Rangers host Orioles and Yankees during seven-game homestand, July 19-25

The Texas Rangers will host a pair of American League East Division foes, the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees during a seven-game homestand that runs from July 19-25.

The club will conclude the homestand with a special pre-game ceremony to honor Yankees legendary closer Mariano Rivera on Thursday, July 25, a 1:05 p.m. start. The participants in the ceremony will include Rangers Hall of Famer John Wetteland, who Rivera succeeded as New York's closer in 1997, and Joe Nathan, who followed Rivera to the mound in Tuesday's All-Star Game at New York's Citi Field. Thursday will be the final regular season game in Arlington for Rivera, who is concluding a brilliant 19-year major league career at the end of this season. The ceremony, which will include several presentations, will begin at 12:50 p.m.

Rivera, major league baseball's all-time leader in both regular season (638) and postseason (42) saves, is 2-2, 2.47 with 19 saves in 21 tries in 34 regular season appearances at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and has the most career saves for an opponent in that park. He has also worked 7.0 scoreless innings and converted both save opportunities in five postseason outings.

The Rangers host the Orioles on Friday, July 19 at 7:05 p.m., Saturday, July 20 at the special time of 7:15 due to the pre-game ceremony to induct Ivan Rodriguez into the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame, and Sunday, July 21 at 6:05 p.m. 

The series opener is a Fireworks Friday with a spectacular post-game fireworks show set to the music of the Beatles. Fans may enter FIREWORKS as the coupon code on texasrangers.com to purchase $15.00 upper reserved tickets for Friday's game.

Saturday's pre-game ceremony will include remarks by Rangers Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and Rusty Greer as well as Ivan Rodriguez, who becomes the 16^th Hall of Fame inductee. Members of the Rodriguez family and former Rangers Scouting Director Sandy Johnson, who was responsible for the signing of the newest Rangers Hall of Famer in 1988, will be among the special guests.

In addition, another member of the Rangers Hall of Fame, Jim Sundberg will honor the memory of former Rangers owner Brad Corbett, who passed away last December, as part of the ceremonies. Members of Mr. Corbett's family as well as former A.L. and Rangers President Dr. Bobby Brown will be in attendance. John Rhadigan of Fox Sports Southwest will be the on-field master of ceremonies.

The weekend will also feature the return of more than 50 former Rangers players, coaches, and executives who will participate in one or more of the events. There will be free autograph sessions with the Alumni for fans attending the games on Friday (5:30-6:00 p.m.), Saturday (5:00-5:30 p.m.), and Sunday (4:30-5:00 p.m.) on the concourse at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The list of players signing each day will be posted when the Ballpark gates open.

On Sunday, the first 10,000 youngsters, 13 and under receive a Sleep Inc. Rangers Pillowcase. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. for the 6:05 p.m. start.

The Yankees close the homestand with a 6:05 p.m. game on Monday, July 22 (NOTE: Change to original schedule for ESPN telecast), 7:05 on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 23 and 24, and 1:05 p.m. on Thursday, July 25. The first 40,000 fans receive Academy Rally Towels on Monday, and the first 30,000 fans get a MLB Network Drawstring Backpack on Tuesday. Fans 13 and under can receive autographs from Rangers players and coaches on Dr Pepper Autograph Wednesday on July 24.

July 20 and 25 are KIA K-Zone games when fans with tickets in sections 201-208 receive free K-Zone T-shirts and K-Cards.

The homestand schedule:

Friday, July 19 vs. Baltimore Orioles-7:05 p.m. - TXA 21-HD

• Fireworks Friday. Postgame fireworks will feature music of the Beatles. Fans may enter FIREWORKS as the coupon code on texasrangers.com to purchase $15.00 upper reserved tickets
• National Anthem by Dallas Police Choir.
• Ceremonial first pitch by Montague County Sheriff's Deputy James Boyd, who was wounded in the line of duty in March 2013.
• Alumni Autographs on Concourse, 5:30-6:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 20 vs. Baltimore Orioles-7:15 p.m. -FSSW                    Gates open at 4:30 p.m.

• Pre-game ceremony to induct Ivan Rodriguez into the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame and to honor memory of Brad Corbett.
• Alumni Autographs on Concourse, 5:00-5:30 p.m.
• KIA K-Zone Game (Sections 201-208).

Sunday, July 21 vs. Baltimore Orioles-6:05 p.m. -FSSW                      Gates open at 4:00 p.m.

• Sleep Inc. Rangers Pillowcase for first 10,000 children, 13 and under.
• Blue Bell $1 Ice Cream Sunday (13 and under).
• Alumni Autographs on Concourse, 4:30-5:00 p.m.
• MLB RBI Southwest Regional Tournament presentation.

Monday, July 22 vs. New York Yankees-6:05 p.m. -FSSW/ESPN          NOTE TIME CHANGE

• Academy Rally Towels for first 40,000 fans.

Tuesday, July 23 vs. New York Yankees-7:05 p.m. -FSSW

• MLB Network Drawstring Backpack for first 30,000 fans.

Wednesday, July 24 vs. New York Yankees-7:05 p.m. -FSSW

• Dr Pepper Autograph Wednesday (13 and under).

Thursday, July 25 vs. New York Yankees-1:05 p.m.-FSSW                 Gates open at 11:30 a.m.

• Mariano Rivera pre-game ceremony featuring John Wetteland and Joe Nathan.
• KIA K-Zone Game (Sections 201-208).

Tickets can be purchased online at texasrangers.com, by calling 972.RANGERS, or at the Rangers Ballpark first base ticket office