ARLINGTON — Baseball fans flooding into Globe Life Field this Tuesday for the MLB All-Star Game were greeted by a sisterhood of the Rangers’ biggest fans. The Texas Rangers Women’s Club has been serving the team and the community for half a century, brought together by “the love of baseball,” club treasurer Mary Ann Kelly said.
On game day, you’ll find the group at the ballpark’s gates wearing red T-shirts, passing out merchandise and welcoming fans from near and far. They show up hours before the game to hand out bobble head figures, jerseys, scarves, hats and other items, depending on the game and what the promotions team decides to hand out.
Linda Cooley has been a member since 1998. She attended the All-Star Game donning baseball hat earrings and a Texas Rangers fanny pack. She said there’s nothing more fulfilling than giving a kid coming into the stadium an item and seeing a look of delighted surprise. She’s seen kids start crying with happiness from receiving an item.
“They can’t believe they’re getting something just for coming to the game,” Cooley said.
For the All-Star Game, the club handed out MLB-branded cooling towels to the game’s first 40,000 attendees — a way to beat the Texas heat, Globe Life promotions supervisor George Harris said. Normally, the club hands out around 15,000 Rangers-branded items. Harris said the women’s club helps stadium staff keep up with fan demand for promotional items.
“[The club members] are brothers and sisters with the Rangers,” Harris said. “It’s a great bunch of ladies … Fun to be around, fun to work with, hand in hand.”
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The club members volunteer their time to pass out merchandise, but their organization is compensated for their volunteer work. Club members can stay and watch the game and are able to buy tickets at half price. Outside of games, the group volunteers in the community, donates money and hosts guest speakers.
“We love being out here, that’s why we’re in this club,” Kelly said. “It’s hard to put a price on that.”
It’s the club’s 50th year supporting the Rangers. The group was founded in 1974 and is just two years younger than the Rangers’ time in Arlington. It now has nearly 180 members, and around 80 attended the All-Star Game on Tuesday.
Mary Humphus is one of four charter members that have been in the organization since it was founded. At 94 years old, she attends games, even giving other members a ride to Globe Life. In 2019, she threw the first pitch at a game.
“And I got it over the plate, too,” Humphus said.
Any member will give you the same reason for joining the club: They all love baseball. But they’ve also formed a sisterhood, with many lifelong friendships.
“We have the best group of ladies. There’s such a camaraderie,” Humphus said.
The women will tell you they are the only women’s club in the MLB. And they’re growing, Kelly said, with an influx of new members after the Rangers’ 2023 World Series win. Many members have seen the Rangers through different stadiums and multiple World Series attempts.
Any woman wanting to join can fill out an application at texasrangerswomensclub.com; membership is subject to approval by the club board and the Texas Rangers. Dues are $35 per year, plus a club badge fee of $10.50.
“When we went [to the World Series] the third time I said … the third time is the charm. We have to do it this time,” Cooley said. “I was so thrilled, you have no idea.”
The group is still enjoying the energy of the World Series victory.
“We’re out of giveaways very quickly,” club member Leanne Haynes said. “Fans are flooding in and everyone’s happy and excited and wants to be at the game … You can tell that they’re still riding the high of a World Series win.”
The All-Star Game was another home run for the club, as they greeted tourists from all over the country at Globe Life.
“[Seeing] fans coming in that are either visiting for the first time or bringing their kids to the game for the first time. It’s magical,” Haynes said.