Texas Ranger Statue Sparks Controversy at Rangers Game

Statue of a lawman who opposed racial integration draws criticism for its placement at the baseball stadium.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:24pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a Texas Ranger statue at a baseball stadium, its geometric shapes and muted colors conveying the complex history and debate surrounding the statue's presence.A cubist interpretation of the controversial Texas Ranger statue, its geometric forms reflecting the tensions surrounding its placement at a baseball stadium.Dallas Today

A new statue of a Texas Ranger lawman, modeled after Sgt. Jay Banks who blocked school integration in the 1950s, was unveiled at the Texas Rangers baseball team's home opener. The statue's placement at the stadium has drawn criticism from historians who argue it belongs in a museum, not at a sports venue, given the Texas Rangers' law enforcement agency's history of racism and violence against minority communities.

Why it matters

The controversy over the Texas Ranger statue highlights the ongoing debate around honoring figures from the state's past who were involved in discriminatory and harmful actions. As sports teams and communities grapple with how to address problematic legacies, the placement of this statue raises questions about the appropriate way to contextualize and display symbols of the state's complex history.

The details

The statue, modeled after Sgt. Jay Banks who supervised the blocking of school integration efforts in the 1950s, was placed in the left field plaza of the Texas Rangers' stadium. This comes despite the team's 2020 statement condemning racism and committing to equality. Historians argue the statue has no place at a baseball stadium and should instead be displayed in a museum, where its history can be properly contextualized.

  • The statue was unveiled at the Texas Rangers' home opener on April 3, 2026.
  • In the summer of 2020, there were calls for the Texas Rangers to change their team name due to the law enforcement agency's history.

The players

Texas Rangers

The Major League Baseball team that unveiled the controversial Texas Ranger statue at their home stadium.

Benjamin Johnson

A professor of history at Loyola University Chicago who has written extensively on the Texas Rangers law enforcement agency and argues the statue should be in a museum, not a baseball stadium.

Sgt. Jay Banks

The Texas Ranger lawman who the statue is modeled after, known for blocking racial integration efforts at schools in the 1950s.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Having this at an airport, or now a baseball stadium, is not a place set up for historical context. You shouldn't throw it away. It should be at the Bullock Museum.”

— Benjamin Johnson, Professor of History, Loyola University Chicago

“Those images, movies and TV shows are a lot more popular and influential than a history professor talking about the facts.”

— Benjamin Johnson, Professor of History, Loyola University Chicago

What’s next

The Texas Rangers organization has not indicated if they plan to relocate the controversial statue. Historians and community members continue to call for the statue to be moved to a museum setting where its history can be properly contextualized.

The takeaway

The placement of the Texas Ranger statue at the baseball stadium highlights the ongoing tensions around how to address problematic historical legacies, especially when they involve symbols that have become part of popular culture. As sports teams and communities grapple with these issues, there are calls for more thoughtful approaches that prioritize education and understanding over simply erasing the past.