East Texans board the Fox Sports Southwest Fan Express from the S. Broadway Wal-Mart parking lot in Tyler to ride to the Texas Rangers baseball game Wednesday May 25, 2016 at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Sports fans won the bus tickets through Sportstalk with Bill Coates on radio station KTBB. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

A group of folks gathered on a South Broadway parking lot all decked out in red, white and blue.

It wasn’t a patriotic gathering, although it could be akin to celebrating the United States. These 40 or so fans were as American as baseball and apple pie.

They were dressed in Texas Rangers jerseys and T-shirts, their favorite baseball team.

The fans were preparing to take a bus trip to watch the Rangers play the hated American League West Division rival Los Angeles Angels in Arlington.

It is an escape that local radio station KTBB plans for its listeners. It works with Fox Sports Southwest to plan these memory makers. Since KTBB and ESPN East Texas 92.1-FM are a Rangers affiliate it is a natural promotion to take fans to the game on the Fox Sports Southwest Fan Express.

“We usually go three times a year to a Rangers game,” Bill Coates, KTBB Sports Director, said. “It’s a lot of fun. You don’t have to worry about driving; Eddie (Horn, bus driver) takes care of us. Eddie takes us right up to the stadium. We get off the bus near our seats. Then after the final out, he picks us up at the same place. Easy on and easy off.

“You can’t beat a day like this; baseball and its dollar hot dog day.”

Coates added Fox Sports Southwest “really treats us nice.”

The fans on this trip not only got into the game free with good seats, just down the left field line in the lower level, but also received $10 worth of Captain’s Cash (the Rangers mascot) to use at the concession stand or anywhere in the ballpark.

They also received a FSSW bag along with a red Rangers cap, which retails around $20.

Coates said he likes the trips so he and producer Kevin Arden can put “a face to voices” who call into his popular SportsTalk show.

Arden chimes in, “Plus, I love the no hassle parking.”

Leading up to the trip, Coates gives away a couple of tickets a day during the broadcast, noting the theme of “Butts on the Bus.”

The trips are a hit with fans, and they have even taken a few journeys to Dallas Mavericks games.

Coates said they would like to add more Mavs’ games, and they are trying to put a Dallas Stars game on the calendar. This was the second of a planned three trips for Rangers this season.

Most on these trips are fans of the Rangers, but all are sports fans.

Joe Staicer, of Red Springs, is a longtime fan of the Rangers, even before they were Rangers.

The franchise was established in 1961 as the Washington Senators, an expansion team awarded to Washington, D.C., after the city’s first American League team, the original Washington Senators, moved to Minneapolis and became the Minnesota Twins. After the 1971 season, the Senators moved to Arlington to become the Texas Rangers, named for the famous law enforcement agency.

Staicer as a second-grader became a fan of the Senators and their star, home run hitter Frank Howard, who stood at 6 foot, 8 inches.

Staicer, who was making his 10th bus trip, brought along a 1965 Washington Senators program in mint condition. The program cost 15 cents and advertised 40 cent beer.

He recalled going to a game at old D.C. Stadium, later renamed RFK Stadium.

“My uncle was a Chicago White Sox’s fan, and he lived in Pennsylvania,” Staicer said. “He drove down and took me to a game. The game went 22 1/3 innings. We didn’t get home until 6 in the morning. My father was so angry; he wouldn’t let me go to a game with my uncle again.”

Staicer said the Senators won the game, which started on June 12, 1967, 6-5.

Later in that Wednesday afternoon game, the fans were spotlighted on the FSSW broadcast. Jim Knox, a former Tyler sportscaster, interviewed Coates and Staicer.

Knox loves visiting with East Texans and enjoyed his time in the Rose City.

And the fans love getting on TV.

Ricky Bates, of Mount Vernon, was happy to enjoy the day with his granddaughter, 11-year old Rykkie Stewart.

The youngster was excited, because she was getting a new jersey of her favorite player, shortstop Elvis Andrus.

Tariq Raza is a regular caller on Coates’ radio show. He loves his Oakland Raiders and the NBA. He also has a love for the baseball bus trips.

“This is my 18th time,” the Flint resident said. “We had another fantastic time.”

Another longtime caller into the radio show and bus trip fan is Ronan Webber of Tyler, who was taking his 16th trip.

Jeff and Karen Johnson of Longview said they enjoyed the trip immensely. Jeff is a former West Rusk High School athlete.

The fans also love food at the ballpark – garlic fries, the vegan Southwest Burger, bacon on a stick and Blue Bell ice cream served in miniature batting helmet dollar hot dogs.

What made it even more perfect was the Rangers won 15-9 over the Angels.

If you would like to take a bus trip, tune into SportsTalk with Bill Coates which airs Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. on ESPN East Texas 92.1-FM.

Twitter: @PhilHicksETFS