Texas Rangers
Globe Life Field
Texas, United States
The Texas Rangers were first known as the Washington Senators, an expansion team created after the original Senators relocated to Minnesota and became the Twins in 1961. However, after struggling for over a decade, the team moved to Arlington, Texas, following the 1971 season and rebranded as the Texas Rangers, a name inspired by the famous Texas law enforcement agency.
The Rangers spent decades without a single postseason appearance, but in 1996, they finally made it to the playoffs for the first time. However, their golden era arrived in the 2010s, when they made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. They came agonizingly close to victory in 2011, falling just one strike away from winning it all. Their long wait finally ended in 2023, when the Rangers won their first World Series title, defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games.
Over the years, the Rangers have been home to some of baseball's most iconic players, Nolan Ryan (known for his record 7 no-hitters and later becoming both player and team's president), Pudge Rodriguez (One of the best defensive backstops in MLB history), Adrian Beltre (A fan-favorite third baseman with over 3,000 career hits), Michael Young (A longtime Rangers leader and a seven-time All-Star), Josh Hamilton (The 2010 AL MVP, famous for his legendary Home Run Derby Performance), Corey Seager, Marcus Semien (The key players in the 2023 World Series championship run), and many more.
As the years went on, the Rangers developed heated rivalries with several teams, but their biggest foes include:the "Lone Star Series" with Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and lastly the New York Yankees. In 2020, the Rangers moved into Globe Life Field, a stadium featuring a retractable roof, providing a much-needed escape from Texas’ intense summer heat.