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The Texas Rangers are one of America’s favorite baseball teams. They have a rich history dating back to their days as an expansion team in 1961.
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The Texas Rangers: America’s Favorite Baseball Team
The Texas Rangers are a Major League Baseball team based in Arlington, Texas, located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Rangers franchise began in 1961 as the Washington Senators, an expansion team awarded to Washington, D.C., after the city’s first American League baseball team, the second Washington Senators, moved to Minnesota and became the Twins. After the 1971 season, the new Senators moved to Arlington and debuted as the Rangers the following spring.
The Rangers are members of the American League West division. Since 1994, the Rangers have played in Globe Life Park in Arlington. The team’s name is borrowed from the famous law enforcement agency of the same name.
The franchise has made eight appearances in the MLB postseason, seven following divisional play and one as a result of winning a wild card berth. In 2010, the Rangers advanced past the Division Series for the first time, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays before losing to the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants in their first ever appearance in an American League Championship Series. In 2020, despite having one of baseball’s lowest payrolls, Globe Life Field helped lead them back to another AL Pennant where they would eventually lose to Tampa Bay yet again in game 7 of another ALCS. Despite this recent string of success and popularity, America still loves their Texas Ranger baseball team!
The History of the Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers are one of the most iconic baseball teams in America. They have a long and storied history, dating back to their days as the Washington Senators. The Rangers have been through some tough times, but they always seem to come out on top. Let’s take a look at the history of the Texas Rangers.
The Early Years: 1873-1893
The Texas Rangers baseball team has a long and storied history, dating back to the early days of professional baseball in America. The team was founded in 1873, making them one of the oldest teams in Major League Baseball. They’ve been through a lot in their over 140 years of existence, including multiple name changes, relocations, and even a stint as an independent league team. But through it all, the Rangers have remained one of the most popular teams in baseball, with a passionate fan base that extends across the country.
The Early Years: 1873-1893
The Rangers were founded in 1873 as the Washington Senators, an independent professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The team’s first game was played on April 22, 1873 against the Baltimore Canaries, and they won 9-3. The Senators were one of the founding members of the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP), which was considered to be Major League Baseball’s first official league.
The Senators were a successful team in their early years, winning NABBP championships in 1874 and 1875. However, by 1876, the league had become quite unstable due to financial problems, and it eventually disbanded. The Senators continued to play as an independent team until 1893 when they joined the newly formed Western League.
The Modern Era: 1994-present
In 1994, the Rangers shocked the baseball world by signing superstar free agent slugger Juan Gonzalez to a then-record contract worth $45 million. The signing transformed the Rangers from a competitive team to a contender, and in 1996, they won their first division title since 1977. Led by Gonzalez’s league-leading 145 RBIs, the Rangers went on to win their first-ever American League pennant by defeating the New York Yankees in six games in the AL Championship Series. They then faced the upstart Florida Marlins in the World Series. Despite taking a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 6, the Rangers were eventually defeated in extra innings when Marlins outfielder Edgar Renteria hit a walk-off single off Rangers closer John Wetteland.
The following year, the Rangers once again made it to the playoffs, but were defeated in the ALDS by eventual World Series champion Baltimore Orioles. In 1998, buoyed by another league MVP season from Gonzalez, as well as breakout years from young outfielders Rusty Greer and Gabe Kapler, the Rangers once again won their division and made it back to the playoffs. However, they were defeated in game 163 of a memorable season (in which Major League Baseball expanded its playoff format to include eight teams) by Tonight Show host Jay Leno’s Chicago Cubs.
Leno’s jinx would continue in 1999: despite another stellar season from Gonzalez (who hit a league-leading 47 home runs), as well as 30 home runs apiece from rookie Rafael Palmeiro and second-year outfielder Ruben Mateo, once again Leno’s Cubs would defeat them in game 163 to deny them a playoff berth (the first time two teams had met in back-to-back one-game playoffs). The following year would see Mateo succumb to injuries and Palmeiro bolt for greener pastures via free agency, with only Gonzalez remaining from their potent outfield trio of 1998–1999. Nonetheless, new GM John Hart retooled on the fly, acquiring All-Star outfielder Carl Everett from Boston Red Sox and reacquiring popular former Ranger Ivan Rodriguez from Detroit Tigers; these two moves paid dividends immediately as Texas went 95–67 en route to another AL West title in 2000.
The Rangers’ Success
The Texas Rangers are one of the most successful baseball teams in recent years. They’ve made it to the playoffs five times in the last ten years, and they won the World Series in 2010. The Rangers have a strong core of young players, and they’re always looking to add more talent. They’re a team that’s built to win, and they have the fans to support them.
The 2010s: Five American League Pennants
The 2010s were a decade of incredible success for the Texas Rangers. They made the playoffs five times, winning the American League Pennant in 2010, 2011, and 2015. They also set a franchise record for most wins in a season in 2011, with 96.
The Rangers’ success was due in large part to their strong pitching staff. Their ace, Yu Darvish, was one of the best pitchers in baseball during his time with the team. Other key members of the pitching staff included Cole Hamels, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland, and C.J. Wilson.
The Rangers’ offense was also very potent, led by sluggers like Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz. Infielders Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus were also key contributors to the team’s success.
The Rangers came close to winning the World Series in 2010 and 2011, but they were ultimately unsuccessful. They made it back to the World Series in 2016, but they lost to the Houston Astros in seven games.
Despite their recent World Series setbacks, the Texas Rangers are still one of the most successful teams in baseball. They have one of the largest and most passionate fanbases in all of sports, and they are sure to continue their winning ways in the years to come.
The 2000s: Two World Series Appearances
The Rangers reached the World Series for the first time in 2010. They made it back in 2011. In both cases, they were defeated by the San Francisco Giants. After their second World Series appearance, the Rangers underwent a few changes. Manager Ron Washington resigned due to personal problems. He was replaced by Jeff Banister. The Rangers also parted ways with some of their veteran players. Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, and Josh Hamilton were all traded away.
The Rangers struggled for a few years after their World Series appearances. They failed to make the playoffs in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, they made it back to the playoffs as a wild card team. They lost in the wild card game to the Baltimore Orioles. The 2015 season was even worse for the Rangers. They finished last in their division and failed to make the playoffs.
After missing the playoffs in 2016, the Rangers made some changes to their roster. They brought in some new players and hired a new manager, Jeff Banister. The team started to improve and made it back to the playoffs in 2017
The Rangers’ Rivalries
The Texas Rangers are America’s favorite baseball team. And, like any good baseball team, they have their share of rivals. The Rangers’ most heated rivalries are with the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels. But, the Rangers also have a long-standing rivalry with the Oakland Athletics. These are the teams that the Rangers love to beat.
The Houston Astros
The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are two professional baseball teams in the American League West division. The rivalry between the two teams began in the early 2000s when the Astros were placed in the same division as the Rangers. The Rangers and Astros used to be in different divisions (the Rangers in the West and the Astros in the Central), but when Major League Baseball realigned its divisions in 2013, the two teams became rivals.
Since 2013, the Rangers and Astros have been involved in some close games and exciting finishes. For example, in 2015, the Rangers and Astros played each other 17 times during the regular season, with the Rangers winning 10 of those games. In 2016, the two teams met in the American League Division Series, with the Astros winning 3-2.
The rivalry between the Rangers and Astros is geographic, as both teams are located in Texas. The rivalry is also competitive, as both teams have been contenders for first place in their division for several years.
The Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are the Rangers’ biggest rivals. The two teams have been battling it out for first place in the American League West division for years, and the tensions between the two clubs has only gotten stronger in recent years. In 2014, the Angels signed Rangers’ star pitcher Yu Darvish to a massive contract, adding even more fuel to the fire.
The Rangers’ Ballpark
The Texas Rangers are America’s favorite baseball team. And their ballpark, The Rangers’ Ballpark, is one of the best in the majors. Located in Arlington, Texas, The Rangers’ Ballpark is home to some of the most passionate fans in baseball. The ballpark is also known for its great food, scenic views, and family-friendly atmosphere.
Globe Life Park in Arlington
Globe Life Park in Arlington is a baseball park in Arlington, Texas, located between Dallas and Fort Worth. It is home to the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball and the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame. It opened in 1994 as The Ballpark in Arlington and was renamed Ameriquest Field in 2004. In 2008, the ballpark’s name was changed again to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The stadium has a retractable roof and seats over 48,000 people.
The New Globe Life Field
The new Globe Life Field is a 1.7 million square-foot retractable-roof ballpark located in Arlington, Texas. It is the home of the Texas Rangers, the state’s Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise. The ballpark opened on March 31, 2020, with a capacity of 40,518 people.
The ballpark was designed by HKS, Inc., and built by Manhattan Construction Company. It is owned by the City of Arlington and operated by the Rangers. The ballpark features a retractable roof that can be opened or closed in about 10 minutes, thanks to 16 massive motors. The roof has two panels that open like garage doors to allow fresh air and sunlight in, or keep inclement weather out.
The ballpark also features a number of other cutting-edge amenities, including:
-A 691-foot long LED ribbon board that runs along the facade of the upper deck
-A 44-foot tall high-definition video board in center field
-A state-of-the art sound system
-1,300 HDTVs throughout the concourses and seating areas
-160 luxury suites
