The Texas Rangers announced today the details of the team's events to honor new National Baseball Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez on Friday and Saturday, August 11-12.
Dr Pepper Hall of Fame Luncheon on August 11
The weekend will begin with the Dr Pepper Hall of Fame Luncheon on Friday, August 11 at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel. Rodriguez will be honored by a number of special guests including Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar, National Baseball Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson, and Rangers Hall of Famers and former teammates. Rodriguez joins Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, and Alomar as natives of Puerto Rico to earn Hall of Fame election. The Hall of Fame Luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. and tickets are priced at $100 each. The net proceeds will benefit the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. Tickets can be purchased at texasrangers.com/halloffame or by calling 817-622-7883. Other luncheon sponsors include FOX Sports Southwest, 105.3 The FAN, TXA21, and CBS11.
Pre-game Ceremony to Retire #7 on August 12
Rodriguez will become the third Ranger to have his uniform number retired by the club when #7 is added to the left field façade of Globe Life Park prior to the game on Saturday, August 12. The on-field ceremony will begin at approximately 6:45 p.m., and first pitch of the Houston Astros-Rangers game has been moved back to 7:35 p.m.
Alomar and Idelson will participate in the festivities with members of Rodriguez' family, Rangers' Hall of Famers, and former teammates also in attendance. A number of other special highlights are also planned. The first 15,000 fans entering Globe Life Park that evening will receive a PowerAde/Walmart Pudge Rodriguez Baseball HOF Bobblehead.
Hall of Fame Plaque on Display
The National Baseball Hall of Fame will have Rodriguez' actual Hall of Fame plaque on display on the Globe Life Park in Arlington concourse on August 11 and 12. Fans can view and take photos of the bronze Hall of Fame plaque on Friday from 5:30 p.m.-end of the game (game time is 7:05 p.m.) and on Saturday from 8:00 p.m.-end of the game.
The plaque will make its way from Cooperstown, New York in time to also be on display at Friday's Dr Pepper Hall of Fame Luncheon in Fort Worth. The plaque is on permanent display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
 
Rodriguez will join Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan (#34) in 1996 and former manager Johnny Oates (#26) in 2005 with retired Rangers' numbers. In addition, Major League Baseball retired the number 42 worn by Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, the first African-American player in the major leagues, in 1997,
The Rangers' weekend to honor Rodriguez will take place following his induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Rodriguez joins first baseman Jeff Bagwell and outfielder Tim Raines as BBWAA selections in the Hall of Fame class of 2017. They will join former Royals and Braves General Manager John Schuerholz and former commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig as the inductees in the Class of 2017 on Sunday, July 30 in Cooperstown, New York.
For tickets and more information, please go to texasrangers.com or call 972-RANGERS.