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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas Rangers franchise is celebrating its 51st |
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anniversary in Arlington in 2023, providing a fitting opportunity |
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to honor the team on its illustrious history in Major League |
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Baseball; and |
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WHEREAS, Originating as the Washington Senators in 1961, the |
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Rangers owe their Lone Star locale to longtime Arlington Mayor Tom |
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Vandergriff, who began working in the late 1950s to bring Major |
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League Baseball to North Texas; his efforts finally paid off when |
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American League owners approved the transfer of the Washington |
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ballclub to Arlington, and in 1972 the Rangers moved into Turnpike |
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Stadium; on April 21 of that year, they defeated California in the |
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inaugural game at Turnpike, which later became Arlington Stadium; |
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in April 1994, the Rangers christened The Ballpark in Arlington and |
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competed there for 26 seasons; since 2020, they have played at Globe |
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Life Field; and |
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WHEREAS, The Rangers have marked many important milestones |
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over the past half century; on September 27, 1996, the team clinched |
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its first division title and made more history by winning its |
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American League Division Series opener in a 6-2 decision over the |
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New York Yankees; in all, Texas has secured seven division crowns |
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and made eight postseason appearances, and in 2010 and 2011, the |
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Rangers thrilled their fans by claiming consecutive AL pennants to |
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earn back-to-back appearances in the World Series; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the legendary players who have worn a Rangers |
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uniform are catcher Iván Rodríguez and pitchers Ferguson Jenkins, |
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Gaylord Perry, and Nolan Ryan, all National Baseball Hall of Fame |
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members; in 1989, Mr. Ryan became the first hurler in MLB history to |
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record 5,000 career strikeouts, and in 1990 and 1991, he threw two |
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of his seven career no-hitters with Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Rangers have made significant |
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contributions to the Lone Star State's proud legacy of athletic |
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excellence, and all those associated with the organization may take |
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pride in this notable heritage; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Texas Rangers on their 51st |
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anniversary in Arlington and extend to the franchise sincere best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the franchise as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |