ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - The Rangers honored Michael Young, their career leader in hits and runs, before their game against the Blue Jays on Saturday night.
Young played 13 of his 14 major league seasons with Texas. After playing for the Phillies and Dodgers in 2013, he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Ranger Jan. 31.
The Texas Rangers Foundation donated $10,000 to the Michael Young Family Foundation, which supports children’s health initiatives.
“(Young) is a quality individual, a professional, a difference maker,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “He meant so much to our organization and the community.”
His former teammates gave Young a four-day trip to Disney World for himself, his wife, Cristina, and their three sons. Mayor Robert Cluck and the Arlington City Council declared May 17 as Michael Young Day.
The Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki and the Cowboys’ Jason Witten represented their teams at the ceremony, and Young’s former teammates and opponents - including Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly - sent videotaped testimonials.
The Major League Baseball Assistance Team presented Young with its Bart Giamatti award for a player displaying compassion.
The Blue Jays signed Young to his first professional contract in 1997 and traded him as a Double-A player to Texas on July 19, 2000. He made his major league debut that September.
“I feel I’ll always be linked with you guys,” Young told the Rangers fans.” You don’t know how good I had it here for 13 years.”
He finished with a .300 career batting average, and is one of 16 players in major league history with six or more 200-hit seasons. He won an American League batting title, a Gold Glove and an All-Star Game MVP award.
He never went on the disabled list during his career. Texas currently has 13 players on the DL.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Young said. “That stinks, but the show must go on. This is the big leagues.”
The 37-year-old said he would like to return to baseball in some capacity but not this year. He’s enjoying his first summer off since he was 10.
The family will be visiting Napa, California, next weekend. And later, they’ll be going to Disney World.
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