05/17/14 : Family, friends, former teammates and the Texas Rangers organization honored the career of Michael Young in a pregame ceremony
ARLINGTON - Six signs , each identical, adorned the grass in the infield at Globe Life Park Saturday just behind the pitcher's mound.
As fans trickled in Globe Life Park and the family, friends and teammates each went to four rows of white lawn chairs in front of the mound, the stadium held 12 workers six white signs.
“Thanks Michael Young, " each read.
Saturday before the first pitch of the Rangers and Blue Jays, Rangers infielder Michael Young honored, who retired as a Ranger on 31 January after playing 13 seasons with the team. Young leads the club in hits, doubles, triples and total bases. His seven seasons batting .300 are good for a Rangers record.
As a young man entered the stadium on the back of a red convertible and headed to his seat with his wife and three children, the crowd began to roar and the video card lit up with flashes.
The music played, and the clip by clip, Young's career over 13 seasons with the Rangers began to crumble.
First were the blows - the first, 1000 and 2000a. He was the fastest Ranger reaching the second milestone, and the first to reach the third.
Then there were the defensive plays he made as the first player in 100 years to play 400 games at second base, shortstop and third base.
Finally, there were the faces of Mark DeRosa, Derek Jeter, Cliff Lee, Don Mattingly, Mike Modano, Mike Napoli and Mark Teixeira, who each have recorded a personalized message to the seven-time All- Star, who spent time with Toronto, Texas, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
"I know you do not realize the impact it had on a lot of guys racing" - especially mine, DeRosa said.
"His ability to hit with two kind of helped me catapult my career strikes.”
Modano Young praised for their loyalty.
“What he has meant to this city and these fans is second to none," Modano said.
Young accepted the Award 2014 Giamatti Bart Major League Baseball Assistance Team for their service off the court was given a four-day trip to Disney World by the team of Rangers and received a work of art by Vernon Wells his three children.
Young and Wells began their friendship in 1997, when both were drafted by the Blue Jays.
“The Rangers acquired one of the best people - one of the best players that have graced this field in many, many years," Wells said. “Michael one of those rare athletes who can be one of the best at what he does and be one of the nicest people you'll ever meet .... It's a privilege to play in the same field and he is even more of a privilege and an honor to call him my best friend. "
The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation also presented Young with $ 10,000 for his foundation, the Michael Young Family Foundation.
Number of young people speaks for themselves, with 2,375 hits, 441 doubles, 60 triples and 185 home runs in 1970 games in the majors. He finished with a .300 batting average and 1,000 RBIs.
However, for the people closest to him, Young is a person first and a second baseball player.
"Quality Guy. Professional. Difference maker. Chico Quality," said Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “He was just a baseball player .... I think all young and every young boy I jump at the opportunity to be in your presence I'm still trying to find words to describe it - . If I had a dictionary, I can really describe”.
Among the attendees were the Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten and Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki.
Notwitzki said he promised himself as soon as he learned that a young man to be honored Saturday; he would do anything to be there for his friend.
"He means a lot to the city, to baseball," said Notwitzki. "I think there are lots of things I like to do the things he did during his career, so I was a big fan - it's always a big fan I said.’ If I'm in town, there is no way I ' m losing. ‘“
Young thanked fans for their loyalty and later said that he does miss playing baseball, but he has enjoyed from a different perspective now that the shirt was hung.
"It's easy for me to think along different lines, now I'm seeing on TV," Young said. "Being able to sit and be able to dissect the game in different ways is fun - . Anything I did not know that I'd much "
Although Young said later broadcast would be considered, for now only has one thing on the agenda.
“I want to be able to live my life in ways I have not been able to. I have not had time.... I have not had a summer since I was 10 years old. This is the first summer I've had outside “Young said.”I'm enjoying being here with my family. "
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