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Texas Rangers: Top 10 Opening Days

By Nathaniel Puente

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 10: Robinson Chirinos #61 of the Texas Rangers is congratulated by third base coach Tony Beasley #27 in the second inning after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees Globe Life Park in Arlington on September 10, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 10: Robinson Chirinos #61 of the Texas Rangers is congratulated by third base coach Tony Beasley #27 in the second inning after hitting a home run against the New York Yankees Globe Life Park in Arlington on September 10, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 28: Carlos Gomez #14 of the Texas Rangers is soaked with Powerade after hitting a three run home run off of Tyler Thornburg #37 of the Milwaukee Brewers in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat the Brewers 8-5 at Globe Life Park in Arlington on September 28, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 28: Carlos Gomez #14 of the Texas Rangers is soaked with Powerade after hitting a three run home run off of Tyler Thornburg #37 of the Milwaukee Brewers in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat the Brewers 8-5 at Globe Life Park in Arlington on September 28, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

10. Opening Day 1997 – vs. Milwaukee Brewers (W 6-2)

Our list starts off in the year that this article’s writer was born. In 1997, the Rangers were coming off their first-ever postseason appearance in 1996. There was much excitement in the air and high expectations for the ’97 Rangers.

Over 45,000 fans came out to The Ballpark in Arlington to witness the Rangers take on the Milwaukee Brewers on April 1, 1997.

Ken Hill got the start on the mound for the Rangers after an impressive 1996 season. Hill hurled eight impressive innings only allowing two runs in the fifth inning.

Hill would be the bright spot on a struggling team that year before being traded midseason to the Anaheim Angels.

The bats came alive early in ’97. With two runners on, first baseman Lee Stevens slammed a three-run home run that gave the Rangers a 3-0 advantage in the first inning.

Texas added to their lead in the fifth inning when center fielder Damon Buford landed a double that scored Stevens. Buford picked up some more RBIs with a two-run home run in the sixth that all but closed the game away.

The game stayed like that the rest of the way and the Rangers won 1997’s first game with a 6-2 victory over the Brewers.

Milwaukee’s greatest downfall came with the 10 men they left on base in the game. This can be attributed to Ken Hill’s commanding pitching that bent but did not break.

For some reason, the Rangers and Brewers only met for this game. The rest of the three-game series took place a week later after the Rangers had completed a series with the Baltimore Orioles. Texas eventually won the series two games to one.

1997 would not be the dream season Rangers fans hoped it would. They would float around third place all season and ultimately finish 77-85.

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