This Washington Senators team was the second team by the same name, the first having moved to Minnesota in 1960, and became the Minnesota Twins.

However, there was another team that went by the name – Washington Senators - from 1891 to 1899. The Senators team that went to Minnesota, and the team of the 1890s era, both have no connection with the Texas Rangers.

When in 1962, the American League wanted to bring a professional baseball team to the Fort Worth/Dallas area, the owner of the Kansas City Athletics – Charles O. Finley, wanted to bring his team to Texas, but was not successful. In 1968, Bob Short, the Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, and the new owner of the Washington Senators, decided to move to Texas, and received approval from the American League to do so on September 20, 1971. The fans of the Senators were incensed, and during the final game of the Senators against the New York Yankees at the RFK Stadium on September 30, damaged the playing surface and much of the Stadium, forcing the Senators to forfeit the game.

The Rangers In Texas

The Washington Senators were renamed the Texas Rangers, by Bob Short, after moving to Arlington for the 1972 season. The Arlington Stadium, earlier known as the Turnpike Stadium, became the home of the Rangers, and remained so until 1993.

In 1994, the Rangers moved to a new ballpark, known as The Ballpark in Arlington. The Ballpark opened on April 1, 1994 with an exhibition match between the Rangers and the New York Mets. However, the first official game was against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 11.

This ballpark was renamed the Ameriquest Field in Arlington in 2004, and is still the home of the Rangers.

As Rangers, the team played its first game, an away game, against the California Angels on April 15, 1972, losing 1-0. The very next day, they defeated the Angels 5-1 – their first victory. The Rangers played their first home game on April 21, 1972, also against the Angels.

The Honors

Though a strong team, the Rangers have won only three Western Division titles, and no American League Pennants nor World Series titles.

The Rangers has honored two of its players by retiring their jersey numbers:

# 26, Johnny Oates - played from 1995-2001
# 34, Nolan Ryan – played from 1989-93

The Rangers have three players, including Nolan Ryan, inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The other two are Ferguson Jenkins (# 31) and Gaylord Perry (# 36).