Clem's Baseball home

Fans' impressions of
Arlington Stadium



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Jim Morrison, Flower Mound, TX -- Oct 26, 2007 13:46 PM
10 visit(s). My rating: 1
This stadium was pretty bad. It never lost the minor league feel. It was small and had no amenities. Most of the seating was metal bleachers in the outfield and the view was poor from there. The only saving grace to the stadium was seeing Nolan Ryan pitch!


David Steinle, Russell, KS -- Mar 14, 2008 20:26 PM
3 visit(s). My rating: 1
How the Rangers survived playing in this oversized minor league stadium for 22 years is beyond me. How do you build a stadium in Dallas/Fort Worth without a roof, at least over the grandstand seats? Far too many outfield seats, far too many bleachers, not enough concessions, restrooms, or anything else, other than parking. Why Bob Short abandoned Washington DC for this dump (and that's being kind) is pure stupidity.


Joe Johnston, Covington, LA -- Jul 05, 2008 20:13 PM
2 visit(s). My rating: 5
1973—Not one of the more picturesque stadiums. My brother says he once marched in a football halftime show there, and that they had not rotated the lower-level stands, defeating the whole purpose of that type of stadium.. We were on the back row behind first base, which means that the shape of the stadium put us a long way from the action. The Rangers’ manager that year was Billy Martin, and we got to see him ejected for arguing with the ump. But it was a major league game, so we enjoyed ourselves. Drove 300 miles there and saw a friend of mine sitting 3 rows in front of us. David Clyde, right out of high school, started his 2nd or 3rd game that night. 1989—Had our two sons with us this time. Sat in the LF bleachers. The worst part of the game was how inept my Yankees were that year and in that game. Mattingly let a ball roll through his legs. Maybe it was God’s mercy that kept Mattingly out of the World Series. This was after I had bought Yankee caps at the Rangers’ concession stand. Bad night in a bad year for the Yanks.


Bucky NaNCE, Fort Worth, TX -- Jul 15, 2008 01:39 AM
1 visit(s). My rating: 9
I understand that the old Arlington Stadium was an overgrown minor league park but it was our oversized minor league park that was home to some terrible teams and some pretty good ones too. 1974, 1977, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993 were all exciting teams to watch. Even in the years when we were not that good and pushing the century marks on the Temp Board and the Loss Column, we had exciting games. I grew up in that park and never had a sad experience in it with the exception of the Final Game and watching it being razed over the next year. So, my rating is a bit biased. If you went often, you knew where to go and how to get in, out and around the stadium pretty easily. I didn't worry about concessions because the large coolers were allowed in and I always brought plenty for everyone to eat.


Galen Morrison, Tyler, TX -- Jul 28, 2008 20:38 PM
10 visit(s). My rating: 5
My first visit to Arlington Stadium was Bat Day in June 1972, Texas Rangers hosting the Baltimore Orioles (Birds won 3 to 2... I still have the bat). While old Arlinton Stadium did not present any classic ballpark characteristics, it did present some magic for those of us who were overjoyed that MLB had come to the DFW area. Some may slam this old ball park for it being a converted minor league stadium, but as a kid there was nothing like a hot Texas summer night, eating nachos and watching players like Brooks Robinson, Al Kaline, Reggie Jackson, Fergie Jenkins and George Brett. Arlington Stadium is long gone, but had its place in Ranger history. It wasn't THAT bad.


Bucky Nance, Weatherford, TX -- Aug 07, 2009 03:07 AM
10 visit(s). My rating: 9
I saw that someone told you that the seats did not move on the third base side. I have pictures that prove otherwise. The Upper Deck was added in the off season before the 1978 season. I have pics of that first game that you can use with permission as I gained permission from the Rangers to use them. When the Upper Deck was added, two ramps were added to the third base seating in question and they became permanent. Before 1978, those seats did in fact move. They elected not to move them as they were on tires and they left huge trenches in the ground. After a few times, they decided to situate the field from LF to RF instead of RF to Third Base. The Batters Eye sections were know as MC-1, MC-2 and MC-3. The MC stood for Maverick Club Seating for the UTA Mavericks Football Boosters.


phil martin, vail, AZ -- Oct 19, 2010 01:17 AM
10 visit(s). My rating: 6
This stadium was bush league to say the least and so were the Rangers while they inhabited this stadium. However I saw the first game they ever played in this stadium after having watch the minor league texas spurs play in the stadium. It was always a great time due to the low cost of admission and parking allowed all the rowdy fans in who came to have a great time and if a good ballgame broke out all the better. I also was at the game when Bo Jackson hit a line drive into Nolan Ryans mouth and Ryan had his lip stiched and continued to pitch. Great memories.


Mark B, Marion, IA -- Aug 31, 2015 12:53 PM
10 visit(s). My rating: 5
This is where I first cut my MLB teeth, so I have some great memories from this stadium. The Rangers used to let fans bring in coolers full of food which made games almost like a picnic. I saw Ryan vs Clemens pitch an amazing duel there in 89 (?), and later sawGeorge Brett in his final season. The games were inexpensive to go to and we're family friendly. Yes, it was hot there, but we Texans are used to the heat. This place was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it was fun and family friendly venue, and that counts for a lot.



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