HISTORIC MOMENTS IN RANGERS HISTORY
Construction began on the 10,000-seat Turnpike Stadium in Arlington back in September 1964. The ballpark would serve as home of the Dallas- Fort Worth entry in the Texas League and, eight years later in 1972, the Texas Rangers. Turnpike Stadium was later enlarged to a more than 35,000 seating capacity and renamed Arlington Stadium.
The Rangers played its inaugural game in Arlington on April 15, 1972, losing 1-0 to California. The partnership between Arlington and the Rangers is one that has spanned more than four decades, bringing several“ dream come true“ moments to The American Dream City.
IVAN " PUDGE " RODRIGUEZ ELECTED TO BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
Ivan“ Pudge” Rodriguez was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot January 18, 2017, marking a " dream come true " moment for the Rangers fan favorite. Rodriguez was a 14-time American League All-Star and a 13-time recipient of the Rawlings Gold Glove and becomes the sixth player who wore a Texas Rangers uniform to be elected to the Hall of Fame, joining Ferguson Jenkins( 1991), Gaylord Perry( 1991), Nolan Ryan( 1999), Rich Gossage( 2008), and Bert Blyleven( 2011). The Rangers will officially retire Ivan Rodriguez ' s No. 7 on Saturday, August 12, 2017 when they face the Houston Astros.
DREAMS
COME TRUE
After spending 11 years as the team physician at the University of Florida, Dr. Keith Meister relocated to Arlington to join the medical staff for the Texas Rangers. Not only does Dr. Meister attend most Rangers home games, he often hits the road with the team to make sure players are performing at optimal strength.
When he arrived in Arlington, Meister dreamt of building one of the premier sports medicine facilities in the country. Thanks to a partnership with Medical Center of Arlington and the Rangers, Dr. Meister opened a 12,000 square-foot complex in 2005. In 2015, he opened his newest practice, Texas Metroplex Sports Medicine on Matlock Road. The facility houses clinical offices and physical therapy under one roof. You’ ll also find a 240-foot area outside for throwing, along with batting cages and sprinting lanes.
RANGERS TEAM DOCTOR REALIZING HIS AMERICAN DREAM IN ARLINGTON
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