For the first time since fall, the smell of hot dogs on the grills overtook the Ballpark in Arlington Friday afternoon, as the stadium came rumbled back to life for an evening exhibition against the Royals -- a dry run for the park's support staff, and C.J. Wilson, before the sold-out season opener tomorrow at 1:05 p.m.
Changes around the ballpark for this season are nothing compared to the facelift completed for last season -- not unless you count new owner Chuck Greenberg, who said Saturday the deal to buy the club from Tom Hicks should be done by April 19 -- but the team did cut the ribbon on one new addition Friday: the Rangers Hall of Fame, a multilevel repository for old jerseys, stadium seats and plaques to honor each of the dozen Rangers greats inducted so far.
Three of them -- Jim Sundberg, Nolan Ryan and Rusty Greer -- turned up to mark the grand opening of the museum, which houses the plaques that had been mounted on the stadium concourse wall. The old Legends of the Game museum is no more, but much of its collection lives on under the new name. Artifacts that didn't fit the new "Rangers-centric" focus have been shipped back home to Cooperstown, says Rangers Media Relations Coordinator Brian San Filippo.
The museum's free once you're in the ballpark, which could make it a smart choice when the bathroom lines get too long outside -- among its features are a pair of restrooms, including the only Charlie Hough-themed ladies' room in the big leagues. Jump for it.
| Free from all that memorabilia that had nothing to do with the Rangers, the museum has plenty of room now to host your next birthday party. |
