Statue previously removed from Dallas-area airport finds new home at MLB stadium

Fans attending the Texas Rangers’ home opener series against the Cincinnati Reds in early April will be able to see the newly installed permanent fixture in left field for the first time.

In a nod to the MLB franchise’s name, the Rangers unveiled a “One Rebel, One Ranger” statue in the left field concourse at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Monday.

In 2020, the statue was removed from Dallas Love Field due to rising racial tensions and the group’s complicated history tied to race relations.

The book, “The Cult of Glory: The Courageous and Ruthless History of the Texas Rangers,” examined parts of the law enforcement agency’s history. Its release coincided with a nationwide scrutiny of some police practices following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

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In an Associated Press account about six years ago, around the time the statue was pulled from the airport, the “Cult of Victory” identified the figure as Capt. Jay Banks. The book states that in 1957, Banks led a group of Rangers who were believed to have prevented Black students from enrolling at a local high school and community college.

“Cult of Glory” author Doug Swanson said in his article: “There is a famous photograph of him leaning against a tree in front of Mansfield High School, with a black figure hanging over the school, and Banks makes no effort to take it down.

“And Banks sided with the gangs who were there to keep black kids out. So she was the face of this situation.”

The Texas Rangers will take batting practice before facing the San Francisco Giants at Globe Life Field on June 8, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Texas Ranger Association Foundation board member Russell Molina acknowledged the Rangers’ controversial past but said those who live “up to the ideals” deserve recognition and argued that the statue is not meant to represent Banks alone.

“We recognize that the history of the Texas Rangers, like the history of our state and our nation, contains moments that must be confronted honestly,” Molina said. “While not everyone who served over two centuries lived up to the ideal, many did, and they deserve to be remembered for their service, sacrifice and dedication to the people of Texas.”

Globe Life Field, the new home of the Texas Rangers, on March 26, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Swanson said Dallas Morning News He hoped the statue’s final placement would include more context about the organization’s complex history.

Fox News Digital contacted the baseball franchise’s media relations department but did not immediately receive a response.

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According to Globe Life Field’s official website, “The ‘One Rebellion, One Ranger’ statue commemorates the legend surrounding the agency’s role in stopping an unsanctioned Dallas prizefight in 1896, while also paying tribute to all those who have served the organization throughout its history.”

Statues of former MLB stars Iván Rodríguez, Adrián Beltré and Nolan Ryan also stand in the Rangers’ retractable-roof stadium.

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