Rangers Invite Texas Man For A Game Of Catch After Viral NextDoor Post

The Texas Rangers gave a 74-year-old baseball fan the opportunity of a lifetime - the chance to play catch at the team's home stadium.

The team found out about Frank Miller, of Dallas, when a story about a him trying to find friends during the pandemic went viral.

Miller has always been a fan of the game and pitched for school teams as a young man in the 1960s. Now retired, Miller has the time to toss a baseball around but didn't have a buddy to join him.

His wife, Alice, hopped on the Nextdoor app in January to see if anyone was up for a game or two of catch with Miller. She wrote:

“My 74 year old husband would like to have a partner to throw the ball with. He is a former high school and college pitcher and is looking for a catcher or someone who knows how to throw a baseball. He's a in good shape and loves baseball."

“I thought maybe one person would respond,” Alice told WFAA. “I was just shocked.”

Enough people responded that Miller was able to set something up at a local park. Even members of a local high school baseball team came out to play catch with Miller.

When local news stations and the New York Times shared Miller's story, the Rangers reached out.

This week, Miller and his new friends got to play at the Rangers' Globe Life Field. The team even got public announcer Chuck Morgan to record a welcome message for Miller that played at the stadium.

Miller was overjoyed at the chance to play on a pro field, but he's humble about the experience. He told WFAA that the story isn't about him but "was about people just really wanting to connect. That's the beautiful part."

Photo: Getty Images