Texas Rangers: Celebrating 50 years of baseball in 2022

50 years later, no Texas Rangers World Series, but a ton of heart.

It’s been 50 years since the Texas Rangers introduced themselves to the amazing citizens of Texas, and while we haven’t witnessed much winning since 1972, what we have witnessed is perhaps even more meaningful, consistency. With that being said, I do not mean the consistency of losing, I mean the consistency of showing up and being a meaningful part of Texans’ lives on a yearly basis.

Though our lives have changed throughout the years and America itself has changed drastically in this time period as well, the classic American summer still lives thoroughly in front of us. As technology has invaded every aspect of our lives, the game that began being played in the 1800s still largely exists in the same way it always has.

The beauty of baseball lies in the simplicity of the game, and it is something that has never changed. There’s always a ball, a bat, and nine players on the field, and in this ever changing world we live in I feel it is important to honor the significance of a sport that is so pure that the basis of itself has remained in tact after all of this time, and that reigns true for the Rangers as well.

While we haven’t won much, what we have done is be able to go to a ballpark and lose ourselves in the sights, sounds, and smells, and for that we should be thankful we have had the honor of having a hometown team to call our own all these years.

Celebrating 50 years of the Texas Rangers in 2022

Summer after summer, Rangers players and fans withstood the grueling heat of Arlington, Texas, that is until Globe Life Field entered our lives in 2020, and while now there is air conditioning, we are still sweating until the final out of every game hoping for a Texas win. Throughout all of these years, we have witnessed some incredible things in the 3 different ballparks, from watching hall of famers play, to the World Series appearances, and some hilarious things as well.

To honor the 50 years of Texas Rangers baseball, I have put together a decade by decade list of some of the most memorable moments that we have had the privilege of witnessing, and I’ll choose the player that represents each decade of Rangers baseball the best.

Celebrating 50 years of Texas Rangers baseball

1970’s: Major League Baseball Arrives in North Texas

The 1970’s were a time of growth for not only the Rangers, but for the popularity of baseball in North Texas. Here are some notable feats and facts about your 1970s Texas Rangers:

The Inaugural Season:

With Ted Williams as manager, the Washington Senators became the Texas Rangers in 1972 and begun play in the inaugural season at Arlington Stadium. Though their first win came in their second game, beating the Angels(then Known as the California Angels) 5-1, the first season in Texas did not go well, as they finished 54-100. While the first season didn’t bring much in terms of wins, it brought baseball to North Texas and created fans for life in an area that was and is primarily known for football.

The First Winning Season:

During the 1974 season the Rangers finally began to come together as a team. They finished this season 84-76 and are still to this day the only team to have a winning season following two consecutive 100 loss seasons. Although this Rangers team had the AL MVP in Jeff Burroughs, the AL rookie of the year in Mike Hargrove, the comeback player of the year in Ferguson Jenkins, and the manager of the year in Billy Martin, the Rangers finished in second place in this season, just missing the playoffs behind the eventual World Series champion Athletics. While ultimately missing the playoffs was a disappointment, the season was filled with fun moments, and even some crazy ones too, such as the 10 cent beer night in Cleveland. The Rangers had three other years during this decade in which they finished with a winning record, including a 94 win season in 1977, one in which they also missed the postseason due to the format at the time.

Who Best Represents This Decade?

Toby Harrah-

The first ever opening day short stop for the Texas Rangers, Harrah slashed a .262/.356/.401 with 106 home runs during his time in Texas in the 70s. Harrah was also the first All-Star in Rangers history, and was ranked 3rd best Rangers Shortstop by MLB.com, and had a stretch from 72-76 where he led all shortstops in the league in OPS.

Other notable players/people in the era:

Jim Sundberg, Ferguson Jenkins, Mike Hargrove, Jeff Burroughs, Tom Grieve

Celebrating 50 years of Texas Rangers baseball

1980’s: Not Much Winning, but some cool stuff happened

The 1980’s Rangers, outside of 1986, were not much to write home about, but they did have some very historical things happen.

1986:

An 87 win season, which finished 2nd in the AL West, and would’ve certainly been a playoff birth in the modern postseason format, saw the likes of several stellar players grace the field in Arlington, and even had four Texas Rangers team Hall of Famers on the Roster in the likes of Jeff Russell, Toby Harrah, Charlie Hough, and Ruben Sierra.

Introduction to Nolan Ryan:

Prior to the 1989 season the Rangers signed 41 year old Nolan Ryan, and while at this point the Hall of Famer and all-time strike out leader was getting up there in age, he still put up some of the best pitching seasons in history, and what he accomplished in 1989 further cemented his legacy as one of the greatest pitchers to ever live. As on August 22, 1989 Ryan recorded his 5,000th strike out by striking out Ricky Henderson. Nolan is a forever fan favorite in the hearts of Texans everywhere.

Who Best Represents This Decade?

Buddy Bell-

While you could argue for Ruben Sierra or Charlie Hough I chose Buddy Bell here. Bell joined the Rangers in 1979, but spent the majority of his career on the Rangers in the 80’s. Bell was a 5 time All-Star, 6 time Gold Glove Winner, and a one time Silver Slugger winner, achieving all of these as a Ranger. Bell created a high standard in regards to manning the hot corner in Arlington, a standard that only Adrian Beltre could top.

Other notable players/people in the era:

Jeff Russell, Ruben Sierra, Charlie Hough, Jim Sundberg

Celebrating 50 years of Texas Rangers baseball

1990’s: Here’s Where the Real Fun Begins

The 1990’s for the Rangers were a time of high power, not so great pitching, and 7 winning seasons. Along with that, the 1990’s featured the Rangers first ever playoff births, multiple MVP winners, and Rangers legends; introducing us to guys like Ivan Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, and Rusty Greer.

Nolan Ryan’s 300th Win, 2 No-No’s, and the Robin Ventura Beatdown:

Nolan Ryan is a staple in baseball folklore, the Express blew hitters away with one of the most feared fastballs in the history of the sport. 324 career wins and 5,714 strike outs, he’s among the most elite pitchers to ever play. The fact that he came to Texas to end his remarkable career is appreciated by Rangers fans all over. The most memorable of his time in Texas really boil down to 5 moments though.

1.  His 5,000th strike out in 1989
2. No Hitter number 6 in 1990
3. 300th Career Win in 1990
4. No Hitter number 7 in 1991
5. The Robin Ventura Altercation in 1993

I could go on and on about Nolan Ryan and what he meant for baseball in Texas, but that would equate to a book the size of the dictionary. Just know though, that he was phenomenal and he was appreciated perhaps more than any athlete to ever grace any professional sports field in the DFW area at the time.

1996, The First Ever Playoff Birth:

With a Lineup spearheaded by Ivan Rodriguez, Will Clark, Dean Palmer, Rusty Greer, and the 1996 MVP Juan Gonzalez who hit 47 of the Rangers 221 home runs during this season. The Rangers won 90 games, a number at this time was the most in franchise history. As the Rangers dated back to 1961 when they were the Senators, it took them 36 seasons to reach the playoffs, a stretch that took longer than any other team in American sports history. The 1996 Rangers simply did not have the pitching to make it far in the postseason, and ended up losing to the burgeoning late 1990’s Yankees in the divisional round 3 wins to 1, which would become a theme for the 1990’s Rangers.

1998 and 1999:

After a disappointing 1997, the Rangers were back and ready to compete again in 1998 and 1999, although the rosters had the same ring to them as the 1996 roster, not enough pitching. Sure they had Rick Helling eating innings, and superstar closer John Wetteland closing out big games, but its hard to win in the playoffs when you’re sporting a team ERA of 4.99 in 98 and 5.07 in 99. High power offense is what the 1990’s Rangers lived and died off of, but boy could they hit. As Juan Gonzalez won another MVP award in 1998 belting another 45 homers and driving in 157, all while hitting .318, Pudge Rodriguez got his own MVP trophy in 1999, as the Catcher hit 35 home runs while slashing .332/.356/.558. They weren’t the only mashers on the team though as the Rangers were 2nd in the MLB in runs and average in 1998, and 1st in average and 2nd in runs in 1999. It wasn’t enough to overcome the Yankees in either year though.

Who Best Represents This Decade?

Ivan Rodriguez-

Who better to represent the Rangers of the 90s than the Hall of Famer with 14 All-Star appearances, 13 Gold Gloves, 7 Silver Sluggers, and 1 MVP award who had a stretch unlike any other in a Rangers uniform. While you could make a case for Nolan Ryan or Juan Gonzalez, few players made the impact that Pudge did, whereas in each season from 1992-2001 Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez appeared in an All-Star game and won a Gold Glove award. He is an all time fan favorite has Rangers career numbers of .304 BA, 217 HR, and an OPS of .828. He is widely considered one of the best catchers of all time, and he is also a member of the Rangers Hall of Fame.

Other notable players/people in the era:

Nolan Ryan, Juan Gonzalez, Rusty Greer(Can’t forget about this), John Wetteland, Will Clark

Celebrating 50 years of Texas Rangers baseball

2000’s: The A-Rod years and JD Rebuilds the Club

The 2000’s Rangers were bad. With zero playoff births, a maligned ownership, and only 2 winning seasons in the entire decade, Rangers fans had no idea of the special moments to come in the short future. While there wasn’t much winning, the big moments that did happen were definitely special, and by decades end they were finally building a real contender in Arlington.

The A-Rod Trade:

You can’t talk about the history of the Rangers without mentioning the negative impact of the massive 10 year, $252 Million contract Alex Rodriguez was given prior to the 2001 season, a deal that is still massive even in today’s standards. The deal was so bad for Texas he’ll be receiving paychecks from it until he is 50. That’s not to say he didn’t deserve his money, regardless of steroids, A-Rod averaged 52 home runs and a 1.011 OPS, which netted him 3 Silver Sluggers, 1 MVP, and 3 All-Star appearances. While Texas nearly had a trade lined up to get Manny Ramirez from the Red Sox, it fell through, allowing the Yankees to receive Rodriguez for Alfonso Soriano and Joaquin Arias. This hurt the Rangers incredibly for years to come, but don’t worry, the Rangers eventually got their revenge.

2004 and 2009:

Each of these seasons were very different, but both very important. 2004 was a storybook run that just fell short. Off of the backs of emergence of stars like Michael Young, Mark Teixeira, Soriano, and Hank Blalock. The Rangers unexpected run fell short as they were only 2 games back from winning the division with 10 games to go, but ultimately lost 6 of the last 10 games to drop all the way to 3rd. The ensuing years were rough and filled with controversy and injuries, which eventually resulted in then General Manager John Hart stepping down, allowing Jon Daniels to become the youngest general manager of all time, and boy wasn’t that a good move, as JD proceeded to make flurries of moves eventually building the future World Series teams.

2009 on the other hand saw the Rangers soar into contention due to trades that were made in earlier years by Jon Daniels, specifically the Mark Teixeira trade, resulting in bringing Matt Harrison, Neftali Feliz, and Elvis Andrus to Texas. All of these guys either made their debut in 2008 or 2009, combining with Nelson Cruz(who broke out as a regular during the ’09 season), Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Derek Holland, and several other talented young players. This was truly the first season where the Rangers had hopes of winning it all in the near future.

Sammy Sosa 600th Home Run:

Regardless of steroids, it’s still pretty amazing to see a players 600th home run, and Sosa did just that. On June 20th, 2007 Sosa became the 5th player in history to reach the 600 home run mark, and he did it against his former team.

Rangers 30 Run Game:

On August 22, 2007 the Texas Rangers put up 30 runs in a 30-3 rout against the Orioles. On this date the Rangers became the first team in 110 years to score 30 runs in one game.

Josh Hamilton’s Home Run Derby:

On July 14th, 2008 Josh Hamilton stepped into the batters box in the house that Ruth built and hammered 28 first round home runs in the 2008 Home Run Derby. 2008 was the year Hamilton broke onto the scene, and this was his moment, reaching superstardom from the ashes of being banned from baseball from 2003-2005 due to substance abuse. Hamilton hit homer after homer, with one even reaching an astounding 518 feet in distance. This was one of the most memorable nights in not only Rangers history, but in baseball history, as it happened in front of the entire world at old Yankee stadium, and tell me, what’s a more magical than that?

Who Best Represents This Decade?

Michael Young-

What can be said about the Rangers captain? Debuting as a Ranger in 2000, Young took a bit to become what we know of him now. Once Michaels 3rd season came around though, Young became a household name. He rallied off 5 straight seasons with 200 hits, totaling 6 200 hit seasons in his career, along with 7 All-Star appearances, and 1 Gold Glove. He was a fan favorite and became the veteran presence for the World Series runs of 2010 and 2011. Young leads the Rangers in all-time hits, all-time doubles, all-time triples, all-time runs scored, most hits in a single season, most doubles in a single season, and was 3rd all-time in RBI’s. Although Young missed out on the MLB Hall of Fame, he is a member of the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame.

Other notable players/people in the era:

Josh Hamilton, Hank Blalock, Mark Teixeira, Ian Kinsler, Alfonso Soriano, Francisco Cordero, Ron Wahsington

Celebrating 50 years of Texas Rangers baseball

2010’s: World Series Bound and Adrian Beltre’s Influence

It finally happened, this is the decade where the Rangers finally make it to the World Series, and even though they made it twice, unfortunately they lost both(one in one of the most thrilling World Series’ ever played). The beginning of this decade was filled with competitive baseball, as the Rangers opened the decade with 2 straight World Series appearances, making the playoffs 5 times out of the first 7 years of the 2010s(Including losing a game 163 that kept them from making it 6 of the first 7 years of the decade. They finally established an expected culture of competition, and while they didn’t do great over the 2017-2019 stretch, those years are still pivotal in telling the story of the Texas Rangers. So lets take a look at the most exciting moments in the most exciting decade in Rangers history.

2010 World Series Run:

The 2010 Rangers won the AL West division with a 90-72 record on the back of a lineup featuring Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Vladimir Guerrero, Nelson Cruz, and 2010 MVP Josh Hamilton. The team as a whole led the league in hits and batting average, drawing comparisons to the potency of the 90’s lineups. Except this time, they also had pitching, as Wilson, Lewis, and mid season acquisition Cliff Lee all were in the top 20 in the AL in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, and WHIP. They also had Neftali Feliz put up 40 saves with a 2.73 ERA, and had a very strong back end of the bullpen. The 2010 season was a storybook run for a team who had not experienced winning like this in many years, filled with all sorts of quirky things, such as; team bankruptcy, the Claw and Antler T-shirts, and a Bengie Molina Cycle.

After securing the division, the Rangers played the Rays in the ALDS, a series that was also full of quirks as it’s the first series ever where only the away teams won games and the first time since Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in 1928 that two players on the same team hit 3 home runs each in the same series(Kinsler and Cruz). The Rangers concluded the series with their first playoff series win in history and went on to play the dreaded Yankees in the ALCS, where Feliz went on to take out years of Rangers fans frustration by striking out none other than Alex Rodriguez to send the Rangers to the World Series for the first time ever. While the Rangers would ultimately end up losing the World Series 4 games to 1, the real win was the Rangers emergence into true relevancy, and they weren’t done yet.

2011 World Series Run:

On the heels of the most successful season in franchise history how would the Rangers respond? In the off-season they lost Guerrero, Cliff Lee, and Bengie Molina, but what they brought in was perhaps one of the best free agent signings in MLB history in Adrian Beltre. The move caused the Rangers to request Michael Young to make yet another position change by moving to DH, causing trade request to be made by Young, but anger aside, Young would remain in Texas.

Along with Beltre, the Rangers brought in via trade another fan favorite in Mike Napoli, and they were off to the races. While barely holding onto first place through June with a record of 43-39, the Rangers sprinted to the end of the season going 53-27 through the months of July, August, and September, finishing the season with a 96-66 record and securing the division title for the second consecutive season.

The Rangers were back in the playoffs and were not going down easy this year. They beat the Rays in the first round 3 games to 1, and beat the Tigers 4 games to 2 off the back of ALCS MVP Nelson Cruz and his legendary walk-off grand slam in game 2, as it was the first walk-off grand slam in postseason history. The Rangers were back in the World Series, this time against the St. Louis Cardinals, who they led 3 games to 2 after a masterful performance in game 4 by Derek Holland, and a hard fought win in game 5.  Thus came the game that will forever live in infamy to Rangers fans, game 6. Perhaps the craziest game in World Series history, as it contained 7 different lead changes, a 1 strike away triple by David Freese in the bottom of the 9th, a Josh Hamilton Kirk Gibson-like home run in the top of the 10th, a game tying single in the bottom of the 10th, and a heartbreaking walk-off home run by David Freese in the bottom of the 11th. A home run which essentially lost the Rangers the World Series, and thus ending the highest peak the Rangers have ever reached.

The Ensuing Playoff Years:

After reaching the highest peak in baseball and ultimately failing to bring home a championship, the Rangers couldn’t follow up with the same elite level of play. In 2012 with much of the same roster the Rangers looked to rebuild their previous magic. After leading the division for most of the entire season they eventually spiraled down the stretch and lost in the first-ever single game Wild Card game. Struggles in this season caused the separations of Michael Young and Josh Hamilton in the offseason.

The following years saw the Rangers lose in a game 163 tie breaker to the Rays in 2013, the first season without Michael Young leading the club and then a disastrously bad 2014 where the Rangers only won 67 games, resulting in the loss of manager Ron Washington.

Many thought the Rangers weren’t in a position to compete until they eventually rode incredible seasons from Beltre, Prince Fielder, Shin-Soo Choo, and Cole Hamels who was picked up half way through the season, to an incredible second half run and a division championship which ultimately ended when Jose Bautista broke the Rangers in the ALDS after the Rangers blew a two game lead in the series. What Bautista did through created a ton of hostility between the teams, that when the Rangers came back to face them in 2016 Rougned Odor absolutely rocked Bautista in one of the most memorable sports fights in history. Ultimately the Rangers faced the music again in the ALDS in ’16, as the stacked lineup and rotation that won them 95 games in the regular season failed to show up, as the Rangers were swept, thus being the last season the Rangers have seen postseason.

Adrian Beltre 3,000th hit:

While the following seasons weren’t near as interesting as the first 6 years of the 2010’s, Rangers fans still got the opportunity to witness their Hall of Famer close out his career and put his name as lock for the MLB Hall of Fame. As on July 30th, 2017 Beltre stepped up to plate in the 4th inning and hit a double, allowing him to become the 31st player in league history to hit 3,000 hits and the 1st ever Dominican born player to do so. While Beltre retired after the 2019 season, this milestone truly felt like the closing moment of this amazing era of baseball, as the Rangers best generation saw their best player essentially ride off into the sunset.

Who Best Represents This Decade?

Adrian Beltre-

One could write a novel about the importance of Adrian Beltre to not only the Rangers, but to the game of baseball itself. The man who didn’t like his head being touched played the kids game with the enthusiasm of someone who is forever young. From toying with Andrus constantly in the middle of games, to doing his signature knee drop home runs, to his crazy legs, to him moving the on-deck circle, he never let Rangers fans come to a game without getting their money’s worth. We often forget just how ridiculously good he was, because he was just so entertaining, but goodness was he incredible. 3,166 career hits, 477 career home runs, a career .286 average, 4 Silver Sluggers, 5 Gold Gloves, 2 Platinum Gloves, and a career WAR of 93.5 which ranks 40th in MLB history. As a Rangers fan myself, I would argue there has never been a player who combined the words entertaining and talented as much in Rangers history, and to that I say thank you Adrian Beltre for providing us with so many amazing memories.

Other notable players/people in the era:

Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Derek Holland, Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, Colby Lewis, Yu Darvish, Mike Napoli, Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor(Mainly for the Bautista punch), Cole Hamels, Joey Gallo