Texas Rangers All-Time Team: The Pitchers

Apr 30, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan smiles in his seat during the game between the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The Rangers won 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

As Texas Rangers fans we have seen many players come and go but there are some players that hold a special place in our hearts. There are many reasons why we like certain players and probably even more why we do not. But this isn’t about those we don’t care for, but about those players we love and made being a Rangers fan fun.

I posed the question on our Twitter and Facebook page:

And, as Ved states, this wasn’t an easy task:

Nonetheless, the votes are in and tallied.

Here is who made YOUR All-Time Texas Rangers Team.

STARTING PITCHERS:

Nolan Ryan (51-31, 3.43) – Despite playing only 5 season with the Texas Rangers (1989-1993) Ryan is probably the most beloved pitcher in Texas Rangers history. The right-handed Texan signed with the Rangers at the tender age of 42. Ryan cemented his Texas-sized legendary status after he threw his 6th and 7th no-hitters. Oh, and then there was that time Robin Ventura thought it was a good idea to slowly charge the mound. Nolan Ryan had 129 game starts, 15 complete games, 6 shutouts, 320 earned runs, 353 walks, and 939 strikeouts over 840.0 innings pitched.

8/22/1989 Nolan Ryan records his 5,000th career strikeout:

6/11/1990 Ryan tosses his 6th Career No-Hitter beating the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum 5-0:

8/4/1993 Nolan Ryan vs. Robin Ventura: The entire baseball world has seen this footage, probably several times, but what some may not know is that the brawl had more to do with Ryan’s storied history with the Chicago White Sox than it did with Ventura being angry. The rival started a few years earlier when a young 21-year old rookie Craig Grebeck hit a home run off Ryan in Spring Training, and by “unwritten rules” standards celebrated a bit too much for Nolan’s taste. Then, during the regular season Grebeck did it again, and by the next game Ryan drilled him. Up next was Ventura, but, as the story goes, Nolan Ryan didn’t intentionally hit Ventura, he pitched inside and it pegged him in the back. Well, you can see for yourself, again.

9/17/1993 Nolan Ryan announced his retirement at the beginning of the 1993 season. On September 17 he threw his 5,714th strike, the final K of his 27-year career. Ryan suffered a torn ligament on September 22 and ended his career early, missing his final two scheduled starts of the season.

Next: History Maker Yu Darvish

Apr 2, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) pitches against the Houston Astros in the third inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

Yu Darvish (39-25, 3.27) – The Texas Rangers signed the 25-year old Japanese ace on January 18, 2012. Expectations and excitement filled the minds of Rangers fans everywhere. Darvish has not disappointed. In three seasons Yu Darvish has 83 game starts, 2 complete games (both in 2014), 1 shutout, 198 earned runs, 218 walks, and 680 strikeouts over 545.1 innings pitched.

Darvish made his MLB debut on April 9, 2012 against the Seattle Mariners. He went 5 2/3 innings giving up 8 runs, 5 hits, while striking out 5 and earning his first major league win.

4/24/2012 Darvish tosses a 2-0 shutout win over the New York Yankees. He gave up 7 hits, walked two, but this was also his first 10 strikeout game.

4/2/2013 Playing at Houston Astros in his first start of the 2013 season Darvish had baseball fans holding their breath as he was one out away from a perfect game, and then Marwin Gonzalez came to plate. The rest is history. I still get nervous watching this game as if the outcome will somehow be different.

On May 27, 2013 Yu “The History Maker” Darvish became first pitcher to reach 100 K’s before Memorial Day since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling did it in 2002.

8/12/2013 Houston seems to be Darvish’s kryptonite as he flirted with another no-no through 7.1 innings when he gave up a home run. But, he struck out a career-high 15 and earned his 200th strikeout.

Yu Darvish made his first start of the 2014 season on April 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays, and once again made history. He struck out David DeJesus and Wil Myers earning his 500th strikeout of his career. Darvish became the fastest pitcher earning 500 strikeouts by doing so in only 402 2/3 innings pitched.

Next: Kenny Rogers and the Bullpen