After losing the home-run crown to Yankee Stadium last season, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is poised to claim the title of most home-run-friendly facility in the majors, with 228 blasts clearing the fences this season.
The Texas Rangers have wrapped up their home schedule, so these numbers are final: 228 home runs for the season, up from the 174 homers last season, according to Gerry Fraley. A big reason for the increase: free-agent signee Adrian Beltre hit 23 homers in Arlington.
The second-place finisher will either be the aforementioned Yankee Stadium or Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, where 209 homers have been recorded.
The home runs may have had something to do with the increased attendance for the Rangers this season. The Rangers drew 2,946,949 fans this season, surpassing the 2,945,244 mark set in 1997. It is an increase of 441,778 from the final total in 2010, the highest increase from one full season to the next in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington history.
The Rangers average attendance of 36,382 is the fifth highest in the American League and second highest in club history to 40,374 in 62 dates in 1994.
“This record-setting attendance is a tribute to the support we have received,” commented Rangers CEO and President Nolan Ryan. “On behalf of the entire organization, I want to thank our fans. They are the best in Major League Baseball.”
—-
Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.
Subscribers to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter see features before they’re posted to the site. You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.
Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!