. The Diamondbacks continuously surprised the sports world as they entered the MLB playoffs with one of the worst records of 84-78, yet the team managed to compete and secure their spot in the World Series.
While these two teams seemed to be an unlikely matchup at the beginning of the 2023 season, they both came a long way from 2021 when they finished in last place in their respective divisions. The Texas Rangers managed to win their World Series title in just five games with a final record of (4-1) against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The night we won the World Series. #WentAndTookIt pic.twitter.com/6IJ2mFVwW5
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) November 2, 2023
What is even more impressive is that the Rangers set MLB records of their own during their World Series journey to the championship title. The Texas team now holds the longest road win streak in MLB postseason history with 11 consecutive wins on the road. They secured their 11th road win in Game 5 of the World Series at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Following their performance in Game 4, the Rangers had become the first team in MLB history to score at least five runs in back-to-back innings in a World Series game. This record occurred in the 2nd and 3rd innings of Game 4, causing the Rangers to lead the game 10-0.
In his rookie year with the Rangers, 21-year-old center fielder Evan Carter made MLB history and set a record for hitting 9 doubles, which is the most any player has ever hit in a single postseason. Just two months prior to the World Series, Carter was playing in the Double-A until he was called up to the major league in September. The rookie was called up from the Frisco Roughriders and made his MLB debut with the Rangers on September 8, 2023. Not even two months after his MLB debut, Carter played a crucial role for the Rangers during the World Series, set an MLB record, and even managed to get on base in all 17 games of the playoff series.
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Another notable player is Rangers shortstop Corey Seager who just won the World Series MVP award following the team’s win in Game 5. Seager was one of the crucial additions to the roster during the Rangers revamp following the 2021 season. The shortstop signed a 10-year $325 million deal with Texas prior to the 2022 season and helped turn the team around. This was Seager’s second time winning the MVP award, as he had previously won the 2020 World Series award when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The shortstop is the fourth player in MLB history to win the World Series MVP award multiple times, and the second player to win the award for two different teams. Not only did Seager win the award for two different teams, he is the first player to do so in both the American and National League.
#WorldSeries Corey Seager is in a league of his own. pic.twitter.com/5zTlE5UaLN
— MLB (@MLB) November 2, 2023
The Texas Rangers have come a long way from their 2021 season and showed the baseball world what true perseverance looks like. Despite all odds and being projected with a 125-1 chance of winning the World Series, the Rangers are heading back to Arlington, Texas to celebrate all of their accomplishments. The team will be celebrating their first World Series championship title and new MLB records with all of their fans and the city of Arlington at the World Series parade.
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