The Great Ballpark Chase: Spanning the Globe

Globe LIfe Field Homeplate View — **^{The view from behind homeplate during pregame at Arlington’s Globe Life Field. (Photo by Tim Russell)}**

The worst part of any trip is usually the last day.

It’s the same with baseball road trips. Traveling with a few dozen people, you get to know each other pretty well and there’s a certain sense of melancholy with the realization the trip is coming to a close.

So it was when we arrived in Arlington, TX, with Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours Southern Slam tour. There was a twinge of sadness knowing it would soon be over.

But, there was also great happiness after another successful tour and meeting people like Dub and Sue Ann. This was the second tour with them. We had previously met them on the West Coast Swing in 2024.

The couple, who reside in Flower Mound, TX, was on its second bus trip this year. A week before the Southern trip, they were on the Midwest tour. During the Southern trip, they were able to meet up with their daughter and son-in-law, who reside in Houston.

Earlier in the trip, Dub treated the bus members to dinner during a restaurant stop after the game.

It’s meeting people like this couple that makes these bus trips the most fun.

Globe Life Field was supposed to open in March 2020, but since COVID delayed the start of the season, it didn’t open until July 24, 2020. It replaced Globe Life Park, which still stands across the street and was renamed Choctaw Stadium and renovated for football and soccer.

Globe Life Park was only 20 years old when it was replaced, but the Rangers wanted a retractable roof due to extreme heat in Texas during the summer months. The roof is rarely opened for games, except for very early or late in the season.

The new stadium does feel like a cavernous warehouse at times, especially whe the roof is closed.

^{Clockwise from upper left, the arches were a carry over from the former Globe Life Park and hold the Rangers’ retired jersey numbers; this unique clock is visible to fans along the concourse; the exterior of Globe Life Field; the odd dimensions near center field are visible here; under the left field archways; and a center field view. (Photos by Tim Russell)}

Field dimensions are a bit unique at Globe Life Field, with a nod to the Rangers’ history.

It is 329 feet down the left field line, which honors recent Hall of Famer third baseman Adrian Beltre (No. 29). Just inside the left field line is 334 feet, which honors Hall of Fame pitcher and former owner Nolan Ryan (No. 34).

The left field power alley is 372 feet in honor of the 1972 Rangers, which was their first season in Arlington. The right field power alley is 374 feet, for the first winning season in Arlington.

The deepest distance is 410 feet, which is just left and right of center field for second baseman Michael Young (No. 10). Straightaway center field is 407 feet for Rangers’ catcher, former Detroit Tiger, and Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez (No. 7).

Down the right field line is 326 feet, for former manager Johnny Oates (No. 26). And finally, it is 42 feet from home plate to the backstop, for Jackie Robinson, whose No. 42 is retired throughout baseball.

Another design element is the brick arches beyond the left field wall. It was a part of the old Globe Life Park and liked enough that they brought it to the new stadium. The Rangers’ retired numbers are posted near the top of the arches, facing the field.

Rangers' PA Announcer Chuck Morgan — **^{Rangers’ public address announcer, Chuck Morgan, in his booth as he always is. (Photo by Tim Russell)}**

A visit to Globe Life Field isn’t complete without a trip to see Rangers public address announcer Chuck Morgan‘s booth, who has been with the Rangers for 42 of the last 43 seasons. He has announced 3,325 consecutive games. The microphone used for his 3,000^th game is in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

Martin, who is in his 47^th year of professional baseball, is currently second behind the Philadelphia Phillies’ Dan Baker. Baker is in his 53^rd year!

During the offseason, Martin is responsible for coming up with the Rangers’ promotional schedule.

Game Result: Texas scored single runs in four of the first five innings against the visiting Atlanta Braves and eased to an 8-3 victory. The Rangers really took control with four runs in the eighth. Catcher Jonah Heim had the only home run for Texas. Ranger pitcher Nathan Eovaldi threw five shutout innings, allowing just three hits and four walks with seven strikeouts. Atlanta outfielder Michael Harris II had a home run for the Braves.