DALLAS — Many baseball fans attend games in hopes of catching a ball in the stands. But the Texas Rangers are helping host a scavenger hunt that will allow fans to go out and find their own balls -- albeit it, a little shinier.
In partnership with Brad Oldham Sculpture, the Texas Rangers have helped to hide 25 bronze baseball-sized sculptures across the metroplex -- including Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington. The lost-wax cast sculptures, called Baseball Forever, hide inside a small version of Brad Oldham's The Traveling Man. The full-sized version of that sculpture can be found in Deep Ellum.
“We all have those moments in life that shape who we are, and for me, sports have always been a big part of that journey,” said Oldham in a statement. “To have the opportunity to celebrate 25 years of creating public art and to collaborate with the Texas Rangers, a team who just reached the pinnacle of success as World Series champions, feels like my two worlds coming together in the most meaningful way. I hope Baseball Forever resonates with fans as a symbol of the unity and passion that both art and sports inspire."
The miniature sculpture inside the bronze baseball is called Where Champions Live in honor of the Rangers' World Series victory last year, showing him wearing a Rangers cap and standing on home plate with a baseball for his heart.
“The Texas Rangers are proud to support Texas-based artists such as Brad Oldham and Christy Coltrin, whose work reflects the spirit and culture of our state,” Travis Dillon, Senior Vice President, Texas Rangers, said in a statement. “Collaborating with Brad Oldham Sculpture on Baseball Forever allows us to celebrate our history while providing our fans with a unique and memorable way to engage with the team."
Fans who register online will receive a map showing areas where the sculptures have been hidden. Should anyone find one of the sculptures, they can share the location of it on the same page.
"Baseball Forever stands as a symbol of the shared passion for community, creativity, and the spirit of baseball that unites people across Texas,” said Christy Coltrin, artist and CEO of Brad Oldham Sculpture in a statement. “This collaboration celebrates not only our respective milestones but also the enduring connections between art, sports, and the community. We hope these 25 sculptures bring joy and a sense of discovery to those who are lucky enough to find one."
As of 5:15 p.m., 11 sculptures have been found and only 14 remain, according to the Rangers.