ARLINGTON - Expect to see a lot of Rangers fans wearing their pride this week after the team turned AL West champs on Sunday.
However, don't even bother trying to purchase one the MLB's official championship T-shirts at the Globe Life Park in Arlington.
Despite the controversy over the Dallas skyline featured across the T-shirts that read "The West is Ours," the Rangers gear sold fast.
A team spokesman said he was surprised to see the silhouette of a Dallas skyline as the backdrop on the shirt that represents a team housed in Arlington for 44 years. That shock was also expressed across social media.
In a statement released Monday afternoon, the MLB said they've stopped distribution of the AL West shirts.
"When designing shirts for teams that advanced to the Postseason, we incorporated a skyline theme for clubs," read the statement. "We made a mistake in using this design for the Rangers. As a result, we are not shipping any more skyline T-shirts to retailers and we are instead offering alternate Rangers Postseason shirts."
However, the outrage didn't stop sales; and Rangers officials say they won't restock the championship shirts.
Sporting goods stores also saw a surge after the AL West win.
"I was here yesterday after the game and the line was out there," said David Martinez as he out the door of the Academy Sports and Outdoors in Arlington. "I was with my little boy and he didn't want to wait so I figured I'd come early this morning."
But by Monday morning, there were no adult male T-shirts left. The store sold out of men's shirts within about 15 minutes of the win.
"There's none for me," Martinez said as he picked up a shirt for his son.
But, there were still about 100 or so women's and youth T-shirts left when the store opened at 8:30 a.m. Monday.
Rangers fans still seem eager to score the shirts despite the Dallas skyline featured for a team in Tarrant County.
"I don't care," said JoAnn Partida, an Arlington resident, of the Dallas skyline. "I want one. I got one from the last championship. Still have the seal on it. I wanted another one."
However, many on social media weren't so happy.
"Love what it says, but not the skyline," wrote Lillian Owen. "Should be an outline or picture of the stadium in Arlington. With the Rangers on this one!"
"Much to do over nothing," debated Joe Simmons on the News 8 Daybreak page.
Rangers fans now hope for wins in the American League Division Series.
The team travels to Toronto this week to begin a five-game series with the the Blue Jays.
