The Texas Rangers: A Franchise with a Colorful Past (and Ownership History)
Ah, the Texas Rangers. A team known for its passionate fans, iconic ballpark (howdy, Globe Life Field!), and a recent World Series win (congrats!). But there's one thing that might surprise you, even more than a Nolan Ryan fastball: how many folks have owned this team over the years. Buckle up, baseball fans, because we're about to take a wild ride through the ever-revolving door of Texas Rangers ownership.
From Senators to Rangers: A Franchise on the Move (and Up for Grabs)
The story starts back in 1961, when the team wasn't even the Texas Rangers, but the Washington Senators. (Think cherry blossoms and baseball bats, not BBQ and cowboy hats.) Even back then, ownership was a bit of a revolving door. It seems folks just couldn't decide if they wanted to deal with the stress of a losing team or the sheer joy of managing future Hall of Famers.
Texas Two-Step: A Long Line of Leaders (Some More Successful Than Others)
Fast forward to 1972, when the Senators said "see ya later" to D.C. and howdy to Arlington, Texas. The "Texas Rangers" were born, and with them, a whole new chapter in ownership. We're talking a cast of characters worthy of a Wild West saloon:
- The Cattle Ranchers of Capital Gains: From Bob Short to Brad Corbett, these early owners mostly focused on, well, not losing money. Let's just say the on-field product wasn't exactly a championship contender.
- Eddie Chiles: The Man Who Brought the Pinstripes (and Almost the Tropicana!) Here's a guy who wasn't afraid to take a chance. Chiles is credited with bringing pinstripes to the Rangers uniform, but his most audacious idea? A giant fiberglass pineapple for the outfield! Thankfully, that one never came to fruition.
From Baseball Buddies to Presidential Aspirations: The George W. Bush Era
Then came 1989, a year etched in Texas Rangers history. A group that included a certain George W. Bush (yep, the future president) bought the team. Under their ownership, the Rangers saw some decent seasons, but championship glory remained elusive. Maybe Dubya was just too busy for baseball strategy sessions, what with the whole "leading the free world" thing on his plate.
From Hicks to Sticks: A Change of Hands and a New Era
By 1998, Tom Hicks, a local businessman, took the reins. Hicks' era saw the Rangers build a contender, reaching the World Series in both 2010 and 2011 (they came oh-so-close those years!). But financial troubles eventually led to a change in ownership in 2010.
The Current Crew: Stability at Last (and a World Series Trophy!)
Enter Rangers Baseball Express, LLC, a group led by Ray Davis and Bob R. Simpson. These guys have brought stability and, most importantly, a World Series title to Texas in 2023! Seems like the right ownership can make all the difference.
So, how many owners have the Texas Rangers had? Well, if you're counting from the Washington Senators days, we're talking double digits. But for the Texas Rangers era specifically, it's a cool 10 different ownership groups. That's a lot of folks who've had the chance to be part of this storied franchise. Here's to hoping the current crew sticks around for a while and brings home a few more championship rings!
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