PHOENIX – To the amazement of much of the baseball world and the chagrin of a certain Mad Dog radio voice, the Arizona Diamondbacks, for the first time since 2001, are playing in the World Series. The Fall Classic begins Friday against the American League representative, the Texas Rangers, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, for Games 1 and 2 before the series shifts to Chase Field in the Valley.
No one could have predicted the Diamondbacks and Rangers would be the last two teams standing after the way their 2022 seasons fizzled. As a result, fans are buying expensive tickets, – up to $9,000 on some secondary markets sites – booking flights and hotels, placing bets and laying out game day ‘fits.
Both teams finished more than 10 games below .500 in 2022, which makes it the second-lowest winning percentage in the previous season for World Series teams (.438). Only the Atlanta Braves-Minnesota Twins’ 1991 World Series matchup featured a lower winning percentage in the previous season (.429).
Few thought it would happen, including radio personality Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, who said he would retire immediately if the Diamondbacks captured the NLCS. They did and he didn’t.
Longtime Diamondbacks fans still remember the 2001 finish as if it were yesterday. In what was one of the most iconic World Series ever, Luis Gonzalez etched his name in Arizona history in Game 7 against the New York Yankees by hitting a walk-off single against MLB Hall of Famer, Mariano Rivera. Tony Womack provided the team’s first-ever playoff walk-off hit against the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS. The “Big Unit” Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling offered a one-two pitching punch that still lingers in baseball lore.
Those were a few of the players the Diamondbacks relied on 22 years ago, and Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, Zac Gallen and Arizona’s bullpen are crucial for this season’s team.
The Diamondbacks will look to shut down another star-studded lineup in the World Series, including ALCS MVP Adolis Garcia who hit five home runs for the Rangers in the series.
Here is everything else you need to know about the World Series:
Game 1:
Date: Friday at 5:03 pm PDT
Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
Weather: 81 degrees (thunderstorms expected)
TV: FOX
Ticket prices: $424-$2,029 on Ticketmaster, $408-$7,119 on SeatGeek
Odds: Texas Rangers -156 Moneyline
Game 2:
Date: Saturday at 5:03 pm PDT
Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
Weather: 80 degrees
TV: Fox
Ticket prices: $448-$2,306 on Ticketmaster, $416-$8,899 on SeatGeek
Odds: Not available
Game 3:
Date: Monday at 5:03 pm PDT
Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
Weather: 82 degrees
TV: Fox
Ticket prices: Not available on Ticketmaster, $506-$5,231 on SeatGeek
Odds: Not available
Game 4:
Date: Tuesday at 5:03 pm PDT
Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
Weather: 82 degrees
TV: Fox
Ticket prices: Not available on Ticketmaster, $472-$4,519 on SeatGeek
Odds: Not available
Game 5 if necessary:
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 5:03 pm PDT
Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
Weather: 77 degrees
TV: Fox
Ticket prices: Not available on Ticketmaster, $502-$5,231 on SeatGeek
Odds: Not available
Game 6 if necessary:
Date: Friday, Nov. 3, at 5:03 pm PDT
Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
Weather: Not available
TV: Fox
Ticket prices: Not available on Ticketmaster, $478-$6,340 on SeatGeek
Odds: Not available
Game 7 if necessary:
Date: Saturday, Nov. 4, at 5:03 pm PDT
Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
Weather: Not available
TV: Fox
Ticket prices: Not available on Ticketmaster, $585-$31,849
Odds: Not available
Typical airfare from Phoenix to Dallas-Fort Worth:
American Airlines:$630-$1,025
United Airlines:$649-$1,342
Sample hotel prices near Chase Field from Monday to Wednesday, Oct. 1:
Hyatt Regency Phoenix:
Address: 122 N. Second St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Cost: $356-$427/night
Renaissance Phoenix Downtown:
Address: 100 N. First St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Cost: Sold Out
Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Downtown:
Address: 15 E. Monroe St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Cost: $549-$600/night
The Westin Phoenix Downtown:
Address: 333 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Cost: $426-$592/night
Parking prices for Chase Field’s home World Series games:
Game 3:
Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Downtown: $220
811 E. Jackson St.: $320
Game 4:
Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Downtown: $250
811 E. Jackson S.t: $320
201 N. First St. Garage: $30
Game 5:
Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Downtown: $250
811 E. Jackson St.: $320
201 N. First St. Garage: $30
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