Texana Thursday: Remembering Arlington Stadium

Arlington Stadium was the home of the Texas Rangers from 1972 to 1993 (Ballparks of Baseball photo)

Opening Day is here for baseball fans. For the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers, the season begins with a 2:35 p.m. first pitch at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

The Rangers stadium is in its 24th season and has gone by various names over the years. A new ballpark, featuring a retractable roof, is being built nearby. But there was a time when the Rangers ballpark could accurately be described as minor league.

Arlington Stadium began as a minor league ballpark. It was built in 1965 as a 10,000-seat ballpark known as Turnpike Stadium. The minor-league Fort Worth Cats played there. It was designed for easy expansion and community leaders, such as then-Arlington Mayor Tom Vandergriff, felt it would serve as a home to a major league baseball franchise.

The vision became reality in 1972, when the Washington Senators relocated to North Texas and became the Texas Rangers. The club was managed by Hall of Famer Ted Williams. The stadium name changed to Arlington Stadium.

Introducing big-league baseball in Dallas Cowboys football country proved a challenge. The Cowboys had won their first Super Bowl and were riding high. Rangers management knew the club needed a star who could draw people to the ballpark.

They found their star in left-handed pitcher David Clyde. Clyde was only 18 years old and had just graduated from Houston’s Westchester High School in 1973. Clyde did his job, with his story and remarkable talent drawing fans and filling the stands. Unfortunately, ideas about how best to develop Clyde’s talent changed as often as management did in those days. Clyde’s career never became what it might have been.

If Clyde was a big draw at the start of his career, another pitcher was a big draw at the end of his.

Right-handed pitcher Nolan Ryan, of Alvin, had signed in 1989 with the Rangers as a free agent. He joined the Rangers because he wanted to stay in Texas and his previous club, the Astros, asked him to take a significant salary cut.

Ryan’s place in baseball history was already secure when he moved to Arlington. He had pitched five no-hitters and was the all-time leader in strikeouts.

Ryan gave Rangers fans some memorable moments. He pitched two more no-hitters (the last one being in 1991, against the Toronto Blue Jays, at Arlington Stadium). He continued to add to his strikeout total, getting his 5,000th strikeout (against Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics) at the stadium.

The stadium was also the site of another memorable Ryan moment. Whether it’s a highlight depends on who you ask. In 1993, Ryan was pitching against the Chicago White Sox. He hit a batter, Robin Ventura, who took exception and charged the mound to fight Ryan, who defended himself.

The 1993 season was Ryan’s last as a player and for Arlington Stadium. The Rangers moved to Globe Life Park taking home plate from Arlington Stadium into the new park.

Arlington Stadium was demolished in 1994.

Baseball has its memories. And with the start a new season today, it’s time to make some new ones.