Some fans waited in line for nearly 12 hours last Tuesday in order to secure one of the most coveted pieces of Texas Rangers memorabilia — a replica of the team’s 2023 World Series ring.
As the day progressed, lines wrapped around Globe Life Field in Arlington. The first 15,000 attending the Rangers game against the Cleveland Indians received a ring that looked remarkably like the ones presented to the players on Opening Day back in March.
It was the team’s first World Series title in its 52-year history.
Over the course of the current season, the Rangers will be sponsoring nine more giveaways, with each ring bearing the name of a star player. The May 14 ring honored shortstop Corey Seager.
The replica, of course, lacks the precious metal, precious stones and innovative features of the actual World Series ring.
Designed in collaboration with Jason of Beverly Hills, the genuine ring features a gem-encrusted face that is removable and reversible.
The first option features the Rangers “T” logo rendered in white diamonds and accented with rubies against a ground of blue sapphires. The alternate design has the “T” logo rendered in rubies and accented with white diamonds against a white “baseball” background.
Affixed to the back of the removable face is a piece of leather from a baseball that was used during the World Series.
While most of the fans who were lucky enough to get a replica ring will proudly display them in their trophy cases, others looked to cash out on eBay, with asking prices in the neighborhood of $200. The rings are packaged in a collector’s box and include a display stand.
The Texas Rangers will be giving away Marcus Semien replica rings on June 4 (first 15,000 fans), Adolis García on July 23 (first 29,000 fans), Bruce Bochy on July 25 (first 2,000 fans with purchase of theme night ticket), Nathan Eovaldi on August 15 (first 29,000 fans), Josh Jung on August 21 (first 2,000 fans with purchase of theme night ticket), Evan Carter on September 1 (first 2,000 fans with purchase of theme night ticket), Jonah Heim on September 8 (first 2,000 fans with purchase of theme night ticket), and Josh Sborz on September 19 (first 2,000 fans with purchase of theme night ticket).
On September 22, the Rangers will be giving away a “mystery ring” to the first 29,000 fans to attend the game. Those attendees will receive one of four rings featuring either Seager, Semien, García or Eovaldi.
“It is a replica, but it looks very much like what the players received, and as replicas go, this is very nice,” a Rangers spokesman told WFAA. “It took us 52 years to get this ring, so we’re going to celebrate it for a while.”
Credit: Ring image courtesy of Texas Rangers.