(Four years earlier, in 1966, the National League's Milwaukee Braves had moved to Atlanta.) 1972: Washington Senators move to Dallas-Ft. Worth (Arlington), renamed Texas Rangers 1973: Oakland Athletics officially renamed Oakland A's 1977: Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays enfranchised 1980: Oakland A's officially renamed Oakland Athletics 1997: California Angels renamed Anaheim Angels. The change came more than 30 years after the team's move to Anaheim.