Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton signs autographs after a spring training practice in Tempe, Ariz. Hamilton and the Angels play their first spring training game on Feb. 23. (Photo: Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports) Tags - Texas
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- Josh Hamilton
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Texas Rangers fans have April 5 circled on their calendar.
Why? It's just the third game of the regular season, but the first time Josh Hamilton returns to Arlington, Texas.
The beloved Hamilton who resurrected his career with Texas departed in the offseason as a free agent and signed a five-year, $125 million deal with the rival Los Angeles Angels.
HAMILTON: New Angel hams it up for Pujols, Trout
Not exactly endearing to Rangers fans. Then this:
"Texas, especially Dallas, has always been a football town," he said in an interview with Gina Miller of CBS 11. "They're supportive, but they also got a little spoiled at the same time, pretty quickly. There's true baseball fans in Texas but it's not a true baseball town." Hamilton certainly didn't win any Rangers fans back with that comment. Nor did manager Ron Washington take the bait.
"I'm not answering anything that Josh said," Washington said. "That's Josh. Josh is an Anaheim Angel. That's Josh's opinion. "There were 3.5 million fans who came through the turnstiles. That answers it right there." Washington was referring to the attendance record the Rangers set last season, drawing 3,460,280 fans.
Thanks to Hamilton, the rivalry just got a bit more heated.
PHOTOS: Scenes from spring training 
Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones gets ready to take batting practice at a spring training practice.
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Kansas City Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur chases a ball during a spring training workout.
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San Francisco Giants first baseman Brett Pill scoops a ball out of the dirt.
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Houston Astros first baseman Carlos Pena throws at a workout.
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Kansas City Royals Hall of Famer George Brett catches a ball as he hits infield practice.
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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy throws at spring training.
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Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler watches batting practice at spring training.
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Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks takes batting practice.
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San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval fields a bouncing ball during spring training.
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Chicago White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers catches a ball during spring training in Phoenix on Feb. 15, 2013.
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Philadelphia Phillies' Jacob Diekman exercises during a workout at spring training Feb. 17, 2013, in Clearwater, Fla.
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Los Angeles Angels players, from left, Josh Hamilton, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols attend a news conference in Tempe, Ariz.
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Blue Jays' Melky Cabrera wipes his face as he joins Blue Jays third base coach Luis Rivera, right, to address the media.
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White Sox pitchers stretch during spring training at Camelback Ranch.
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Yankees pitchers Andy Pettitte (left) and CC Sabathia run in the rain during spring training at Steinbrenner Field.
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Chicago Cubs' pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa throws during a workout in Mesa, Ariz.
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Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana stretches during spring training at Tradition Field.
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Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder hops off a golf cart after arriving for a spring training workout in Lakeland, Fla.
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Atlanta Braves infielder Ramiro Pena prepares to take batting practice during a workout in Kissimmee, Fla.
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Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli works out during spring training at Steinbrenner Field.
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Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera rests after a workout in Tampa.
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Pirates warm up during a workout session at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla.
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Red Sox shortstop Jose Iglesias loses the ball as he crashes into a screen in Fort Myers, Fla.
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New York Mets manager Terry Collins, talks to 1-year-old Bentley DiToro, carried by his grandfather Charlie DiToro, of Palm City, Fla., during the team's first pitchers and catchers workout in Port St. Lucie.
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Miami Marlins pitcher Edgar Olmos, left, runs sprints while pitcher Jose Ceda throws in Jupiter, Fla.
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Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina gestures to fans as J.R. Towles looks in Jupiter, Fla.
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Angels pitcher Jered Weaver throws at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Arizona.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports
