ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Elvis Andrus signed a ceremonial one-day contract Friday to officially retire with the Texas Rangers, the team he played for in the first 12 of his 15 seasons in the majors.
Andrus made his big-league debut as a 20-year-old shortstop in 2009 and was a steady presence up the middle when the Rangers went to back-to-back World Series in 2010-11. He was also part of AL West-winning teams in 2015-16.
“Today is a day of joy in my life,” said Andrus, who turned 36 last month. “I think this is perfect.”
The two-time All-Star was seated between longtime teammate Michael Young and Ron Washington, his manager during his first six seasons with the club. Washington is now the manager of the Los Angeles Angels, who are playing Texas this weekend.
“This is the place where he made his greatest impact, where the community loves him, our fan base loves him,” said Young, now a special assistant to Rangers general manager Chris Young.
The oldest of Andrus' three children, 7-year-old Elvis Jr., threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Young.
“He could handle a bat and could handle the glove and he could run the bases,” Washington said. “Very, very special player.”
Andrus had 2,091 hits while batting .269 with 102 homers, 775 RBIs, and 347 stolen bases in 2,059 career games with Texas (2009-20), the Oakland Athletics (2021-22), and the Chicago White Sox (2022-23). He went to spring training this year with the Arizona Diamondbacks on a minor league contract but was released before the start of the season.
Texas acquired Andrus from Atlanta in July 2007 in a six-player trade that sent Mark Teixeira to the Braves.
Andrus is the Rangers’ career leader with 305 stolen bases, ranks second in games (1,652), at-bats (6,366), and triples (48). He is third in runs (893) and hits (1,743).
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Texas Rangers' Elvis Andrus smiles during a news conference before the baseball game between the Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Andrus announced his retirement as an active Texas Rangers player after playing the first 12 seasons of his 15-year Major League career in Arlington. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Texas Rangers' Elvis Andrus, right, signs a one-day contract as Michael Young, left, his former teammate and current Rangers' special assistant to the general manager, looks on during a news conference before a baseball game between the Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Texas Rangers' Elvis Andrus, center, smiles for photos with Los Angeles Angels Manager, Ron Washington, left, and former teammate Michael Young after a news conference before the baseball game between the Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Andrus announced his retirement as an active Texas Rangers player after playing the first 12 seasons of his 15-year Major League career in Arlington. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Texas Rangers' Elvis Andrus, left, smiles with Los Angeles Angels Manager Ron Washington after Andrus signed a one-day contract with the Rangers during a news conference before the baseball game between the Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Andrus announced his retirement as an active Texas Rangers player after playing the first 12 seasons of his 15-year Major League career in Arlington. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
“Shogun” entered the Emmy Awards telecast Sunday with an arsenal of trophies already — 14 Creative Arts Emmys given out earlier, making the Japan-based epic the record-holder for most wins for a single season. Even as it hopes to add to its haul throughout the show, there were other moments of note, including reunions of shows like “Saturday Night Live” and themes, like TV dads and moms.
Here are some of the night’s notable moments:
The father-and-son duo of Eugene and Dan Levy, the winning stars of the 2020 Emmys aboard “Schitt’s Creek,” hosted and they were warm, mocking themselves as they noted the TV telecast was honoring "movie stars on streaming services.”
Even when they went after a show — like “The Bear,” competing in the best comedy series category, even though it's not a traditional yukfest — it was gentle.
“Now, I love the show, I love the show, and I know some of you will be expecting us to make a joke about whether ‘The Bear’ is really a comedy — but in the true spirit of ‘The Bear,’ we will not be making any jokes,” Eugene Levy said.
In one bit, the two found themselves in the audience but in different rows, mistaking stage left for house left. Awkwardness ensued. When they tried to push through, Eugene Levy wailed: “I can't see the prompter!”
“Saturday Night Live” got a head start to its 50th anniversary next year with a mini-reunion, as Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Seth Meyers and Bowen Yang presented the award for best writing for a variety special.
Three of the four mocked creator and producer Lorne Michaels in the audience, who they claimed was nominated and lost 85 times at the Emmys. Rudolph said he was “robbed.” Yang said “it gets better” and “keep winning.” Meyers corrected them all to say that, in fact, Michael has won a boatload of Emmys. Yang then leaned into mispronouncing his boss' name.
It may have been a taste for 2025, when the trailblazing sketch show will have a three-hour live primetime special in February. It has won a boatload of Emmys and been the springboard for such stars as Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell and Mike Myers.
Antony Starr of “The Boys,” Giancarlo Esposito from “Breaking Bad” and Kathy Bates of “Misery” came out to represent an oddly key part of TV — the villains.
“Without villains or antagonists, there wouldn’t be much of a story,” Esposito said. But it takes its toll. “Do you know how hard it was to get a date after ‘Misery,” Bates asked about her Stephen King role as a crazed kidnapper.
Esposito complained that drug dealers will interrupt his dinner to ask his advice about building their empires and Starr said so many parents have approached him and said his bad superhero is disturbing to their kids. He responds that it has an R rating. “It’s sloppy parenting,” he observed.
George Lopez, Damon Wayans, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who have all played memorable TV dads, gathered to recognize the lead actor in a comedy series. They walked into a mancave set and Lopez and Wayans said they wanted to thank their TV wives, but Ferguson balked, having starred with a TV husband instead on “Modern Family.” “Did you even watch?” he asked them.
Later, it was the moms’ turn. Meredith Baxter, who played the “Family Ties” matriarch, Connie Britton of “Friday Night Lights” and Susan Kelechi Watson of “This Is Us” presented the award for best writing for a comedy series. “We have come a long way since we couldn’t leave the kitchen,” said Baxter. “TV moms are no longer one-dimensional,” said Watson. “It’s OK to ask for as much as a TV dad.”
For more coverage of the 2024 Emmys, visit https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards
Hosts Eugene Levy and Dan Levy speak during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Maya Rudolph, from left, Seth Meyers, Kristen Wiig, and Bowen Yang present the award for outstanding writing for a variety special during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Antony Starr, from left, Kathy Bates, and Giancarlo Esposito present the award for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
