Earlier in the week, we shared news of a promotion created by the Texas Rangers, in which they offered season tickets to fans who could hit a home run.
No pressure, but there is a catch to all of this. Not every fan is just going to be able to line up and take a swing. That’s because getting your first three hacks at a home run in Globe Life Park will cost fans a 25% downpayment on their season tickets.
Of course, don’t think you’re going to step up to the plate if you’re a former professional or college baseball player — you’re not allowed in to this one. Oh, and said price of one’s 25% deposit on season tickets will determine the tickets available to you for free (up to $10,000 of course).
Well, on Saturday, the #SwingForTheFences event took place at Globe Life Park in Arlington, and a fan actually hit a home run!
Watch Byron Anderson go deep to win four Rangers season tickets:
I bet on myself today, it paid off…thanks to @TEXPAMAN and @Rangers for making an ole man’s dream come true! pic.twitter.com/zjOEyCidI9
— Byron Anderson (@SportsByron) February 20, 2016
THAT ONE IS OUTTA HERE! Byron Anderson won 4 season tickets for the 2016 season at #SwingForYourSeats ⚾️💪 pic.twitter.com/xRZz245CiQ — Texas Rangers (@Rangers) February 20, 2016
Rangers also upgraded the winning fans season tix. From the @RangerBlake release: pic.twitter.com/h4jmQ9DJBF — Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) February 20, 2016
Absolutely awesome.
It turns out former college players were actually allowed to compete in the competition after all: Anderson played baseball at Tarleton State University.
From @TEXPAMAN: Byron Anderson tweeted him after hearing of promotion to see if ex-college players were OK. Answer: Yes. He showed up & won.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) February 20, 2016
Congratulations to Tarleton alumnus Byron Anderson who just hit a home run to win Rangers season tickets! https://t.co/eGD5ypjXG9
— Tarleton State Univ. (@tarletonstate) February 20, 2016
Still, hitting a homer in major-league ballpark, with a wooden bat, is no easy feat. That’s especially the case with the pressure of season tickets on the line, in a limited amount of swings.
Believe he put down deposit on four tickets in his name, so thus entitled to three swings per ticket in his account https://t.co/u1tLXYeNWl — Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) February 20, 2016
Even seven-time MLB All-Star Michael Young — retired in 2013 and still just 39 — couldn’t hit a homer in the event:
Word out of Arlington is Michael Young did not hit HR in season tix promo; does not bode well for amateurs trying to win ’em — Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) February 20, 2016
The promotion might not have given the Rangers a home run in terms of positive publicity, but a single or double isn’t bad:
20 fans participated in the HR promo; Rangers sold 57 tix; @RangerBlake got week's worth of buzz. Well played.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) February 20, 2016
It was a very good week for the Rangers… and the new owner of four free 2016 season tickets.
