Former Ranger catcher Dan O’Malley put the anger in “RANGER”! Dan played for the Rangers from 2003-2005, appeared at one practice in 2006 and then retired to pursue other opportunities. Dan came from the Loyola Club Baseball Minor League system as part of the duo of all-pro catchers, joining Isaiah Panatsis in that club. Most baseball teams struggle to find one decent catcher, the Rangers were lucky to have two excellent options. A die hard Cubs fan Dan also rooted for the Packers, which never sat well with the Rangers. He was roommates with Kevin “Busch Light” Casey and Jason “Wheezy” Keydel for a while, then along with his cat Azreal, formed the odd couple roommate situation with Lucas Luecke. Dan is best remembered for losing his pants after an evening out at Maifest in Lincoln Square. Kevin Casey woke up the next morning to find Dan in his boxers sleeping on their front porch. Kevin later received a call from Chicago’s Finest asking if he knew a Dan O’Malley, which he reluctantly confirmed. The police told him they had Dan O’Malley’s pants, along with his wallet, keys, and cell phone and that they were found in some ladies backyard. Classic Ranger’s drinking. Dan was also involved in a fistfight at Gio’s with then Ranger Manager Tim Brannon, which prompted a series of late night phonecalls between Team President Lucase Luecke, CEO Mike LaRocco (both of whom were not at Gio’s for some reason), and an incoherent Kevin Casey (who was at Gio’s). LaRocco and Luecke sprang to action on a damage control plan that was not needed (thank goodness, it was not a good plan); since neither O’Malley or Brannon even remembered their late night fisticuffs. Dan’s fiery personality is missed, along with his .359 career batting average. You can find him today working at a beer stand at Wrigley Field along the Right Field Line.
