Photos by David Alvey
Sporting an enchantedbrgarden theme, the real treasure in the 15th Annual Park Place Dealerships – TexasbrRangers Triple Play Game Show Spectacular for fans was the intimate interactionbrwith fun-loving Rangers players. Though, clearly, the winners were the boys andbrgirls across North Texas who are served by the Texas Rangers Foundation. Withbr700 fans at the sold-out event, the evening raised more than $700,000 for thebrnonprofit organization.
Each year thebrFoundation's executive director, Karin Morris, and her team strive to out-dobrprevious years' experiences. And they did not disappoint.
“The engagement that thebrfans have with our players has been so incredible,” said Morris via pressbrrelease. “And the excitement the players have for the games and the RookiebrSongs are always very special. We've been so lucky to have such greatbrattendance. Each year, the challenge is topping the previous year's donationsbrwhile keeping the event at about 700 so that fans have the ability to see theirbrfavorite player and engage with them. Getting any bigger would make it morebrchallenging.”
Entering the TrinitybrBallroom at the Hilton Anatole Dallas, guests were offered a chance to bid on abrwide range of unique memorabilia from the entertainment and sports worlds. Butbrthe real joy for Texas Rangers fans was being able to get up close for personalbrconversations and autographs with their favorite players, past and present, asbrwell as coaches and front office personnel. In addition to the Rangers fullbrroster, former players such as Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Pete O' Brien, JosebrGuzman and others were in attendance.
“It's been 15 years sincebrPark Place Dealerships and the Texas Rangers developed this fun event tobrconnect fans with players and coaches while raising money to share the love ofbrbaseball with area kids,” said Dave Evans, director of marketing for Park PlacebrDealerships. “Watching the players relax, laugh and enjoy the evening is alwaysbrentertaining. While the guys are all fierce competitors on and off the field,brthey play the game shows all in good fun.”
Immediately after dinner,brthe Game Show Spectacular began. And, as always, it lived up to the hype. FoxbrSports Southwest anchor John Rhadigan and sideline reporter Emily Jones actedbras emcees and they engaged fans and players alike in a game of “Heads or Tails.”brThe auctioneer would flip a coin and participants would signal which side theybrthought the coin would land on by placing their hands on either their head orbrposterior. After narrowing the field with multiple rounds, Rangers thirdbrbaseman Adrian Beltre won the game. He generously donated the prize back to thebrauction. The coveted prize included a Big Green Egg and an all-expenses paidbrtrip to Cooperstown to attend former Texas Rangers catcher Ivan “Pudge”brRodriguez's Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which raised $16,000 for thebrcharity.
Other exclusive auctionbritems such as a trip on the team plane to Chicago, a trip to the Texas RangersbrSpring Training and a trip to Napa Valley were so popular they each sold twice,brdoubling the amount raised for the Foundation.
Continuing the Game ShowbrSpectacular, players once again demonstrated they are just as competitive (andbrtwice as funny) off the field as they are when playing Major League baseball.br Jonathan Lucroy faced off against A.J. Griffin in the “Match Game,” withbrpanelists Matt Bush, Andrew Cashner, and Sam Dyson going head-to-head with TonybrBarnette, Robinson Chirinos and Nick Martinez. Lucroy won 1-0 after severalbrrounds of hilarious answers.
Next, fans were treatedbrto the annual Rookie Song, which featured Chi Chi Gonzalez, Jose Leclerc,brAustin Bibens-Dirkx and Dario Alvarez acting out a skit to the songbr“Despacito.” The rookies pranced around and posed like rappers to the delightbrof fans and veteran players alike, finally dropping their microphones at thebrend. I'm sure the rookies will be reliving this experience throughout the yearbras Beltre and Odor were seen filming the spectacle while Andrus looked on withbran impish smile.
Finally, the evening'sbrmain attraction was the fan favorite “Fielder's Feud,” pitting outfieldersbrDelino DeShields, Jared Hoying, Nomar Mazara and Pete Kozma against infieldersbrElvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre, Mike Napoli and Rougned Odor. The players had funbrwith good-natured ribbing throughout the game. The infielders won and eachbrplayer received a silver whistle on a lanyard, plus bragging rights for thebryear. I'd bet it's not the last tweet we'll hear from these practical jokersbrthis season.
“Our primary focus thisbryear is on completing the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy in West Dallas,”brexplained Morris. “The facility will provide a safe place for area children tobrplay baseball and softball. In addition to year-round baseball and softballbrinstruction, the Academy will host tournaments, coaching clinics, and skills camps.brIt will also give young people access to academic tutoring, college prepbrclasses, college and career fairs, financial literacy and internship programs,brand MLB industry alternative career workshops.”
The Texas RangersbrBaseball Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children in needbrwithin our community, and provides funding for youth in crisis, youth healthbrinitiatives, youth baseball programs, and youth education. Celebrating its 26thbryear, the Foundation has given back more than $15 million to help children inbrneed.
While the Texas RangersbrFoundation can't set the date for next year's Triple Play event until after thebrMLB releases the 2018 baseball schedule, fans might want to reserve the firstbrcouple of Sundays in May 2018 for the ultimate Texas Rangers Fan party. Then,brwatch the Rangers website for the announcement as the event sells out quickly.
Ken Schnitzer foundedbrPark Place Dealerships 30 years ago with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership onbrOak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people andbroperates 18 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands includingbrLexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Infiniti, Volvo, smart, Jaguar, Lotus,brRolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. Park Place is currently building abrnew Land Rover Jaguar dealership in Grapevine, scheduled to open July 2017, andbra new Grapevine Porsche dealership opening in 2018.
Visit ParkPlace.com forbrmore information.
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Photos by David Alvey