Hailing from Arlington, Texas, a suburb in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, the Texas Rangers are one of four Major League baseball teams that feature in the Western Division of the American League. The uniform colors are blue, white and scarlet red with the Rangers’ logo featuring a T superimposed on a baseball. A circle surrounds it with TEXAS emblazoned on the upper half and RANGERS below. 

History of Texas Rangers

From 1961 to 1971, the Texas Rangers went by the name of the Washington Senators. Texas Rangers played their first game on April 10, 1961 as Washington Senators. Before 1961, they had not won any World Championships or Divisions. Following approval of a move to Texas, the Senators rechristened themselves the Rangers to pay a tribute to the noted Law Enforcement Agency. 

The first season started for the Texas Rangers in 1972. Their first year performance was very poor, as they have very few wins and thus finish in the bottom with a pathetic 54-100 record. Along with the Angels, the Rangers are the longest running American League franchise yet to win their first pennant. The Rangers have also failed to make it to a League Championship Series. But they have four American League West Division titles in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 1999. 

Year 2004 was most noteworthy for the Texas Rangers as it brought a complete reversal of fortune with 89 game wins and a finish only three games short in the American League West. The man behind the Texas turnaround, Buck Showalter was accorded AL Manager of the Year. The Rangers produced five All Stars: Shortstop Michael Young, third baseman Hank Blalock, second baseman Alfonso Soriano, starting pitcher Kenny Rogers and closer Francisco Cordero. 

The Texas Rangers’ contribution to Hall of Fame featured Ferguson Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, Nolan Ryan and Ted Williams (former manager who was honored for his association with the Boston Red Sox). Numbers retired by the Texas Rangers are #33 of Johnny Oates, 34 worn by Nolan Ryan and finally #42 of Jackie Robinson which has been retired throughout baseball.  

Stadium History of Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers team, then known as Washington Senators, first started playing on the Griffith Stadium in the year 1961. Then they move to RFK Stadium (1962-1971), which was also known as DC Stadium between 1962 and 1968. 

The current home ballpark of the Texas Rangers is the Ameriquest Field in Arlington since 1994, earlier called “The Ballpark in Alington” till May 2004, with seating for 49,115. It was built as a replacement for Arlington Stadium (1972-1993). For all the 22 years that Arlington Stadium existed, there was no place considered hotter for playing baseball. Thus every home game of the Rangers including Sunday games, were scheduled for nighttime due to the scorching summer heat and humidity. October 3, 1993 was when Arlington Stadium hosted the final game before it was demolished in 1994.

Started in 1994, Ameriquest Field in Arlington was a combination of old and new ballparks. Both the exterior and interior are adorned with features reminiscent of long gone ballparks. Red brick arches grace the exterior with columns at the rear rows of the lower deck. On the other hand, the upper deck maintains the longest distance from the action in major league history. In fact, Ameriquest Field bathed in sultry summer heat is currently among the hottest venues to view a baseball game.