Franchise Timeline

1990

June 11, 1990: At Oakland, Nolan Ryan pitches his sixth career no-hitter in a 5-0 shutout over the A's.

July 31, 1990: Nolan Ryan defeats the Brewers, 11-3, at Milwaukee for his 300th career victory.

Oct 24, 1990: The Rangers and the City of Arlington announce plans to build a new ballpark and complex adjacent to the Arlington Stadium location.

1991

Jan 19, 1991: City of Arlington voters approve a one-half cent sales tax to finance up to 135 million dollars of municipal bonds for construction of ballpark complex.

May 1, 1991: Nolan Ryan throws his seventh career no-hitter in a 3-0 win over Toronto at Arlington Stadium. His seven no-hitters are a Major League record and at 44 years, three months and one day, Ryan is the oldest pitcher ever to throw a no-hitter.

Oct 30, 1991: Official groundbreaking ceremony takes place for new ballpark complex.

1992

Apr 24, 1992: Actual construction begins on new ballpark with the first game to take place on Opening Day, 1994.

July 9, 1992: Bobby Valentine is dismissed as manager, and replaced on an interim basis by Toby Harrah. A week later, Harrah accepts the position on a full-time basis.

Oct 26, 1992: Kevin Kennedy is appointed as Rangers manager.

1993

Sept 12, 1993: Nolan Ryan pitches in his final game at Arlington Stadium on "Nolan Ryan Appreciation Day." The Twins post a 4-2 victory over the Rangers, but following the game, Ryan is honored in an on-field ceremony.

Oct 3, 1993: The Royals defeat the Rangers, 4-1, before 41,039 at the final game in Arlington Stadium history. Arlington Stadium closes its doors after hosting Major League Baseball for 22 years.

1994

Apr 1, 1994: The Rangers play the first game at The Ballpark in Arlington, losing to the New York Mets in an exhibition contest, 10-7.

Apr 11, 1994: The Rangers fall to Milwaukee, 4-3, in the first regular-season game at The Ballpark in Arlington.

July 28, 1994: Kenny Rogers becomes the first Ranger pitcher to ever throw a perfect game, blanking the Angels, 4-0, at The Ballpark in Arlington.

Oct 14, 1994: Johnny Oates, manager of the Baltimore Orioles since 1991, is named as the 14th full-time manager in Rangers history.

1995

July 11, 1995: The Rangers host the 66th All-Star Game at The Ballpark in Arlington, as the National League posts a 3-2 victory over the American League.

1996

Sept 15, 1996: Texas retires Nolan Ryan's uniform number 34, the first retired number in franchise history.

Sept 27, 1996: The Rangers clinch their first postseason appearance in franchise history as Seattle loses to Oakland, giving Texas the American League West Division championship.

Oct 1, 1996: The Rangers play the first postseason game in franchise history, defeating the New York Yankees, 6-2, in Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium.

Oct 4, 1996: Playoff baseball finally comes to Arlington, but the Yankees score two runs in the ninth inning for a 3-2 victory over Texas before 50,860 at The Ballpark in Arlington.

Nov, 1996: Johnny Oates becomes the first Texas manager to win the BBWAA AL Manager of the Year award. Juan Gonzalez, who set team records with 47 homers and 144 RBIs, becomes the second Rangers player to win the BBWAA AL Most Valuable Player award.

Dec 16, 1996: John Wetteland, the 1996 World Series MVP with the Yankees, signs a four-year contract to pitch for the Rangers.

1997

June 12, 1997: The San Francisco Giants defeat the Rangers, 4-3, before 46,507 at The Ballpark in Arlington in the first regular season Interleague game in Major League history. Darren Oliver throws the first pitch.

June 30, 1997: Bobby Witt hits a solo homer off Ismael Valdes at Dodger Stadium, the first American League pitcher to go deep in a regular season game since Baltimore's Roric Harrison on Oct 3, 1972 (1st game) at Cleveland. It is the first home run by a pitcher in Texas Rangers history.

1998

Jan 7, 1998: An investor group led by Thomas O. Hicks agrees to acquire the Rangers in a $250 million transaction.

June 10, 1998: Major League owners unanimously approve transfer of ownership of Texas Rangers to Thomas O. Hicks at Major League meetings in Seattle.

Sept 25, 1998: The Rangers clinch American League West Division Championship in Seattle when Anaheim loses to Oakland.

Oct 2, 1998: The New York Yankees complete a three-game sweep of the Rangers in AL Division Series with a 4-0 win at The Ballpark in Arlington. The game is delayed 3 16 in the sixth inning due to rain.

1999

Jan 5, 1999: Nolan Ryan elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He announced that he will be the first Hall of Famer to ever have a Texas Rangers cap on his plaque in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Apr 29, 1999: Tom Schieffer resigns as Rangers President.

May 7, 1999: Jim Lites named Rangers President.

July 25, 1999: Nolan Ryan inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Sept. 26, 1999: The Rangers defeat Oakland, 10-3, to clinch the American League West Division title.

Oct. 9, 1999: The New York Yankees win their ninth straight playoff game against the Rangers, completing their second straight three-game sweep of the Rangers in the AL Division Series with a 3-0 win at The Ballpark in Arlington.

Nov 18, 1999: Ivan Rodriguez wins the 1999 BBWAA AL Most Valuable Player Award.