The Texas Rangers unveiled their Nike City Connect uniforms, which honor the remarkable story of how the organization landed in Arlington, Texas, through the rich baseball history of Dallas and Fort Worth, the significance of April 21 in Texas, and the tireless efforts of the late Mayor of Arlington, Tom Vandergriff.
The Rangers will wear the uniforms for the first time on Friday, April 21, when they host the Oakland Athletics at Globe Life Field at 7:05 p.m. The team will wear the uniforms the following night against Oakland and every Friday home game during the 2023 season.
During the 1950s, Dallas and Fort Worth had a pair of professional baseball teams – the Dallas Eagles and the Fort Worth Panthers/Cats. The two cities were fierce rivals and couldn’t even agree on a shared airport. At that time, Arlington was a relatively small city, but Vandergriff had major-league dreams. In 1964, construction began on Turnpike Stadium in Arlington. Just one year later, in 1965, Dallas and Fort Worth came together like never before with a professional baseball team in Arlington – the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs were born. Before Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport finally opened, fans attended Turnpike Stadium in record numbers, proving Vandergriff’s vision correct. Just a short while later, Turnpike Stadium was expanded to a seating capacity of over 35,000, renamed Arlington Stadium, and debuted as the new home of the Texas Rangers.
April 21, 1972, was the date the Texas Rangers franchise played its first game at Arlington Stadium. The event was years in the making and the culmination of Mayor Vandergriff’s efforts to bring Major League Baseball to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. April 21, 1972, was exactly 136 years after Texas gained its independence in the Battle of San Jacinto and exactly 104 years after the first championship baseball game in Texas.
The Rangers’ City Connect uniform celebrates the team’s origin story and the Texas spirit that brought Dallas and Fort Worth together in Arlington – through baseball. The uniforms include the following features:
The Jersey
- A natural, cream-colored top with the “TX” graphic on the right side of the player’s chest. The logo/color treatment is influenced by the gothic lettering of the Dallas Eagles, and the “X” includes a spur, a nod to the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs. The positioning of the graphic and number(s) are consistent with the jerseys the Spurs and Cats wore.
- On the left chest is a number laid out in speed red. The typography is inspired by the 1920 championship medal won by the Fort Worth Panthers. The Panthers won six consecutive Texas League titles in the 1920s and are regarded as one of the greatest teams in minor league history.
- On the right sleeve is a mythical creature – affectionately known as the Peagle. A blend of our legendary predecessor mascots, the Fort Worth Panthers/Cats and the Dallas Eagles.
- The inside collar of the jersey shows a “4*21” reference to the date synonymous with connecting the state of Texas, baseball in Texas, and the Rangers’ origin story.
- The jock tag features Mayor Vandergriff’s iconic “Dream the Big Dream” phrase. The sentiment from Vandergriff resulted in bringing Dallas and Fort Worth together through baseball.
The Pants
- The pitch blue-colored pants match the “TX” graphic on the jersey and feature rope braid piping in a nod to the logo texture of the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs.
- On the front left hip is an icon that pays homage to the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs, the team that played in Arlington and proved the region could support a Major League Baseball team.
The Cap
- The pitch blue-colored cap features the prominent cream-colored “TX” graphic on the front.
- On the side is the famed “4*21” date reference.
The Accessories
- The pitch-blue socks are complete with a speed red Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs icon.
- Players will wear a natural, cream-colored belt matching the jersey. To the immediate left of the belt buckle is a speed red loop in which a player has the option to include his number.
- Like the cap, player helmets will be a pitch-blue color, glossy style, and feature the prominent cream-colored “TX” wordmark on the front.
The entire City Connect story and detailed uniforms can be viewed at Rangers.com/CityConnect.
The Texas Rangers Grand Slam Team Store is the exclusive venue in Texas for the City Connect collection until April 21. Fans are also able to purchase the City Connect collection at MLB.com, the Nike App and Nike.com, NewEra.com, Stance.com, and the MLB Flagship Store in New York City. The City Connect collection will be available throughout Globe Life Field beginning April 21.
The Nike MLB City Connect Series launched in 2021 and was formed to celebrate the connection between a specific club and its city. The Rangers are the second MLB team to join the City Connect Series in 2023.
I personally like the way they look, as they could have been much worse. I think they did a good job paying homage to the history of baseball in the Arlington area, and I look forward to seeing them play in the uniforms.
