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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