2 | RANGERS AT 50
And it was a great feeling when I returned to Texas for the final six weeks of the 2009 season and had the privilege of watching so many of the play ers who would be part of back-to-back American League champions the next two years. I came back to Arlington to retire as a Ranger in 2012. I was proud to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame with a Texas Rangers cap on my plaque. And it is a huge honor to have a statue outside and my number 7 retired inside on the outfield wall of the beautiful Globe Life Field.
Foreword
I have been fortunate to win a World Series with the Marlins and an A.L. pennant with the Tigers and set the all-time record for games caught with the Astros. But my heart will always be with the Rangers. They signed me and helped me develop as a catcher and hitter. I had a number of manag ers and coaches here that taught me the game and so many great teammates who made me a better player. I have experienced the kindness and support of baseball’s best fans. And, I have been fortunate to be associated with the organization for the last ten years as a special assistant. I have been a part of so many of the moments that are captured in this 50th anniversary book about the Texas Rangers. I hope you will enjoy this look back at the great events and players that have been a part of this organization since 1972.
Thank you to everyone who has helped make my nearly 25 years as a Texas Ranger soIvánspecial.RodríguezJuly1,2022
INTRODUCTION | 3
July 27, 1988, was certainly one of the biggest days of my life. I was a 16-year-old kid from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico and on that day, I signed my first pro fessional baseball contract with the Texas Rangers. They had been watching me for a while and were the only team that wanted to sign me as a catcher. I’ll always be grateful to Sandy Johnson, Manny Batista, Luis Rosa and Doug Gassaway for believing that I could catch in the Major Leagues. Since that day, I have been a member of the Rangers organization for more than 24 of my 33 years in professional baseball. There are so many memories. My Major League debut was on June 20, 1991, and the first time I caught Nolan Ryan the very next night. I was behind the plate when Kenny Rogers threw a perfect game on July 29, 1994, and in the starting lineup for the American League in the 1995 All-Star Game at The Ballpark in Arlington. And the next year when the Rangers went to the playoffs for the first time with the great Johnny Oates as our manager. I’ll also never forget walking into Tom Schieffer’s office on July 31, 1997, and telling him that I wanted to remain a Texas Ranger. We worked out a new deal, and I was part of two more Division cham pions in 1998 and 1999. Being selected as the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1999 made that year so much more special.
6 | RANGERS AT 50 Table of Contents Foreword ����������������������������� 3 The 1970s ���������������������������� 8 American League owners approve the move of the Washington Senators to Arlington, Texas ��������������������������������������� 10 First regular season game in Arlington� ����������������������������������� 13 David Clyde’s Major League debut 16 Jim Bibby pitches Rangers’ first no-hitter ��������������������������� 18 Brad Corbett and local group purchase Rangers from Bob Short 19 “Turnaround Gang” wins 84 games and numerous A � L � awards ������������������ 20 Rangers go 60-33 under Billy Hunter to finish with club record 94 wins 24 All-Star Richie Zisk joins the Rangers, helps bring team to opening day victory ������������������������������� 27 The 1980s������������������������� 28 Larry Parrish slugs three homers in win over Ron Guidry ������������������������� 30 Ruben Sierra’s walk-off homer defeats Red Sox �������������������������������������� 31 Nolan Ryan signs as a free agent ������ 33 George W� Bush/Rusty Rose Group purchase Rangers from Eddie Chiles 34 Nolan Ryan outduels Roger Clemens ��������������������������������������� 35 Nolan Ryan’s 5,000th strikeout ���������� 36 The 1990s������������������������� 38 Nolan Ryan’s sixth no-hitter ���������������� 40 Julio Franco’s game-winning two-run double earns All-Star MVP Award 42 Nolan Ryan’s 300th career win ���������� 43 Rangers and City of Arlington announce plans to build new ballpark �������������������� 44 Nolan Ryan’s seventh no-hitter 46 The Nolan Ryan-Robin Ventura fight ���� 48 Final game at Arlington Stadium �������� 49 First regular season game at The Ballpark in Arlington ������������������������������ 50 Kenny Rogers’ perfect game ��������������� 52 Texas Rangers host 66th Major League All-Star Game ��������������� 54 Nolan Ryan’s #34 is retired by the Rangers 55 The Rangers clinch their first ever AL West Division title ����������� 56 ALDS Game 1 — Rangers win playoff debut against Yankees 58 First Interleague Game in Major League history ������������������������ 60 Sweep in Anaheim carries the Rangers to a division title 61 The 2000s ������������������������ 62 Rafael Palmeiro’s 500th career home run ������������������������ 64 Hank Blalock wins All-Star Game with eighth inning homer ������������������������������ 65
INTRODUCTION | 7 Induction of the inaugural class of the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame �������������������������������������������� 66 Alfonso Soriano wins All-Star MVP Award 67 ‘The Incredible Catch’ by Gary Matthews Jr� ���������������������������� 68 Michael Young’s game-winning triple earns All-Star MVP honors� ������������������ 70 Rangers acquire Andrus, Féliz and Harrison from Atlanta Braves �������������� 72 Rangers set modern day record with 30-run onslaught ���������������������������� 74 Rangers acquire Josh Hamilton from Cincinnati Reds for Edinson Volquez and Danny Ray Herrera ������������������������ 76 Nolan Ryan named Texas Rangers President 77 Josh Hamilton’s record-breaking All-Star Home Run Derby ��������������������� 78 Ian Kinsler goes 6-for-6 while hitting for the cycle 79 The 2010s������������������������� 80 Bengie Molina’s improbable cycle in Fenway Park ���������������������������� 82 Rangers Baseball Express LLC wins auction to purchase the franchise ����� 84 The Rangers return to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 ����������������� 85 ALDS Game 5 — Cliff Lee pitches Rangers to first postseason series victory ������������������������������������������������������� 86 ALCS Game 6 — Rangers win AL Pennant 88 World Series Game 3 — Rangers win first World Series Game in home debut ������� 92 ALDS Game 4 — Adrián Beltré’s three homers send Rangers back to ALCS ���� 94 ALCS Game 2 — Nelson Cruz hits walk-off grand slam homer ������������������ 96 ALCS Game 6 — Rangers win AL Pennant ���������������������� 98 World Series Game 2 — Rangers earn first World Series road victory ����������� 103 World Series Game 4 — Derek Holland’s gem ��������������������������� 104 World Series Game 5 — Rangers take 3-2 lead going back to St � Louis �������� 107 Josh Hamilton hits four home runs in one game �����������������������108 Cole Hamels pitches Rangers to AL West Division title ����������������������109 Rougned Odor rocks Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays ����������������������110 Pudge Rodríguez inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York ������������������������� 111 Adrián Beltré’s 3,000th hit 112 Final Game at The Ballpark in Arlington/Globe Life Park ���������������� 115 First regular season game at Globe Life Field 117 Public opening of new Globe Life Field �������������������������������������� 118 Texas Rangers Retired Numbers �������� 121 Great Rangers ���������������� 123
8 | RANGERS AT 50
The Rangers’ arrival in Arlington ended a decadelong quest by Mayor Tom Vandergriff to bring Major League Baseball to Arlington. The indefatigable Vandergriff had lobbied many owners and league officials before finally convincing the Washington Senators’ Bob Short to move in the fall of 1971. Vandergriff proved persuasive over the objections of Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and President Richard Nixon, who did not want to see the na tion’s capital be without Major League Baseball.
The Rangers, under Martin’s leadership, shocked baseball by going 84-76 and finishing second in the AL West, five games behind the world champion Oakland A’s. Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins, acquired from the Cubs that previous winter, won 25 games and outfielder Jeff Burroughs won the Most Valuable Player Award by hitting .301 with 25 home runs and 118 RBIs. Jenkins and Burroughs defined who the Rangers were throughout the decade. Jenkins was one of many veterans acquired in a series of headlinemaking trades and signings that brought in proven big-league players. Burroughs, on the other hand, represented the young talent from the farm system that really formed the foundation of the Rangers in their early years. That home-grown group included catcher Jim Sundberg, infielders Mike Hargrove, Toby Harrah, Bump Wills and Lenny Randle, and outfielders Billy Sample, Tom Grieve and Joe Lovitto. Other young talent was used to acquire the starting pitching
The Senators team that moved to Texas was lacking in proven Major League talent as the first two years in Arlington showed. The Rangers went 54-100 in that first season under manager Ted Williams and then 57-105 after Whitey Herzog became the skipper.
The first Major League game in North Texas took place on April 21, 1972, with the Texas Rangers holding off the California Angels for a 7-6 victory. A crowd of 21,105 at Arlington Stadium watched as Frank Howard hit a first-inning home run to give the Rangers a lead. Starting pitcher Dick Bosman earned the win.
The 1970s
The highlight of those first two years came on June 27, 1973, when 18-year-old David Clyde made his Major League debut just a few weeks after being the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft. Clyde, after pitching Houston’s Westchester High School to the Class 4A state title, faced the Minnesota Twins before 35,698 at Arlington Stadium, allowing two runs on one hit and seven walks over five innings with eight strikeouts in a 4-3 win. But while the Rangers were struggling on the field, they were stockpiling the young talent that would find success in Arlington. That happened in 1974 after Billy Martin became manager.
The Rangers had originally been scheduled to open at home on April 6, but the season was delayed by a player’s strike. The team’s first game was on the road in Anaheim on April 15, a 1-0 loss to the Angels with the winning run scoring in the ninth inning on a wild pitch from reliever Paul Lindblad.
Overall Record: 614-672
AverageBatting (Min. 2500 PA): Mike Hargrove, .293 Games: Toby Harrah, 999 Runs: Toby Harrah, 481 Hits: Toby Harrah, 916 Doubles: Toby Harrah, 140 Triples: Lenny Randle & Jim Sundberg, 18 each Home Runs: Toby Harrah, 106 RBI: Toby Harrah, 461 Stolen Bases: Toby Harrah, 130 Wins:PitchingFerguson Jenkins, 76 ERA (Min. 800.0 IP): Ferguson Jenkins, 3.43 Games: Steve Foucault, 206 Games Started: Ferguson Jenkins, 145 Complete Games: Ferguson Jenkins, 77 Saves: Steve Foucault, 35 Innings: Ferguson Jenkins, 1106.1 Strikeouts: Ferguson Jenkins: 703
RANGERS TEAM LEADERS IN THE 1970s (1972–1979) needed to become contenders, including future Hall of Famers Jenkins, Bert Blyleven and Gaylord Perry. Fort Worth businessman Brad Corbett bought the team in 1974 and proved to be a hands-on owner, getting personally involved in making many of the big trades and free agents signings. It all came together in 1977. The Rangers went through four managers that season. Frank Lucchesi, who had replaced Martin two years earlier, began the season at the helm but was dismissed after a 31-31 start. Eddie Stanky took over for one game, then decided he wanted to go back to college coaching. After Connie Ryan served as interim manager for six games, Baltimore Orioles third base coach Billy Hunter took over for good and led the Rangers to a 60-33 record down theThestretch.Rangers ended up winning a club-record 94 games but could not keep up with red-hot Kansas City Royals, who won 38 of their last 47 to pull away to the AL West Division title. Corbett signed free agent outfielder Richie Zisk that following off-season and his ninth-inning home run off Yankees reliever Rich Gossage gave the Rangers an exhilarating 2-1 win on Opening Day. Corbett also acquired outfielder Al Oliver in a four-team blockbuster that sent Blyleven to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Rangers slipped to 87-75 in 1978, Hunter was dismissed and Pat Corrales took over as manager. More changes occurred with Harrah being sent to the Cleveland Indians for Buddy Bell, Hargrove going to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Oscar Gamble and the acquisition of relievers Jim Kern and Sparky Lyle. But the Rangers still weren’t quite good enough as the decade ended with an 83-79Therecord.Rangers had made tremendous strides since arriving from Washington, bringing Major League excitement to Arlington. But their first division title remained an elusive dream.
THE 1970s | 9
10 | RANGERS AT 50 Sept. 21, 1971
Longtime baseball fanatic and mayor of Arlington Tom Vandergriff had a dream of Major League Baseball coming to Texas, an idea which first came to fruition prior to the 1962 season when the Houston Colt �45s (later renamed the Astros) and the New York Mets were added to the National League� After sitting through countless sessions of the American League owners’ meetings over the next nine years, Vandergriff saw his dream fully realized The owners approved the Washington Senators’ move to Arlington by a vote of 10-2 and Major League Baseball came to the Metroplex Turnpike Stadium, built in 1965 after Mayor Vandergriff spearheaded a referendum, was renovated in anticipation of the team’s arrival, and renamed Arlington Stadium� Known to some as the “boy wonder” mayor, Tom Vandergriff was first elected in 1951 at the age of 25 He served as mayor for 26 years, during which time his love for the game never waned; he was even a part of the broadcast team for the Rangers’ 1975–77 seasons with Dick Risenhoover� His instrumental efforts were immortalized in the form of a life-sized statue that was dedicated in Vandergriff Plaza at The Ballpark in Arlington in 1997
ABOVE: A jubilant Tom Vandergriff displayed the headline “We’re Big League” following American League approval to move the Washington Senators to Arlington, Texas.
American League owners approve the move of the Washington Senators to Arlington, Texas
RIGHT: The Washington Senators’ final game in the nation’s capital took place on Sept. 30, 1971, against the New York Yankees at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium. Senators’ starter Dick Bosman (#27) allowed five runs in 5.0 innings, but Washington took a 7-5 lead into the ninth inning. That’s when Senators fans, unhappy with owner Bob Short for moving the club to Texas, stormed the field in protest. With order unable to be restored, the game was declared a 9-0 forfeit victory for the Yankees as the expansion Senators’ 11-year tenure came to an end.
FAR LEFT: The Senators were led by 6-foot-7 outfielder Frank Howard, who produced 136 homers and 343 RBIs over a three-year span from 1968–70. But the club never attracted more than a million fans to its home games and even the President of the United States Richard Nixon could not prevent the Senators from announcing their departure from Washington in September 1971.
THE 1970s | 11
LEFT: Ted Williams earned A.L. Manager of the Year honors in 1969 when he guided the club to its only winning record in 11 seasons in Washington (86-76).
ABOVE LEFT: Minneapolis businessman Robert Short purchased the Washington Senators in 1968. He inherited General Manager George Selkirk, left, and manager Jim Lemon, right, but made headlines that winter with the hiring of Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams to lead the club.
131 pitches (87 for strikes) while facing 29 A’s hitters, two over the limit as he walked only the last two batters in the order (Walt Weiss and Mike Gallego) and left them both stranded on base� The final out was Willie Randolph’s foul fly out to rightfielder Ruben Sierra, giving the Rangers a 5-0 victory for Ryan’s 294th career win The Express became the oldest pitcher to hurl a no-hitter at age 43, and the first to fire one with three different teams Ryan’s mental toughness was on full display during the game, and throughout the rest of the season, while he battled through excruciating back pain to finish with a 13-9 record and lead the A�L� in strikeouts (232), WHIP (1�034), and fewest hits (6 0) and most strikeouts (10 2) per nine innings
RIGHT: Ryan was all smiles while posing for photographers on the day after his sixth career no-hitter at the Oakland Coliseum.
Nearly a year after Nolan Ryan had recorded his 5000th strikeout while facing down the Oakland A’s, he would find himself recording another historic moment with the sixth no-hit, no-run game of his career� On a Monday evening the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum was packed with 33,436 spectators who became increasingly supportive of Ryan as the game continued In his 41 starts since signing as a free agent with the club for the 1989 season, the Express had taken a no-hitter into the eighth inning five times, with some close to him saying that his desire for another no-hit no-run game had become almost an obsession for Ryanhim�threw
40 | RANGERS AT 50
June 11, 1990 Nolan Ryan’s sixth no-hitter
GREAT RANGERS | 131 YEAR AGE W L ERA G CG SHO SV IP SO WHIP 2009 21 1 0 1.74 20 0 0 2 31.0 39 0.677 2010 22 4 3 2.73 70 0 0 40 69.1 71 0.880 2011 23 2 3 2.74 64 0 0 32 62.1 54 1.155 2012 24 3 1 3.16 8 1 0 0 42.2 37 1.195 2013 25 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 4.2 4 1.500 2014 26 2 1 1.99 30 0 0 13 31.2 21 0.979 2015 27 1 2 4.58 18 0 0 6 19.2 16 1.678 (2009–15)RANGERS 13 10 2.69 216 1 0 93 261.1 242 1.056 (2009–17;MLB 2021) 21 20 3.55 362 1 0 107 393.1 366 1.139 Neftalí Féliz Position: Pitcher Bats/Throws: Right/Right Born: May 2, 1988 Birthplace: Azua, Dominican Republic Career highlights » Was selected as the AL BBWAA Rookie of the Year and the Texas Rangers Rookie of the Year in 2010 » Was selected to the 2010 AL All-Star Team and ranks 4th on the Rangers’ career list with 93 saves » Established a then Major League rookie record with 40 saves in 2010 » Recorded the final out in the deciding game in the 2010 ALCS vs. New York and 2011 ALCS vs. Detroit YEAR AGE G R H HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG OPS 1989 30 150 80 173 13 92 21 .316 .386 .462 .848 1990 31 157 96 172 11 69 31 .296 .383 .402 .785 1991 32 146 108 201 15 78 36 .341 .408 .474 .882 1992 33 35 19 25 2 8 1 .234 .328 .355 .683 1993 34 144 85 154 14 84 9 .289 .360 .438 .798 (1989–93)RANGERS 632 388 725 55 331 98 .307 .382 .440 .822 MLB 1999;(1982–97;2001–07) 2527 1285 2586 173 1194 281 .298 .365 .417 .782 Julio Franco Position: Second Base Bats/Throws: Right/Right Born: Aug. 23, 1961 Birthplace: San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic Career highlights » Has the 3rd highest career average in club history (300 or more games) at .307 » Led the American League with a .341 batting average in 1991 » Was selected to AL All-Star Team in 1989, 1990 and 1991, earning ASG MVP honors in 1990 » Was selected to AL Silver Slugger Team in 1989, 1990 and 1991 ABOVE: Julio Franco owned a tiger cub while playing for the Rangers. He brought the cub to batting practice at Arlington Stadium for one day.
132 | RANGERS AT 50 YEAR AGE G R H HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG OPS 1989 19 24 6 9 1 7 0 .150 .227 .250 .477 1990 20 25 11 26 4 12 0 .289 .316 .522 .838 1991 21 142 78 144 27 102 4 .264 .321 .479 .800 1992 22 155 77 152 43 109 0 .260 .304 .529 .833 1993 23 140 105 166 46 118 4 .310 .368 .632 1.000 1994 24 107 57 116 19 85 6 .275 .330 .472 .802 1995 25 90 57 104 27 82 0 .295 .324 .594 .917 1996 26 134 89 170 47 144 2 .314 .368 .643 1.011 1997 27 133 87 158 42 131 0 .296 .335 .589 .924 1998 28 154 110 193 45 157 2 .318 .366 .630 .997 1999 29 144 104 183 39 128 3 .326 .378 .601 .980 2002 32 70 38 78 8 35 2 .282 .324 .451 .776 2003 33 82 49 96 24 70 1 .294 .329 .572 .901 (1989–99;RANGERS2002–03) 1400 878 1595 372 1180 24 .293 .342 .565 .907 MLB (1989–05) 1689 1061 1936 434 1404 26 .295 .343 .561 .904 Juan González Position: Outfield-Designated Hitter Bats/Throws: Right/Right Born: Oct. 20, 1969 Birthplace: Vega Baja, Dominican Republic Career highlights » Was elected to the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 » Was the AL BBWAA Most Valuable Player, 1996 and 1998 » Was the Rangers Player of the Year, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998 » Is the Rangers’ all-time leader in home runs (372), RBI (1180) and extra base hits (713) In the books At the 1993 Home Run Derby, González beat out heavy hitter Ken Griffey Jr. at Camden Yards.
