ARLINGTON, Texas -- Larry Schmittou, vice president of marketing and administration for the Texas Rangers, will not be offered a position with the organization for 1987, team officials have announced.
Schmittou, who was hired in 1983, was in charge of the team's marketing and sales efforts as well as all stadium operations.
The Rangers had a record attendance of nearly 1.7 million in 1986.
Mike Stone, president of the Rangers, Monday commended Schmittou for 'turning Arlington Stadium into a first-class baseball facility.'
'However, the demands and challenges that face this franchise, now and in the future, require it to go in another direction at this time,' Stone said.
Schmittou drew criticism at the beginning of the 1984 season when he instituted a policy forbidding food to be brought to the ballpark. The policy was later dropped. He is also credited with scheduling major concerts after certain games and instituting numerous giveaway nights to boost attendance.
'I hope I won't always be remembered as the guy who wouldn't let people bring chicken into the park,' Schmittou said.
Schmittou is part-owner of minor league teams in Nashville, Tenn., Huntsville, Ala., Greensboro, N.C., and Daytona Beach, Fla.
