The Best All-Star Performances in Texas Rangers History

The Top 5 Texas Rangers All-Star Performances in franchise history

MLB All-Star week is a yearly spectacle that displays premier talent that represents both leagues, the American League and the National League, in not only a full nine-inning game, but also the Home Run Derby, where players can be seen crushing baseballs further than anyone else in the world.

The week brings magical moments that many fans will forever hold dear to their hearts and displays that America’s pastime is still alive and well. While there are still some decisions to be made on who will represent the AL and the NL in the big game, and the home run derby participants are yet to be announced, the excitement for the midsummer classic is growing.

Regardless of how fan voting is turning out this year, it will likely lead to your Texas Rangers only having one representative in the game; even though they had three last year on a team that had less wins at the All-Star break than this year’s Rangers do now.

We may have to ignore the disrespect and look at past performances and displays of greatness in the yearly contest that shows which league has the greater players. With that being said, the following are what I deem to be the best performances of All-Star week in Rangers history.

The Top 5 Texas Rangers All-Star Performances in franchise history

5. Hank Blalock, 2003 All-Star Game

In just his 2nd year in the big leagues, Rangers then 3rd baseman Blalock surged through the first half, sporting a slash of .323/.375/.524 with 17 home runs heading into the 2003 All-Star Game. While he didn’t end up starting for the AL squad, he certainly made his mark by the end of the game. As the game went on, Blalock stayed sitting on the bench, awaiting his time to make his mark.

It wasn’t until the 8th inning that AL manager Mike Scoscia called on Blalock to bat for Troy Glaus, who started the game at third base. Stepping up to the plate against Eric Gagne, who was in the midst of a perfect save season, with a runner on 2nd and his squad down six to five, Blalock smacked a pitch on a 3-and-1 count to right center for a home run. The ball traveled 427-feet and after it landed the AL had the lead and would hold onto it until the end of the game.

Garrett Anderson may have won the MVP award for the first ever All-Star game that counted towards home-field advantage in the World Series, but it was Blalock who had the biggest moment. Check it out here.

The Top 5 Texas Rangers All-Star Performances in franchise history

4. Ivan Rodriguez, 1998 All-Star Game

Pudge entered the 1998 midsummer classic with an insane .350 batting average, and was the starting catcher for the AL squad. In what would go on to be the highest scoring All-Star game in history, another record was set. Pudge would go on to hit three singles and drive in one run, as his three hits would go on to be a record for a catcher.

Rodriguez’s final hit drove in Jim Thome and extended the lead for the AL and they never looked back, winning the game 13-8.

While not other-worldly, Rodriguez’s performance was the epitome of what he was for the Rangers: solid, and exactly what his team needed.

The Top 5 Texas Rangers All-Star Performances in franchise history

2. Michael Young, 2006 All-Star MVP, and 2008 All-Star Game

You might as well call Michael Young “Captain Clutch” for his performances in two separate All-Star appearances.

Voted in as a reserve and not a starter in each of the two seasons, Young outperformed expectations like he always seemed to do throughout his career. First in 2006, Young was awarded MVP honors, as he came up to bat in the top of the 9th inning with his team down 2-1 and hit a two-strike triple and driving in two runs, the second of which being the go-ahead run. Thus winning the game for the American League squad.

Then, in 2008, during the last All-Star game to be played at old Yankee Stadium, it was Young again who played hero. In what was the longest game in All-Star history, Michael Young came to the plate in the 15th inning, at well past one in the morning, Young hit a walk-off sacrifice fly, giving the win to the American League. You can see Young’s walk-off here and his go-ahead triple here.

The Top 5 Texas Rangers All-Star Performances in franchise history

1. Josh Hamilton, 2008 Home Run Derby

The one that takes the top ranking for the best performance during the All-Star festivities is clearly Josh Hamilton’s magical home run derby performance in 2008.

Heading into the derby, Hamilton was hitting .321 with 21 home runs and was quickly becoming one of the premier players in all of the league. Upon receiving a home run derby invite Josh Hamilton did not disappoint. Under the bright lights of the house that Ruth built, Hamilton would go on to give the crowd a showing of a lifetime. “back, back, back” yelled Chris Berman time and time again, as fans watched Hamilton pelt home run after home run, eventually ending with a record of 28 home runs in the first round.

While Hamilton would eventually tire out and lose the home run derby in the final round, it was one of the most memorable performances an athlete has ever had, and he did it under the brightest lights of the sport. Check out the memorable moment here.

These are only some of the phenomenal performances of Texas Rangers All-Stars, and hopefully as the Rangers start competing more here in the future, we can see many more performances like these.