Texas Rangers
From SoSH
| Established: | 1961 |
| Former Team Names: | Washington Senators 1961-71 |
| Ballpark: | Ameriquest Field in Arlington |
| World Series Titles: | 0 |
| Pennants: | 0 |
| Division Titles: | 3 |
| Wild Cards: | 0 |
Contents |
Franchise History
When the original Washington Nationals (often referred to as the 'Senators') moved to Minnesota in 1960, Major League Baseball awarded a team to Washington, D.C., giving it the name of the old franchise. Elwood Richard Quesada lead the 10 men group that bought the franchise.
In eleven seasons, the 'new' Washington Senators posted only one winning season (1969). Frank Howard was the team's most accomplished player. Hall of Famer Ted Williams of Boston Red Sox fame managed the team from 1969 to 1971, and moved with the franchise to Arlington, Texas in 1972.
The team played its games at D.C. Stadium (renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in 1969) on East Capitol Street and the Anacostia River.
In 1962 the American League began to entertain the idea of bringing a professional baseball team to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Charles O. Finley, the owner of the Kansas City Athletics, sought to move his team to Dallas, but the idea was rebuffed by the other AL team owners.
In 1964, the 10,000-seat Turnpike Stadium was constructed in Arlington for the minor-league Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs. The stadium, later renamed Arlington Stadium, would eventually serve as the Rangers' first home stadium.
Meanwhile, the Senators received new ownership in 1968 in the form of Bob Short, the Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee. He sought to move the team from Washington. On September 20, 1971, he got his wish, receiving approval from AL owners to move the franchise to Arlington for the 1972 season. Washington fans were outraged, leaving the team's public relations director, Ted Rodgers, with the unenviable task of putting a positive spin on such events as fans unfurling a giant banner that contained Short's name, preceded by a popular four-letter invective. A photo of the banner appeared on the front page of a DC newspaper the following day. Fan enmity was so great that in the team's final game in RFK Stadium on September 30 against the New York Yankees, the Senators were forced to forfeit the game after angry fans stormed the field and damaged much of the stadium and playing surface.
During the off-season, additions were made to Turnpike Stadium to increase its seating capacity, and it was officially renamed Arlington Stadium. Bob Short also announced that the franchise would be called the Texas Rangers (following the lead of the previous Senators team, which had become the Minnesota Twins). The team played its first game on April 15, 1972, a 1-0 loss at the California Angels. The next day, the Rangers defeated the Angels 5-1 for the team's first victory. The first home game was also against the Angels on April 21. After the season, Ted Williams retired as manager.
Retired Numbers
- 26 - Johnny Oates (Manager)
- 34 - Nolan Ryan (P)
Hall of Famers
Fun Facts
- They are still paying a chunk of A-Rod's salary.
- Couldn't beat the Yankees if the lives of their children depended on it.
- From 1989 through 1994, the Managing General Partner of their ownership group was future Governor/President George W. Bush. The team generally hovered in the middle of the A.L. West during his tenure, just as the U.S. has done during his presidency. (their best record came in 1993, and though they led the newly-realigned A.L. West going into the 1994 strike, they were below .500 at the time), but he was instrumental in getting a new stadium built in Arlington.
