To Celebrate 70th Birthday, Bruce Bochy Had Simple Gift Request for Texas Rangers’ Offense
ARLINGTON, Texas — Bruce Bochy has never been one for big celebrations or flashy gifts. As the Texas Rangers’ veteran manager turned 70 this week, he didn’t ask for a party, a cake, or a grand tribute. Instead, his birthday wish was straightforward — and very on-brand for a baseball lifer.
“I just told the guys, ‘Get me a few runs tonight. That’s all I want,’” Bochy said with a grin before Tuesday’s game at Globe Life Field. “Simple gift. Score early and often.”
Bochy, who returned to managing in 2023 after a brief retirement, has quickly become a beloved figure in Arlington, guiding the Rangers to a World Series championship in his first season at the helm. His calm demeanor, old-school sensibilities, and baseball wisdom have been a steadying presence for a young team with high expectations.
The players, it turns out, took their manager’s birthday wish to heart.
Facing the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night, the Rangers’ offense erupted for eight runs in the first five innings, led by Corey Seager’s three-hit performance and a pair of long home runs from Adolis García and Josh Jung. Texas would go on to win 9-3, delivering exactly the kind of birthday present their skipper had asked for.
“He didn’t make a big deal of it, but we knew what today meant,” said Marcus Semien, who drove in two runs. “Boch keeps it simple — play the game the right way, have each other’s backs, and stay focused. So tonight we just wanted to go out and put up some runs and make it a fun night for him.”
The Rangers presented Bochy with a commemorative jersey and a video tribute before the game, including messages from former players and fellow managers across the league. In the dugout, the mood was light, but the players clearly wanted to perform well in honor of their skipper.
“He’s like a father figure to a lot of us,” García said. “He’s not a loud guy, but when he talks, everyone listens. We wanted to make him smile.”
Bochy, who won three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants before joining the Rangers, downplayed the personal milestone after the game.
“I’ve had a few birthdays in this game,” he said, chuckling. “But I’ll say this — it’s special when you get to spend it doing what you love, with a group of guys who care about each other and play the game right. That’s the best gift there is.”
With the win, the Rangers improved their record and gained momentum in a tight AL West race. But for one night, the focus wasn’t just on standings or stats. It was about honoring a baseball legend with the thing he cherishes most: a good, clean game — and plenty of runs.
“Let’s just say,” Bochy said with a wink, “they made this old man pretty happy.”
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