Arlington Stadium
- David Hegler
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Sitting deep within a vacant parking lot in the heart of a metropolis that was just beginning to thrive, Arlington Stadium provided the backdrop for the birth of major league baseball in Dallas. Although it never hosted a playoff game, the memory of Arlington Stadium's charm still rings in the memories of longtime Texas Rangers fans.
The Conception
In 1959, a bond was passed to build a basic minor league ballpark on a 137 acre lot that sat adjacent to Six Flags Over Texas, one of the top theme parks in America at the time. After it opened six years later, Turnpike Stadium struggled to fill the 10, 500 seats that spread over its vast landscape.
In those days, the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs prepared players such as Don Kessinger, Chuck Harkenstein and Joe Niekro for the major leagues. However, while it served as a Double-A affiliate for the Cubs, Astros and Orioles, the people of Dallas wanted more. They wanted a major league team that they could call their own. They began to see their dream fulfilled when the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex decided to expand the ballpark in the early 1970's to attract a major league team.
Having been originally built for $1.9 million, the various expansions led by local the local architectural firm Preston & Geren Architects & Engineers saw the stadium grow to 20,000 capacity in 1970 and 35, 739 in 1972 ultimately cost ten times as much. Still, it has been estimated that since it was built into a natural bowl 40 feet below ground-level that it saved the construction crews one-tenth the cost of a stadium of similar size.
When the Washington Senators moved to the area in 1972 and rebranded as the Texas Rangers, the stadium's operators decided to rename it Arlington Stadium because the locals felt that "Turnpike Stadium" was inappropriate for a major league organization. On April 21, 1972, Dallas officially welcomed its very own major league baseball team.
The Glory Years
More than 20, 000 people watched as Frank Howard crushed the first major league home run in Dallas-Fort Worth on Opening Day, 1972. That first inning home run led the way as the Rangers beat the Anaheim Angels 7-6. Despite sweeping the opening four game series, the Rangers would ultimately finish the year 54-100 overall and 31-46 at home.
To make matters worse, just 5,517 showed up for the second game and the stadium would only draw more than 20, 000 twice that year, never once coming close to a sellout. Since the stadium had been dug 40 feet below ground level, the notorious Texas heat was only made worse as the heat would simultaneously rise from the ground and roast players and fans alike. In an era with very few night games, the weather often spelled doom for the turnstiles at Arlington Stadium.
While never the most glamorous, Arlington Stadium had the most expansive outfield bleachers in all of the major leagues, with the most advertisements adorning that massive swath of land to add to the Rangers oft-drained coffers. More often than not, the Rangers would play "Cotton Eye Joe" during the 7th inning stretch instead of the usual "Take Me out to the Ballgame", making Arlington Stadium a true Texas gem.
In 1976, Frank Liberto, owner of Ricos Products, began marketing a new dish during Rangers games. Although already popular throughout the state, Liberto's efforts would make nachos a ballpark staple throughout America.
In 1978, the stadium got an upper deck to increase capacity to 41, 097. Now fans would have the option to either walk up or down the stairs to their seats upon entering from the vast parking lot. Upon entering the stadium, fans were greeted with a left-field facade that featured a scoreboard in the shape of the Lone Star State. Alas, that iconic symbol was replaced with a more standard model in 1983.
Perhaps the most famous game in Arlington Stadium's history was on September 30, 1983 when Angels righty Mike Witt threw the 11th perfect game in history on just 94 pitches. To make the day even more memorable, the Rangers Charlie Hough gave up just a single unearned run in the 1-0 loss. Just 8,375 witnessed the pitcher's dual.
The End of an Era
Having drawn more than two-million fans every years since 1989, the Texas Rangers owners realized that they had outgrown their outdated stadium.. with a new stadium waiting just across the parking lot, the Rangers played their last game at old Arlington Stadium on October 3, 1993, losing to the Royals 4-1 in front of 41, 039. With more than 40, 000 attending each of the final three games at the old ballpark, it was clear that the relic of yesteryear would long hold a special place in the hearts of Rangers fans everywhere.
After it was demolished in 1994, the site of Arlington Stadium remains a parking lot for the stadium that the Rangers stayed in from then through 2019. There are no markers recognizing Arlington Stadium's former spot.
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