Fansided

The Texas Rangers show their love to newly elected Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre

It was not just a call that Beltre received yesterday, it was flowers of appreciation sent by the team and fans. The love that both had for Beltre was on full-display after the announcement.

By Michael Sanders |
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Oakland Athletics v Texas Rangers / Richard Rodriguez/GettyImages
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It was made official on Tuesday evening that Adrian Beltre will be a part of the 2024 Hall of Fame class. He will be inducted alongside Joe Mauer, Todd Helton, and manager Jim Leyland. With this honor, it is clear that Adrian Beltre will go down as the best Texas Rangers free agent signing in their history. It is not the most important, that honor will fall on the right-arm of Nolan Ryan. Beltre with his production throughout his tenure in Texas and now with this recognition is the best. Beltre quickly became a fan-favorite and the team and its fans showed their love to Beltre after the announcement was made.

Texas Rangers show appreciation to Adrian Beltre

Beltre played for four different organizations, the LA Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers. Texas jumped out first after the announcement to recognize Beltre's accomplishment,

A simple tweet that shows him in a Texas Rangers uniform in the plaque room. It does kind of clue in on which hat will be on his plaque, but that has likely not been determined yet. It was fitting that Texas was the first one to get out there on social media with a post. They followed that up with tweets that show highlights from his career and stats that show why he is a Hall-of-Famer. Beltre is not getting that call on Tuesday if not for his time in Texas. Tom Verducci even made note of that on the broadcast. In 2011 Beltre was not on track to get inducted, it was what he did in his 30's that solidified his case to get to Cooperstown.

Beltre's case is more than just on-field production, it is the joy that he played the game with. He played the game with a child-like enthusiasm for the game combined with a competitiveness that drove him and the team to greater heights. That was shown directly through his relationship with shortstop Elvis Andrus. They played eight seasons together on the left-side of the infield. Fans came to love the on-field and off-field pranks they would pull on each other. Andrus was interviewed yesterday by MLB Network about that and what he thinks made Beltre into the Hall-of-Famer he now is,

The dedication to the craft and the game as Andrus says is what drove Beltre even late into his career. It should be no surprise that the organization spent much of Tuesday honoring the best third baseman that has ever played for the Texas Rangers and one of the best third basemen in the history of the game.

Next: Fans give their flowers to Adrian Beltre

The fans show their appreciation to Adrian Beltre

The Adrian Beltre signing at first was questioned by some fans including myself back in 2011. I don't know if I truly recognized how skilled Beltre was at third base. I did not understand how good he was at the plate. That all changed once the 2011 season began and I began to watch him on a daily basis and I am sure the same applies to most fans like myself. Beltre became an instant fan favorite. Texas Rangers fans showed their appreciation to Beltre not long after the announcement was made.

That was all in response to the Texas Rangers tweet recognizing Adrian Beltre. So much love for the former resident of the hot corner. Texas Ranger' fans loved the joy that was the driving force in his game. They loved the big hits that he produced throughout his career. They loved the plays he made on bunts down the third baseline and how cat-like his reactions were at third. I don't know if any Texas Rangers fans were asked about their favorite Adrian Beltre memory if they could name just one. I am sure most would have probably as many as five or more plays that they remember.

I would go back to how on infield pop flies he would sometimes stand directly behind Andrus looking as if he was going to catch the ball. I would think back to the home runs from his knees as he would get under those low pitches and drive them out of the ballpark. I would think back to the number of times teammates tried to touch his head and he would react. I would think back to his relationship with Felix Hernandez and every time they would face each other and their reactions after the at-bat. I would think back to the cycles with an "S" that Beltre hit while in a Texas Rangers uniform. I would think back to the three-home runs he hit in game four of the 2011 ALDS. Beltre did not start his career in Texas, but he did finish it in Texas. In his eight seasons in Arlington he made memories that will last a lifetime for Texas Rangers fans.

Congratulations to the newly-elected Hall-of-Famer Adrian Beltre. The third Texas Rangers player to be elected on the first ballot.

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