Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 12, 1994 TAG: 9404120089
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ARLINGTON, TEXAS LENGTH: Medium
Forget that overgrown minor-league dump. After 22 seasons in Arlington Stadium, the Texas Rangers on Monday moved into The Ballpark in Arlington, a $189 million throwback to the great old parks.
"Coming in here is just an exhilarating feeling," Texas relief pitcher Tom Henke said before the Rangers lost 4-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers. "It gives you an adrenaline boost compared to playing in the old park. I felt like a kid being out there."
The distance between the two is several hundred yards. The feel and the amenities are light years apart.
"You can't compare the two," third baseman Dean Palmer said. "The facilities here are 10 times better. You're a lot more comfortable here and I think you look forward to coming to the park more. They did it first class."
Rave reviews have flowed in, with some of the most heartfelt coming from Bud Selig, baseball's acting leader.
"To think you could build a new ballpark that has the character that this park does, that reflects the history and tradition not only of the region but of the game, is remarkable," said Selig, who is trying to raise funds for a new stadium for his team, the Brewers.
The Ballpark evokes warm emotions because of its old-fashioned look, much of which is borrowed from places such as Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Tiger Stadium.
A lot of the credit goes to architect David Schwarz, whom fans made feel like a player Monday by asking for his autograph as he toured the concourses.
"They've been coming up gushing to me," Schwarz said. "Everyone's response is somewhat equivalent of the word `wow.' "
Gates opened four hours before the scheduled game time, but fans missed seeing batting practice because the tarp covered the field during rains that delayed the first pitch by almost an hour.
The ceremonial first pitch was tossed out by Arlington Mayor Richard Greene, who was instrumental in getting taxpayers to pay most of the stadium's cost. The great pianist Van Cliburn, a Texan, performed the national anthem.
During the rain delay, players lounged around their spacious new clubhouse, signing baseballs and breaking in the caps that go with their new red and white uniforms. They've been settling in since exhibition games April 1-2 against the New York Mets, a short series that started giving this a reputation as a hitter's park.
"Both days it shot out of here like it was shot out of a cannon," Henke said. "There's little foul ground, and the ball really carries to center."
The wind comes in over the four-story building that fills in the space between the home run porch in right and the left-field seats. The building includes a sports art gallery, the Rangers' offices, a radio station, an office for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman and a dentist's office.
A 26-year-old woman posing for a photograph fell from the upper deck in right field after Monday's game, landing in the lower deck. She was listed in serious condition at a Dallas hospital. The Rangers said a security guard was approaching to tell her to get off the rail when she fell.
Among the criticisms of the stadium is that the front rail around all sections was too low.
A
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB