Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers are paying tribute to Charley Pride — who owned part of the team — by naming a baseball field after the country music legend.
The Rangers announced the decision Sunday … unveiling “Charley Pride Field” at the official Rangers spring training complex in Surprise, Arizona.
“Introducing Charley Pride Field! You are greatly missed,” the team said in a statement.
Pride — a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee and 3x Grammy award winner who was nominated 13 times — died December 12, 2020 from complications related to COVID-19 at the age of 86.
The legendary country singer held a part-ownership stake in the Rangers after joining a group that purchased the team in 2010.
Pride was a frequent visitor to the Texas Rangers Spring Training facility.
That should come as no surprise since Pride was a BALLER back in his day. Before deciding to pick up the microphone, he was a standout pitcher in the Negro Leagues in the 1950s and 1960s.
CP even had a couple of brief stints with the Yankees and Reds minor league squads … before retiring from baseball and becoming a music superstar.
Pride sang the National Anthem in July 2020 at the Rangers Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas … the first-ever baseball game at the field, and one of his last live performances.
Pride was such a talented and respected performer, he was honored during The Grammys on Sunday night in the “In Memoriam” segment.
RIP.