ARLINGTON, Texas -- Seven-year-old Liam Roybal, whose Ron Washington costume has become an Internet sensation, earned himself a trip to the World Series as a guest of the Texas Rangers.
Roybal, who lives in Keller, Texas, met the Rangers manager in the dugout prior to Game 4.
Roybal was dressed in his Washington Halloween costume. He shaved his head to look like Washington and completed the ensemble with glasses and a fake mustache. He was shy as he sat in the dugout with Washington as dozens of reporters with camera phones and photographers gathered to snap his photo.
"It's good," said Roybal when asked how excited he was to be at the World Series.
A large crowd behind the dugout asked Washington to turn around and pose for photos with Roybal, who received a huge hand from the fans as he did the claw and antlers at Washington's urging.
"Out of all the people in the world, he chose to dress up as the manager of the Texas Rangers," Washington said. "That's really something."
Washington said the last few days that he was flattered that Roybal decided to dress up in his likeness for Halloween. But Roybal wasn't canvassing his neighborhood for candy in the early evening hours on Sunday night. He was busy watching Washington and the Rangers take on the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of the World Series.
Before the game, Roybal made the ceremonial "play ball" call over the public address system at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Roybal said he plays first base, second base and outfield for his Little League baseball team called the Dirt Bags.
"Just like this club," Washington quipped.
Richard Durrett covers the Texas Rangers for ESPNDallas.com.