Rangers participate in Game Show Spectacular
Triple Play event raises $750K to benefit foundation's programs
The 2018 Park Place Dealerships Texas Rangers Triple Play Game Show Spectacular raised approximately $750,000 on Wednesday night.
The "Sultan's Soiree" took place in front of a sellout crowd at the Hilton Anatole Dallas, with Rangers players, coaches and staff helping raise proceeds to benefit the programs and projects of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation.
It is one of the Rangers' top fundraisers and social events of the season.
"It's such an important thing," reliever Kevin Jepsen said. "We are out there playing games and playing the sport we love, but to give back to the community and really help a foundation like the Rangers Foundation is definitely first and foremost."
The live auction items were hotly contested:
• A trip to Los Angeles to watch the Rangers play the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 12-13 sold twice for $12,000 total
• A trip to Boston for the Rangers-Red Sox series at Fenway Park on July 9, 10, and 11 sold twice for $14,000 total
• A trip to San Francisco to watch the Rangers play the San Francisco Giants and visit Napa Valley sold twice for $40,000 total
• A five-day hunting and fishing trip to Argentina hosted by former Rangers All-Star Jim Kern sold three times for $18,000 total
Other items and memorabilia were put up for bid in silent auction.
"I'm always up for the silent auction," pitcher Tony Barnette said. "It's probably my favorite thing of the night. Money goes to a great cause and always goes to good places, so I'm really excited for that."
The two game shows were Fielders Feud -- a take off on Family Feud -- and Wheel of Fortune.
The infielders team of Elvis Andrus, Joey Gallo, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Jurickson Profar won Fielders Feud over outfielders Shin-Soo Choo, Delino DeShields, Nomar Mazara and Ryan Rua.
The team of Doug Fister and Jepsen won Wheel of Fortune over Jesse Chavez and Chris Martin, and Barnette and Jake Diekman. The merriment of the night was only enhanced by the Rangers basking in a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Tigers earlier in the afternoon.
"It's always a good time -- come out, joke around and have fun with everyone out there," Gallo said. "It's always fun."
Another highlight was the Rangers Rookie Song. This year it was sung by Ronald Guzman, Kiner-Falefa, Yohander Mendez, Renato Nunez and Drew Robinson.
Since its inception in 1991, the Texas Rangers Base Foundation has invested more than $30 million in the community to help children through support of programs, including the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex; youth health and wellness programs, like the Just Keep Livin Foundation; educational programs, including the Richard Greene Scholars; and support of the military and first responders and their families.