The most memorable moments in Globe Life Park history

This weekend, the Texas Rangers are saying goodbye to Globe Life Park in Arlington, their home for the last 26 seasons. The Rangers are moving across the street to a new retractable-roof stadium in 2020, while their old home is being retrofitted to host the XFL's Dallas Renegades.

Globe Life Park - originally known as The Ballpark in Arlington - opened in front of a then-franchise record crowd on April 11, 1994. It was quickly hailed as one of the finest baseball-only facilities that sprung up in the 1990s, sporting a unique retro-style design and a cozy interior that hitters loved.

Despite its short life, the ballpark was the site of several historical moments in baseball history, and also hosted the golden era of Rangers baseball. As it prepares to close its doors, here's a look back at a few of Globe Life Park's greatest moments.

July 28, 1994: Kenny Rogers' perfect game

The Ballpark's only no-hitter came during its maiden season, and it was one for the ages. Rogers needed just 98 pitches to complete the 14th perfect game in MLB history, and only reached a three-ball count against seven of the 27 California Angels batters he faced. Outside of the final out, the most memorable moment was Rusty Greer preserving the perfecto with a diving catch to open the ninth inning.

July 11, 1995: 66th MLB All-Star Game

Played under the shadow of a shortened season following the 1994 players' strike, the '95 All-Star Game was the first to be hosted in Arlington and showcased the Rangers' new ballpark to the world. The National League won 3-2, with the Marlins' Jeff Conine earning MVP honors. Frank Thomas won the Home Run Derby with 15 big flies.

1996: Rangers' 1st playoff berth

The moment itself was anti-climactic - cheers went up mid-game as the scoreboard signaled a Seattle loss - but it wasn't lost on anyone. Twenty-four years after arriving in Texas, and 34 years after being founded as the Washington Senators, the Rangers finally earned their first-ever playoff berth and division title, setting off a massive celebration in The Ballpark.

While Texas lost its debut playoff series to the Yankees, that first ALDS was still special. Juan Gonzalez, the eventual 1996 AL MVP, tormented New York by hitting .438 with an LDS-record five homers in the four-game loss.

June 12, 1997: Interleague play begins

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Baseball history was made at The Ballpark in Arlington when the Rangers hosted the first-ever regular-season interleague contest. After ceremonial first pitches from Texas icon Nolan Ryan - who starred in both leagues - and Giants legend Willie Mays, San Francisco's Darryl Hamilton smacked a leadoff single off Darren Oliver for the first-ever interleague hit. The Giants won, 4-3.

July 1, 2006: Matthews' jaw-dropping catch

In the midst of a rough Rangers season, Gary Matthews Jr. made what's undeniably the greatest play in Globe Life Park's history, climbing the wall to steal a homer from Houston's Mike Lamb in spectacular fashion.

June 20, 2007: Slammin' Sammy hits 600

Slammin' Sammy's last great moment came at what was then called Rangers Ballpark in Arlington when he became just the fifth player to hit 600 homers. Fittingly, the milestone blast came against his old team, the Chicago Cubs, and a pitcher, Jason Marquis, who was wearing Sosa's famous No. 21.

2008, 2012, 2015: 3 cycles for Beltre

Eight cycles were hit at Globe Life Park - the first coming from Mark Teixeira in 2004 - but the park's greatest cyclist of all was Adrian Beltre. The future Hall of Famer's first cycle came in 2008 in Texas when he played for the Seattle Mariners; he hit two more in the ballpark after joining the Rangers three years later. Beltre is one of just four players to hit for the cycle three times, and the only one to have all three in the same ballpark.

Oct. 22, 2010: Rangers' 1st pennant

The Rangers' 2010 season had many historic moments, including their first home playoff win and series victory. But the most memorable scene of all came when they finally outlasted their old playoff nemesis, the Yankees, to win their first AL pennant. Appropriately, the Rangers made the final out against Alex Rodriguez - the team's former $252-million man - to send Globe Life Park into an absolute frenzy.

The good times didn't last in the 2010 World Series. While the Rangers took Game 3 at home, it was the Giants who celebrated their first championship in 55 years on GLP's diamond.

Oct. 10, 2011: Cruz's walk-off slam

The Rangers made it back-to-back pennants in 2011, with ALCS MVP Nelson Cruz leading the way. After tying Game 2 of the ALCS with a solo shot off Max Scherzer, Cruz - backed by over 51,000 very loud Texans bellowing his name - launched a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning. Cruz's 2011 postseason is remembered for a very different reason, but this slam deserves more reverence. The Ballpark could get extremely loud, and this eardrum-shattering moment might have been its loudest.

Oct. 22, 2011: Albert Pujols makes history

Pujols' final great Cardinals moment came at Globe Life Park when he authored a World Series performance for the ages. In Game 3 of the 2011 series, Pujols went 5-for-6 with a World Series record-tying three home runs to single-handedly destroy the Rangers. Amazingly, he didn't hit the first homer until the sixth inning.

May 15, 2016: Odor punches Bautista

Jose Bautista's gut-punch of a bat flip in the 2015 ALDS left the Rangers fuming all winter. So Rougned Odor took matters into his own fists when the Blue Jays visited GLP the following May by punching Bautista to set off an epic brawl. The punch became a rallying cry for the Rangers, and the brawl is now considered a classic baseball punch-up. But it was the Blue Jays who got the last laugh, sweeping the Rangers aside in the '16 playoffs courtesy of Odor's series-ending error.

July 30, 2017: Beltre's 3,000th hit

Adrian Beltre became a Rangers hero almost from the moment he signed with them as a free agent, so there was no better place for him to join the 3,000-hit club than Globe Life Park. His milestone double was punctuated by his family embracing him on the field in a moving scene.

June 21, 2019: Mazara's 505-foot HR