1961 AAA Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers

When the Major Leagues expanded in 1961 and awarded the American League franchise to Gene Autry, Autry tasked Roland Hemond with setting up a minor league system. Roland chose the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers as the teams first AAA affiliate.

Back in 1959 when the American Association expanded, both Dallas and Fort Worth were awarded AAA teams. The two teams eventually merged in 1960 and affiliated themselves with the Kansas City Athletics, then in 1961 with the newly expanded Los Angeles Angels, and finally in a joint affiliation with the Angels and Phillies in 1962. The American Association folded after the 1962 season, and the Rangers joined the Pacific Coast League and affiliated with the Minnesota Twins. Below are some custom autograph cards of players on that original 1961 American Association AAA Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers team.