Fansided

Biggest Texas Rangers Villains of All-Time

By Cody Smith |
ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 30: World Series MVP David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals participates in a parade celebrating the team's 11th World Series championship October 30, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Whitney Curtis/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 30: World Series MVP David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals participates in a parade celebrating the team's 11th World Series championship October 30, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Whitney Curtis/Getty Images)
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ST. LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 30: World Series MVP David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals participates in a parade celebrating the team’s 11th World Series championship October 30, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Whitney Curtis/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 30: World Series MVP David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals participates in a parade celebrating the team’s 11th World Series championship October 30, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Whitney Curtis/Getty Images) /

The Texas Rangers have faced a lot of foes over the years, but here we will take a look at a roster of who some of the biggest villains they faced are.

For this article, we will look more towards some of the players that have been thorns in the side of Rangers fans more recently, as well as mixing in some of their old enemies as well.

ST LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 28: Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits an RBI single to score Lance Berkman #12 in the seventh inning during Game Seven of the MLB World Series against the Texas Rangers at Busch Stadium on October 28, 2011 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 28: Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits an RBI single to score Lance Berkman #12 in the seventh inning during Game Seven of the MLB World Series against the Texas Rangers at Busch Stadium on October 28, 2011 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Yadier Molina

Going with one of the biggest pests the Rangers have ever faced behind the plate, Molina reigned in the Rangers speedsters during the 2011 World Series, and did a great job slowing down their offense throughout the series. Although he only has a .115 average against the Rangers in the regular season, he hit .333 in the World Series.

ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 10: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels scores a run in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 10, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 10: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels scores a run in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 10, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Albert Pujols

The Machine will go down as one of the most prolific hitters in baseball history, when he finally retires. Although he hasn’t been the same hitter since he joined the Angels back in 2012, he has still always had a knack for being up on the Rangers, including hitting 3 home runs against us in the 2011 World Series.

ARLINGTON, TX – JULY 03: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers runs into Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 3, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – JULY 03: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers runs into Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 3, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Jose Altuve

Although Altuve has one of his lowest batting averages against the Rangers (.289), it just seems like whenever he gets a hit against them, it is a timely hit that changes the game in a big way. The Rangers have also given up more home runs to him than any other team, except for the Angels.

ST. LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 30: World Series MVP David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals participates in a parade celebrating the team’s 11th World Series championship October 30, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Whitney Curtis/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 30: World Series MVP David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals participates in a parade celebrating the team’s 11th World Series championship October 30, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Whitney Curtis/Getty Images) /

David Freese

Perhaps the easiest member of this list, Freese was the 2011 World Series MVP, and seemingly single-handedly willed the St. Louis Cardinals to their infamous game six victory. Freese hit .348 in the series, and has a .270 career average against the Rangers. He is one of the few players that will be booed whenever he takes an at-bat in Arlington, regardless of what team he is on.

ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 20: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners makes the out on second base in the eighth inning against Jurickson Profar #19 of the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 20, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 20: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners makes the out on second base in the eighth inning against Jurickson Profar #19 of the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 20, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) /

Kyle Seager

He is not technically a shortstop, but he has a few games of experience there, and it would be hard to make this list without including him on it. Seager is the definition of a Rangers killer. He is a career .296 hitter against the Rangers, and the only other AL team that he has a higher batting average against is the Cleveland Indians.

ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 1: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros celebrates after hitting a lead-off home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 1, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 1: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros celebrates after hitting a lead-off home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 1, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

George Springer

Although Springer only has a .255 average against the Rangers, it seems like everything he hits is a home run. The Rangers have allowed 21 Springer-Dingers, which is more than anyone else in baseball.

ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 05: Relief pitcher Jesse Chavez #53 of the Texas Rangers stands on the mound as Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim rounds the bases after hitting his second solo home run of the game in the eighth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 5, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 05: Relief pitcher Jesse Chavez #53 of the Texas Rangers stands on the mound as Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim rounds the bases after hitting his second solo home run of the game in the eighth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 5, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Mike Trout

He is the best player in baseball, and we should all enjoy watching him play, because he may be one of the best players ever. But he destroys the Rangers. Earlier this season, when the Rangers played four games in Anaheim, Trout single-handedly led the Halos to wins in two of the games, and only drove in as many runs as the Rangers had in their third win.

In his career, Trout is a .335 hitter against the Rangers (tied for highest average against AL teams), and 30 home runs, which is second only to the Seattle Mariners.

ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 04: Former Texas Ranger Vladimir Guerrero, who was recently incucted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, waves as he leaves the field after being honored at a ceremony before the baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 4, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 04: Former Texas Ranger Vladimir Guerrero, who was recently incucted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, waves as he leaves the field after being honored at a ceremony before the baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 4, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

Vladimir Guerrero, Sr.

Vladdy was terrific while he was here, and became a fan favorite, but before all of that, he owned the Rangers, perhaps more than anyone else on this list. In 108 career games against the Rangers, he owned a .395 batting average. The only team that he had similar numbers against that he played against more than 90 times were the Phillies, who he hit to a tune of .371 against. It was very nice to get him out of Anaheim, and in a Rangers uniform back in 2010.

OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 08: Khris Davis #2 of the Oakland Athletics runs past Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers as he rounds the bases after he hit a two-run home run in the first inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 8, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 08: Khris Davis #2 of the Oakland Athletics runs past Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers as he rounds the bases after he hit a two-run home run in the first inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 8, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Khris Davis

Current Rangers-killer, Khris Davis, has a career .291 batting average against the Rangers, and every time the Rangers face the A’s, it seems like he has a say in the way the game goes, with a game changing home run or RBI. He also has 29 home runs against the Rangers, which is eight more than the next closest team, the Seattle Mariners.

TEMPE, AZ – FEBRUARY 26: C.J. Wilson #33 of the Los Angeles Angels poses during a spring training photo day on February 26, 2016 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ – FEBRUARY 26: C.J. Wilson #33 of the Los Angeles Angels poses during a spring training photo day on February 26, 2016 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

C.J. Wilson

Wilson was one of the most frustrating players to watch near the end of his Rangers career, as he became the only player in MLB history at that time to lose the All-Star Game, an ALDS game, an ALCS game, and a World Series game (all in 2011). Then to make matters worse, he spurned the Rangers in that off-season to join their division rivals in Anaheim. After his second season with the Angels, he was hit with the injury bug, and his career started to spiral downhill from there, retiring two years later. Much to the satisfaction of annoyed Rangers fans, he had a 6.33 ERA across ten starts against his old ball club.

SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 13: Reliever Roberto Osuna #54 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch during the ninth inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 13, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Astros won 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 13: Reliever Roberto Osuna #54 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch during the ninth inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 13, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Astros won 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

Roberto Osuna

Osuna has owned the Rangers since his arrival in the majors, and in 12.1 IP against them, he has only allowed one run, and has 12 strikeouts to go with 9 saves.

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 09: Former pitcher Mariano Rivera throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game Four of the American League Divisional Series between the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 9, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 09: Former pitcher Mariano Rivera throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game Four of the American League Divisional Series between the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on October 9, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Mariano Rivera

ENTER SANDMAN. Rivera is probably the greatest closer in MLB history, so it is only fitting to have him close it out. He had a 2.23 career ERA against the Rangers across 72 games with a 6-4 record and 40 saves.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 21: Manager Charlie Manuel #41 of the Philadelphia Phillies adjusts the lineup card during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals in a MLB baseball game on April 21, 2013 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 21: Manager Charlie Manuel #41 of the Philadelphia Phillies adjusts the lineup card during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals in a MLB baseball game on April 21, 2013 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Here is what a lineup with this team would probably look like with C.J. Wilson on the mound…

LF-George Springer

2B-Jose Altuve

CF-Mike Trout

RF-Vladimir Guerrero, Sr.

DH-Khris Davis

1B-Albert Pujols

SS-Kyle Seager

3B-David Freese

C-Yadier Molina

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