Josh Hamilton: My wife had to call Rangers security before game

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Josh Hamilton said his wife had to call Texas Rangers security officials even before the start of Friday’s game, in which the Angels outfielder was jeered viciously by Rangers fans all day long.

“Just because people were being ugly,” Hamilton said Saturday.

Hamilton said security officials remained with his wife and children at their seats throughout the game. He said the family would return to the ballpark for Saturday’s game.

“Absolutely,” he said. “We’ve been through a lot worse.”

Hamilton said the issue was “not necessarily the booing” but what he called “inappropriate things” said about “personal stuff.” Asked whether the jeers that offended his wife were directed at her, at Hamilton himself or at the entire family, Hamilton said, “All of the above.”

Hamilton nearly derailed his career because of drug abuse. On Friday, he recalled how painful it was to hear the “crackhead” chants directed at him for five years at Yankee Stadium in what was his home ballpark.

On Saturday, he called the hostile reception “a good lesson for the kids about people in general.” He said his children were unruffled by the events of a day that included their father going hitless in four at-bats in a 3-2 loss.

“They weren’t upset,” he said. “When I got home, they kissed me and hugged me and said, ‘Good game’ and went on playing with their friends. I went and jumped on the trampoline with them.”

ALSO:

Josh Hamilton: Football town thing ... an absolute nightmare

Rangers fan goes crazy when boyfriend catches foul ball [Video]

Rangers’ David Murphy moved by ceremony for Sandy Hook victims