Cal alum Marcus Semien is a World Series champ!

The Texas Rangers 2nd Baseman recorded two homers and seven RBIs in the final two games of the 2023 World Series

It is obvious to anyone watching the 2023 World Series that Texas Rangers 2nd Baseman and Cal Baseball alumnus Marcus Semien is proud of where he came from. On the strap of his elbow guard is the area code “510” - the area code for Berkeley/Oakland/East Bay where Marcus Semien attended high school (St. Mary’s College High School) and college (University of California, Berkeley) as the son of two Cal alumni.

Having played all but one game in the past three seasons (as the FOX broadcast repeatedly mentioned), Marcus Semien had struggled through the first 15 games of the 2023 postseasons only to finally break out in a big way in the final two to help his Texas Rangers to a 4-1 World Series win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

https://twitter.com/Rangers/status/1719940861411393972

In the second year of a 7-year, $175 Million deal, Semien was the most valuable Texas Rangers during the regular season due to his durability and consistent production and was a starter in the All-Star Game. He was the first major addition by the Rangers, a day before World Series MVP Corey Seager also signed with them during the 2021-22 offseason (for 10 years and a nearly unfathomable $325 Million). Semeien assumed the leadership role for the Rangers, being called their “Captain” in the Tweet/Xeet above.

Marcus Semien made some World Series history for being the first player to hit a multiple-RBI triple and a multiple-RBI homer in the same game. Semien first hit a two-RBI, slump-breaking triple to make it 3-0. In his next at-bat, Semin crushed a 3-run homer to give the Rangers a commanding 10-0 lead. Rangers would hold on to win Game 4 by an 11-7 final.

Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night was a tight affair until late. The Rangers were no-hit through the first 6 innings of the game (where Semien hitting leadoff went 0 for 3) before scoring the first run of the game in the top of the 7th inning.

Texas Rangers turned the 1-0 lead into a commanding 5-0 lead by scoring four times in the top of the 9th, capped by Marcus Semien hitting his second homer of this World Series and his 2023 postseason. The often stoic Semien sure displayed a lot of emotion in driving in the last two runs of the 2023 World Series.

In his at-bat prior to the home run, Marcus Semien also entered the history book by breaking the record for most plate appearances in a season, counting both the regular season and postseason. It is a testament to Semien’s durability that he was able to accumulate so many at-bats batting first in a potent lineup. It is also a record that may not stand for too long with how many extra playoff games there are with the expansion of the MLB postseasons.

For his historic game 5, Semien’s jersey from this game is heading to Cooperstown, NY to be displayed in the Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the 2023 World Series exhibit.

https://twitter.com/baseballhall/status/1719947491980795907

Special delivery from Simmy.

@Rangers

star Marcus Semien is donating his Game 5 jersey to the Hall of Fame!

Texas Rangers had to play in the wild-card round as the 5th seed of the American League. They made history for going a perfect 11-0 on the road this postseason, starting by winning two road games at the home of the top AL Wild Card, Tampa Bay Rays. Rangers then took down the best team of the AL Regular Season, the Baltimore Orioles, by sweeping them in three games before an odd ALCS where all seven games were won by the road team when the Rangers vanquished the defending champion in the Houston Astros in seven games.

Marcus Semien talked about his adjustment to have the two big games with the FOX crew after the game. Two of his children (and likely future Cal Bears?) also got to share the national spotlight.

A Texas broadcast also interviewed Marcus Semien about his win and his family (he is married to former Cal Volleyball star Tarah Murray) after the Semien family took a priceless photo on the field.

Congratulations to Cal alumnus Marcus Semien on being the latest professional Cal Bears to win his sports' biggest prize! Perhaps some of his postseason luck will rub off on Cal Baseball next season.

https://twitter.com/CalBaseball/status/1719913107542389079

Crown him! Congratulations to Marcus Semien and the Texas Rangers on winning the 2023 World Series #ProBears | #GoBears

As I mentioned before the series, Marcus Semien does become the second consecutive Cal Bear to win a World Series after catcher Korey Lee accomplished that feat with the Houston Astros last year. Which Cal Bear will be next?