How Creed’s music helped propel the Texas Rangers to an ALCS appearance

While The Rangers were mired in a second half-slump that saw the team fall out of first place in the American League West they turned to an unlikely source for inspiration: the music of Creed.

Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney told Rangers radio broadcaster Jared Sandler that the team dealt with their uneven second half by listening to Creed.

Rangers superstar Corey Seager spoke before Game 3 of the American League Division Series about how Creed caught on in the Rangers locker room and how something as simple as music can help a team bond.

“It’s kind of just a random thing that everybody started singing to one day, and it’s kind of built on itself,” Seager said before the Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles to advance to the American League Championship Series.

“It’s something to bond over,” Seager said. “That’s the hard thing about teams, right? You have people coming in and out. How do you gel? How do you come together? How do you fight for each other? You find little ways on different teams, and that’s one of our ways.”

Creed was even referenced by radio broadcaster Matt Hicks after Mitch Garvers’ grand slam against the Orioles in gGame 2 of the ALDS.

The band, which formed in 1994, has also gotten in on the fun on their X, formerly Twitter, account tweeting let’s go Rangers in response to an article citing the connection.

Even the band’s Wikipedia page had been edited to tout the newfound connection between Creed and the Rangers.

Rangers rookie outfielder Evan Carter wasn’t born when Creed dropped their first studio album in 1994. He said he had been aware of the band before their increased popularity in the clubhouse.

When asked which song was their favorite, Carter cited “One Last Breath,” and outfielder Leody Taveras said he hasn’t yet decided on a favorite Creed song.

How did the Rangers’ love affair with Creed begin? Possibly with mid-season acquisition Austin Hedges according to Rangers manager Bruce Bochy.

“I do know we’re playing a lot of Creed,” said Bochy, “I don’t know whose the DJ here, to be honest. I don’t know where it’s coming from. It could be Hedges,... I’ll find out for you.”

The embrace of Creed continued during Tuesday’s ALDS game against the Orioles. Following Adolis Garcia’s three-run home run that put the Rangers up 6-0 in the second inning, Sandler shared a video to X showcasing fans singing along to Creed’s “Higher,” in between innings.