A Basic History of the Texas Rangers Baseball Team

The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team that plays in Major League Baseball. The Rangers play in the West Division of the American League.

The Texas Rangers are currently owned by Tom Hicks. The current manager is Ron Washington, and the current general manager is Jon Daniels. The official colors of the Texas Rangers are red, white, blue, and gray.

The franchise was founded in 1961 when the team was named the Washington Senators. The team played its home games in Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. during the 1961 season. From 1962-1971, the Washington Senators played their home games in D.C. Stadium that was renamed RFK Stadium in 1968.

In 1972, the franchise moved the team from Washington, D.C. to the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas. The team changed its name to the Texas Rangers and played their home games in Arlington, Texas.

From 1972-1993, the Rangers played their home games in Arlington Stadium. In 1994, the team moved to its new stadium, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The stadium was known as The Ballpark in Arlington from 1994-2004, but it took on a corporate name in 2004. Since 2004, the home stadium for the Rangers has been known as Ameriquest Field in Arlington.

The Texas Rangers have won three West Division titles in their history, winning it in 1996, 1998, and 1999. The franchise has never won an American League Championship or World Series Championship. The Rangers have also never won the wild card.

Three former players for the Texas Rangers are currently in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Those three players are Ferguson "Fergie" Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, and Nolan Ryan. Ted Williams, who managed the team for one year in 1972, is also in the Hall of Fame, although he was inducted for his playing career with the Red Sox.

The Texas Rangers have three retired numbers. The number 34 is retired in honor of pitcher Nolan Ryan. The number 26 is retired in honor of former manager Johnny Oates. The number 42 is retired throughout baseball in honor of Jackie Robinson.

The Rangers have won a total of five American League MVPs. Jeff Burroughs, Ivan Rodriguez, and Alex Rodriguez each won the award once, while Juan Gonzalez won it twice.

Johnny Oates and Buck Showalter each won the AL Manager of the Year Award while managing the Texas Rangers. Mike Hargrove won the only American League Rookie of the Year Award in Texas Rangers history in 1974.