Saying goodbye

by Joe Mock
All rights reserved on images and text

It was no secret that on September 29, 2019, the Texas Rangers would be playing their final game at Globe Life Park. Since early August, there hadn’t been any drama about whether the team would make the playoffs, so the red-letter date on the front office’s calendar was 9/29/19. This gave them a lot of time to plan a proper farewell. The fact that the Yankees were going to be the opponents simply added to the pageantry — and it was no surprise when the game sold out weeks in advance.

The National Anthem was quite poignant. On the park’s first opening day on April 11, 1994, peerless pianist Van Cliburn performed The Star-Spangled Banner backed by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. In my interviews of longtime members of the Rangers family, many listed that as one of their top memories of the park (see especially Tom Grieve’s comments in 26 Seasons of Memories).

For 2019’s finale, the Fort Worth Symphony reprised that moment, minus the late Cliburn. The photo at the top of this page shows the stadium as the Anthem was being performed.

While much of the pomp and circumstance had been widely publicized by the team in advance, a big surprise came early. Nolan Ryan, a native Texan through and through, is certainly one of the most popular players in franchise history. Since he retired the year before the park opened, he hadn’t been named to the All Globe Life Park Team or been featured in video clips of the facility’s greatest moments.

But just after the National Anthem — surprise! — ol’ number 34 was introduced to throw out the ballpark’s final ceremonial first pitch. The cheers of delight were deafening, and some in the crowd (possibly including the writer of this piece, himself a longtime Rangers fan) found a tear in their eye. Suddenly, it all became very real. This beautiful ballpark was about to host its final game.

The team made it very clear that it’s the fans who truly deserve the praise for the success of Globe Life Park. The video boards said so boldly, and prior to the start of the game, a banner stretched across Greene’s Hill (so named for former Arlington Mayor Richard Greene, so instrumental in getting the park funded in the early 1990s) in center field. It was removed when play began so the batter’s eye would be its normal pristine green.

Throughout the afternoon, a steady stream of fans made their way to the southwest corner of the ballpark. That’s where the best view of the Rangers’ new home could be seen, just a block and a half away.

As for the game itself, neither team had a great deal to play for. The Rangers had long since been eliminated, and the Yanks had sewn up home-field advantage in their first-round match-up with the Twins.

Well before the gates opened, I encountered Sally Sutterfield, 82, of nearby Mansfield, in the upper deck. She told me she’s worked in the box office of the park since 2000, and that her husband was a longtime employee, too. “I had to see all of this one last time,” she told me. “The Rangers, this is family here.” She added, “We’re certainly looking forward to the new park across the street, but don’t think for a minute that I won’t miss this place. It’s part of my psyche now.” And with a chuckle, she motioned toward the new stadium and added, “I just hope the air conditioning will be working over there.”

The home team seemed to play with more energy, especially starting pitcher Lance Lynn. Following an Aaron Judge bomb in the 3rd, he went on a tear, retiring 14 in a row before being lifted with one out in the 8th. The crowd, obviously appreciating the fact that he’s under contract to be on the mound in the new stadium next year, gave a loud, long standing ovation.

For several months, the Rangers had invited various dignitaries to reveal the number of games remaining at the park on a sign beyond left field. At the end of the 5th of the final game, the aforementioned Richard Greene and his granddaughter Ashley pulled down the number 1 on the Games Remaining sign, revealing that the next home game will be March 31, 2020 down the street.

Following the final out of the 6-1 Rangers win, longtime shortstop Elvis Andrus was interviewed as the player of the game. He had originated the idea of dousing the star of each contest with Powerade many years before, so it was only fitting that he received the final such icy shower in this stadium. TV host Emily Jones stood a respectful distance from the mayhem.

Although this dousing has become common with other teams, the Rangers were among the first teams to make it a regular event following a victory.

As the post-game events were being prepared, the groundscrew loosened home plate so later in the festivities it could be transported to the new stadium, which will bear the name Globe Life Field.

This was also done following Arlington Stadium’s last game, when the plate was carried over to, well, right here. Arlington police officer Dick Hill was in the motorcade that led the plate here on October 3, 1993, and the 45-year veteran of the force (and a former NFL player) led the parade over to Globe Life Field on this day as well.

The main event of the post-game celebration was the introduction of the Globe Life Park Era All-Time Team. Since a vote of fans determined the winners, there were quite a few of the Rangers’ most popular players on the squad. It seemed to me that the loudest roar occurred when Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez was introduced.

Behind Rodriguez in the photo below are Vladimir Guerrero, Rafael Palmeiro (partially obscured) and Mike Napoli.

A touching moment came when the closer on the All Time Team was introduced. Flame-thrower Neftali Feliz, who was on the mound in the bottom of the 9th of Game 6 of the 2011 World Series when, well, the Rangers were one strike away from the franchise’s first World Championship (i.e., a blown save), was given a hero’s welcome by the crowd. He is shown below next to Colby Lewis.

With a marching band, cheerleaders, a firetruck and the all-time great players in open-air vehicles, a parade made its way over to the new ballpark. What a tremendous way to wrap up a very special day! Chuck Morgan, Executive VP of Ballpark Entertainment, and the entire Rangers organization deserve a great deal of praise for orchestrating the events perfectly.

And speaking of the new park, we’ll have an exclusive look at it shortly!

After the finale was over, I took a long walk around the lake that frames the north side of the ballpark. The stadium has often been referred to as The Palace, because of the stately way it sits on a hill. And as the shadows became longer, with the roof panels of the new stadium in the distance, I noticed that the sun hit the home-plate entry just perfectly.

One last time.