This is how Jon Daniels pictured it. He just imagined being a part of it.
The former Texas Rangers president of baseball operations, who worked for the club for more than 20 years and helped build its previous two World Series teams, was hopeful to be part of another rebuild before owner Ray Davis fired him last August.
Now, the Rangers are back in the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Daniels can admit to a bit of jealousy. The series is tied 1-1 with Game 3 on Monday night in Phoenix.
“There’s a sense of genuine happiness and joy for my friends,” he told the Baseball isn’t Boring podcast recently. “At the same time, there’s some level of jealousy that they’re going through it, and in my mind, I always imagined doing it together.”
Daniels’ overwhelming sentiment is happiness for his former co-workers, along with Rangers fans who get to experience a World Series for the third time, and the first since 2011.
Daniels, now a special assistant with Tampa Bay, joined the Rangers in 2002 under general manager John Hart and quickly moved up the ladder to director of baseball operations and later assistant general manager. When Hart left in October of 2004, Daniels was promoted to general manager, at the time the youngest in the game.
From there, Daniels built the Rangers into winners. The club won its first American League pennant in 2010 and again in 2011, though neither of those teams won the World Series. During that build, Daniels actually traded his replacement, current Rangers general manager Chris Young, to the San Diego Padres.
Before this season, the Rangers’ last playoff appearance under Daniels was in 2016. After six straight losing seasons, Davis made the change, which came two days after the organization fired manager Chris Woodward.
Young has heaped credit on Daniels throughout the postseason. Daniels is hoping his former colleagues are able to hoist the trophy at the end, even if it’s a little bittersweet.
“I’m thrilled for my friends. I’m thrilled for the area, there’s an energy around here that’s great,” Daniels said. “It’s bittersweet watching from a distance. I’m really happy where I’m at both personally and professionally but you put a lot of effort and years into something to see it through and immediately after I’m out they got a chance to have a parade here. Mixed emotions, for sure.”
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