Arlington Stadium

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Lore & Background

The stadium's identity was forged in heat and ambition. Built as Turnpike Stadium in 1965, it was named for the nearby Dallas–Fort Worth Turnpike (now Interstate 30). While it initially hosted the minor league Dallas–Fort Worth Spurs, its design allowed expansion to a capacity of up to 50,000 seats. When the Washington Senators moved to the Metroplex in 1972, they renamed it Arlington Stadium and inaugurated it with a 1–0 loss to the California Angels on April 21. The venue lacked a roof, earning its reputation as the hottest stadium in the majors, where game-time temperatures frequently exceeded 100 °F (38 °C). This oppressive heat forced the Rangers to schedule nearly all games from May through September at night. Despite these conditions and mediocre team performance, the park became a cultural hub for fans. It introduced unique traditions like playing "Cotton-Eyed Joe" during the seventh-inning stretch instead of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," creating a distinct atmosphere that separated it from other ballparks.

In Their Own Story

On October 3, 1993, Arlington Stadium hosted its final game, a 4–1 victory for the visiting Kansas City Royals witnessed by 41,039 fans. The night marked the end of an era as Hall-of-Famer George Brett recorded the last hit in the stadium's history with a ninth-inning single. Just weeks prior, on August 4, the park had erupted in chaos during a brawl between the Rangers and Chicago White Sox. Starter Nolan Ryan hit Robin Ventura with a pitch, prompting Ventura to charge the mound. In a moment of raw intensity, Ryan caught Ventura in a headlock and punched him six times on top of his head as both benches emptied. The stadium's final season also saw the departure of its most iconic figure; it was the site of Nolan Ryan's 5,000th strikeout and his seventh and final no-hitter. Following this emotional conclusion, the Rangers moved to The Ballpark in Arlington, and the original structure was demolished in 1994.

Reader's Guide

Visiting Arlington Stadium meant enduring the elements for the sake of baseball history. Fans arrived knowing there was virtually no protection from the oppressive Texas heat, as the open-air design offered little relief during day games. The seating configuration expanded significantly over time; after an initial capacity of 10,000 in its minor league days, it grew to 20,500 by 1970 and eventually seated over 35,700 for major league play. The park featured a distinctive scoreboard shaped like the state of Texas before it was replaced after the 1984 season with billboards running from foul pole to foul pole. Unlike modern venues, there was no neighborhood surrounding the stadium aside from Six Flags Over Texas nearby, leading writer Curt Smith to describe it as "small, (but) not intimate." The experience included unique concessions, most notably becoming the first major league ballpark to sell nachos in 1974.

Did You Know?

• Arlington Stadium was the first major league ballpark to sell nachos, introducing the snack in 1974.
• The stadium lacked a roof and was frequently the hottest venue in the majors, with temperatures often exceeding 100 °F (38 °C).
• Nolan Ryan threw his sixth and final no-hitter at Arlington Stadium.
• Players who hit for the cycle in Arlington Stadium include Cal Ripken Jr., Oddibe McDowell, and Toby Harrah.

Origins and Strategic Vision

Arlington Stadium began its life in 1965 as Turnpike Stadium, a minor league ballpark seating 10,000 people named for the nearby Dallas–Fort Worth Turnpike. The Fort Worth Cats of the Texas League moved there as the Dallas–Fort Worth Spurs, playing for seven years and setting attendance records, particularly after expanding to 20,500 seats in 1970. However, the stadium's true purpose was always to attract a major league team. Arlington Mayor Tom Vandergriff recognized that the city's location halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth made it an ideal expansion site. The facility was built on a natural bowl requiring minimal excavation for MLB upgrades and designed to expand to 50,000 seats. Although its shape resembled multi-purpose stadiums of the mid-1960s, the Dallas Cowboys were never interested in playing there, opting instead to build Texas Stadium. This strategic foresight paved the way for the Washington Senators' relocation as the Texas Rangers.

The Era of Heat and Innovation

From 1972 until its closure, Arlington Stadium was defined by its extreme temperatures. With no roof, it became the hottest stadium in the majors, with game-time readings often well above 100 °F (38 °C). This heat, combined with the Rangers' early struggles, kept attendance down throughout the 1970s. To mitigate this, the team scheduled nearly all games from May through September at night. Despite these challenges, the park was a pioneer in fan experience. In 1974, it became the first major league ballpark to sell nachos. The soundtrack of the stadium also evolved; "Cotton-Eyed Joe" replaced "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch, encouraging fans to dance. Visually, the park featured a long horizontal scoreboard with a Texas-shaped panel, which was replaced after 1984 by a new system and billboards extending between the foul poles.

Historic Moments and Final Days

While Arlington Stadium never hosted an All-Star Game or a playoff series, it witnessed unparalleled individual feats. It was the site of Nolan Ryan's 5,000th strikeout and his seventh no-hitter. Mike Witt threw the 11th perfect game in MLB history there on September 30, 1984, defeating the Rangers 1–0. Only two players ever hit for the cycle at the park: Cal Ripken Jr. and Oddibe McDowell. The stadium's final chapter unfolded dramatically on October 3, 1993, when a crowd of 41,039 watched George Brett record the last hit in his Hall-of-Fame career. The season was also marked by a notorious brawl on August 4 involving Nolan Ryan and Robin Ventura, where Ryan punched Ventura six times after he charged the mound. Following this final game, the team moved to The Ballpark in Arlington, and the original stadium was demolished in 1994.

Physical Legacy and Redevelopment

When the Rangers departed for The Ballpark in Arlington in 1994, they preserved key elements of their history. The foul poles, home plate, and some bleachers were moved to the new venue. The bleachers were painted green at the new site, though original blue paint remains visible where chips occur. Home plate was ceremoniously installed by Tom Schieffer, Richard Greene, former mayor Tom Vandergriff, and then-team part-owner George W. Bush. The original stadium site evolved into a mixed-use area; it was partially paved in 2001 for the Convention Center parking, and Legends Way (renamed AT&T Way in 2013) was built through its center to access Cowboys Stadium. As of 2019, about a quarter of the site remained undeveloped. By 2022, part of the land had been redeveloped for the National Medal of Honor Museum. The original foul poles stood at Globe Life Park until they were replaced prior to the 2016 season.