ARLINGTON, Texas - Tom Schieffer, who was instrumental in getting Globe Life Park built, is the newest member of the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame.
Schieffer, the 17th member of the club's HOF, will be inducted in an Aug. 23 pre-game ceremony.
Schieffer was part of the George W. Bush ownership group that bought the Rangers in 1989 and was put in charge of the ballpark development the next year. After the new ballpark was approved by a vote by the city of Arlington, he was named the club president in 1991.He served in that role until 1999.
"I was surprised," Schieffer said of finding out he was going into the HOF. "I very much appreciate the opportunity. It's a great honor but I always said the definition of a good job is when you get paid to watch a baseball game. I thought I had a really good job and building this ballpark was really the joy of my life."
While the building of the ballpark is Schieffer's primary legacy with the Rangers, it's not all he's known for. He created the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, helped get the All-Star Game to Arlington in 1995 and was the club president when Texas went to the postseason for the first time in 1996.
Schieffer is pleased to see how Globe Life Park has stood the test of time as it turns 20.
"I think it's held up pretty well," Schieffer said. "I think it's aged well. I always thought it would be better when it had a little patina on it from use. I still enjoy coming out here early to watch people come into the ballpark, watch them enjoy it."
