Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Josh Hamilton, returned to Rangers Park for the first time since his acrimonious departure following last season, and he was booed quite loudly by the fans.
Hamilton had four very productive seasons with Texas before signing a 5-year $125 million contract with the Angels, but incurred the ire of Rangers fans when he said that Dallas wasn’t a true baseball town and that the fans are spoiled.
Well, in a post-game news conference, Hamilton appeared miffed at the hostile reception he got and according to ESPN Dallas, the Angels outfielder chose to divert the high road.
“I can’t say that I didn’t expect it,” Hamilton said. “I will never take back what I said until they show up every night for 30 years. But I’m glad I can help create spirit and fire in this town. Honestly, man, that was louder than any playoff game I’ve ever been to so I’m excited for them about that. Hopefully the fans can carry that on through the season.”
Hamilton says that he’s doesn’t mind the booing all that much though, and that he’s just trying to do the best he can for his new team.
“I’m not setting out to prove anyone wrong,” Hamilton said. “I’m just setting out to play the game like I always have, hard and give it what I have. If they boo, like I’ve said, they booed when I was here at times, so I don’t expect anything less, especially playing for the Angels.”
“I’d lie to you if I said it didn’t bother me a little bit,” Hamilton said. “But it didn’t like overwhelm me, oh my goodness, what am I going to do, get me out of the lineup, I can’t stand it. It wasn’t that detrimental. It’s what I expected.”
I have no problem with what Hamilton said, he played there for four years so he would know the temperament of the Rangers fans.
It’s just too bad that his relationship with the organization ended the way it did, because that’s where he resurrected his career after battling drug and alcohol addiction earlier in his career.