Jul 30, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; An inductee into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2016, Young is also named to the Rangers / Senators All-Time 25-Man Roster. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Many great players have pulled on the jersey of the Texas Rangers over more than four decades, and for the club’s first decade, the Washington Senators.
The Texas Rangers were formed from a failed attempt by Major League Baseball to forcibly keep a big league team in the Nation’s Capital.
The original Washington Senators had been one of the American League’s eight charter franchises. That club traced its existence back to the 1901 founding of the junior circuit.
Those first Senators relocated to Minnesota in 1961, where they became the current Twins. Wanting to keep baseball in D.C., an expansion club was created by MLB as a replacement.
The new expansion Washington Senators thus began play in that 1961 season. The team would remain there through the 1971 season.
The Senators had a losing record through each of their first eight seasons. With the nearby Baltimore Orioles as a consistent contender, attendance became a serious issue.
In 1969, baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams was brought in as the skipper with no prior managerial experience. “The Splendid Splinter” would guide the club to its only winning campaign. Williams’ 1969 Senators team finished 86-76 in the first year of MLB divisional play.
THE MOVE TO TEXAS
The Senators quickly fell back to their losing ways in 1970. This finally resulted in the ball club relocating out to Arlington, Texas where they became the current Texas Rangers ahead of the 1972 season.
In 1974, Texas rose to second place in the AL West, finishing just five games out. Their 84-76 record was just the second winning campaign in franchise history up to that point.
By 1977 the Rangers had become a major contender for the first time. They won 94 games and again finished in second place, eight games short of an extremely talented Kansas City Royals team.
For most of the next two decades the Rangers would see-saw up and down the standings. Texas would lose as many as 99 games in 1985, then win as many as 87 games the very next year.
FUTURE POTUS HELPS RANGERS BECOME WINNERS
The Rangers were sold in 1989 to a group that included future U.S. President George W. Bush. A minority owner, Bush was nonetheless elected as the team’s Managing General Partner.
The future President became a key player in setting up deals over the next few years which would result in the building of The Ballpark in Arlington. That facility would later be renamed as Globe Life Park.
Bush gave up his position with the team after being elected as the Governor of Texas in 1994, the same year that the Rangers finally moved into their new home.
Emerging from the crippling baseball strike of 1994, the Rangers quickly became a consistent contender in their new home. Texas won 90 games in 1996, capturing the first AL West crown in franchise history.
The Rangers would again capture division championships in both 1998 and 1999. After each of those three first place finishes, Texas was knocked out in the ALDS by the dynastic New York Yankees teams of the late 1990’s.
NEW CENTURY LOSERS BECOME TITLE CONTENDERS
As the 21st century dawned, the club fell back to their losing ways. For eight of the nine seasons between 2000-2008 the Rangers suffered through losing campaigns.
Texas rose in the standings once again in the 2009 season. They have once again become consistent contenders, with seven winning seasons over the last eight.
In 2010, the Rangers reached the World Series for the first time. Texas then returned the following season, capturing back-to-back American League pennants.
In both of these Fall Classic appearances the club appeared on the verge of capturing their first world championship. Both times, fate intervened to deny them the title. Texas remains one of eight clubs to never win a World Series crown.
The Rangers have now captured the AL West title in four of the last seven seasons. Division winners the last two years, they remain a strong contender entering the 2017 season.
PUTTING TOGETHER THE ALL-TIME ROSTER
Many great players have pulled on a Rangers jersey over the last four and a half decades. In fact, players from the Texas years make up the vast majority of this All-Time 25-Man Roster for the franchise. Only two men who ever wore a Senators jersey have made the cut.
More from Call to the Pen
In putting together this feature for other organizations, I have stuck with a formula. I normally name 11 pitchers to the roster, with a breakdown of nine starters and two relievers. The position players have usually broken down as two catchers, six infielders, and six outfielders.
In evaluating the Rangers history, there were just too many great infielders to keep that balance. Frankly, with a handful of notable exceptions, great pitching has rarely been an organizational strength. Only 10 pitchers are named here to the Rangers list: eight starters and two relievers.
There are a full eight infielders named to the roster. The two catchers are still here, and the team has five outfielders named instead of the usual six.
MISSING THE CUT
Even with making these adjustments, a number of strong position players were left off the roster.
My apologies go out to those who have been left off. Included among these are position players such as Julio Franco, Ken McMullen, Nelson Cruz, Mark Teixeira, Mike Hargrove, Bump Wills, Al Oliver, and Will Clark.
Failing to make the cut on the mound were Gaylord Perry, Cole Hamels, Jon Matlack, Jose Guzman, Dick Bosman, John Burkett, and Rick Helling.
Let’s take a look now at who did make the final cut for the Texas Rangers / Washington Senators All-Time 25-Man Roster.
Next: RANGERS / SENATORS ALL-TIME PITCHERS
Jul 26, 2015; Cooperstown, NY, USA; Hall of Famer Ryan waves to the crowd after being introduced during the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies at Clark Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
TEXAS RANGERS / WASHINGTON SENATORS ALL-TIME 25-MAN ROSTER
PITCHING STAFF (10)
Kevin Brown: 3rd pitching WAR, 5th Wins & IP, 9th K’s, 1992 AL All-Star
Yu Darvish: 3rd BAA, 5th ERA, 6th WHIP, 7th K’s, 9th pitching WAR, 3x AL All-Star, 2013 runner-up AL Cy Young
Charlie Hough: 1st Wins, K’s & IP, 2nd pitching WAR, 6th BAA, 13th WHIP, 1986 AL All-Star
Fergie Jenkins: 4th Wins, IP & WHIP, 5th pitching WAR, 6th K’s, 1974 runner-up AL Cy Young, Hall of Fame
Colby Lewis: 5th K’s, 6th Wins & IP, 12th pitching WAR
Kenny Rogers: 1st pitching WAR, 2nd Wins & IP, 3rd K’s, 3x AL All-Star, 4x Gold Glove Award, 1994 Perfect Game (only one in franchise history)
Jeff Russell: 2nd Saves & Games, 18th ERA, 2x AL All-Star
Nolan Ryan: 1st BAA, 2nd WHIP, 4th pitching WAR & K’s, 9th ERA, 13th Wins, 1989 AL All-Star, 1990 & 1991 No-Hitters, Hall of Fame
John Wetteland: 1st Saves, 13th Games, 2x AL All-Star
Bobby Witt: 2nd K’s, 3rd Wins & IP, 6th pitching WAR
Next: RANGERS / SENATORS ALL-TIME INFIELDERS
Sep 29, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Beltre (29) before the game against the Detroit Tigers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
RANGERS / SENATORS ALL-TIME ROSTER
INFIELDERS (8)
Elvis Andrus: 1st Steals, 3rd Triples, 6th Runs & Hits, 8th Doubles, 13th WAR, 2009 runner-up AL Rookie of Year, 2x AL All-Star
Buddy Bell: 3rd WAR, 10th Doubles, 12th Hits, 14th Runs & RBI, 15th Triples, 1984 Silver Slugger, 6x Gold Glove Award, 3x AL All-Star
Adrian Beltre: 3rd AVG, 4th WAR, 6th SLG, 7th OPS & HR, 9th RBI, 11th Runs, 12th Doubles, 13th Hits, 3x AL All-Star, 3x Gold Glove Award, 2x Silver Slugger, 4x Top Ten AL MVP
Toby Harrah: 2nd Walks, 4th Steals, 7th WAR, 8th Hits & RBI, 9th Runs, 12th Triples, 13th Doubles, 3x AL All-Star (played with Senators in 1969 & 1971)
Ian Kinsler: 2nd Steals, 5th Runs, 7th Doubles & Walks, 8th WAR, 9th HR, 10th Hits & RBI, 11th Triples, 3x AL All-Star
Rafael Palmeiro: 2nd WAR, HR, RBI & Runs, 3rd Hits & Doubles, 5th OPS & SLG, 6th OBP, 8th Triples, 2x AL All-Star, 1999 Gold Glove & Silver Slugger
Alex Rodriguez: 1st OPS & SLG, 2nd OBP, 5th AVG, 9th HR, 10th WAR, 3x AL All-Star, 3x Silver Slugger, 2x Gold Glove Award, 2003 AL MVP
Michael Young: 1st in Games/AB/Runs/Hits/2B/3B, 3rd RBI, 5th Walks, 6th HR, 10th AVG, 11th WAR, 13th Steals, 7x AL All-Star, 2008 Gold Glove Award, 2x Top Ten AL MVP
Next: RANGERS / SENATORS ALL-TIME CATCHERS & OUTFIELDERS
May 25, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Hamilton (32) reacts in the dugout prior to a game against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
CATCHERS (2)
Ivan Rodriguez: 1st WAR, 2nd Hits & Doubles, 4th HR, RBI & Runs, 5th Triples, 7th AVG, 11th OPS & SLG, 10x AL All-Star, 10x Gold Glove Award, 6x Silver Slugger, 1999 AL MVP, 3x Top Ten AL MVP
Jim Sundberg: 4th Walks, 5th WAR, 6th Triples, 7th Hits, 9th Doubles, 13th Runs, 2x AL All-Star, 6x Gold Glove Award
OUTFIELDERS (5)
Juan Gonzalez: 1st HR & RBI, 2nd OPS & SLG, 3rd Runs, 4th Hits & Doubles, 6th WAR, 11th Walks, 13th AVG, 1996 & 1998 AL MVP, 4x Top Ten AL MVP, 5x Silver Slugger
Rusty Greer: 4th OBP, 5th Doubles, 6th AVG & Walks, 7th RBI, 8th Runs & Triples, 9th OPS & Hits, 14th SLG, 3rd in 1994 AL Rookie of Year vote
Josh Hamilton: 3rd OPS & SLG, 9th AVG, 12th WAR & RBI, 14th HR & OBP, 15th Runs, 5x AL All-Star, 2010 AL MVP, 3x Top Ten AL MVP, 3x Silver Slugger
Frank Howard: 3rd HR & Walks, 6th RBI, 7th SLG, 8th OPS & OBP, 9th WAR, 10th Runs, 11th Hits, 4x AL All-Star, 3x Top Ten AL MVP, greatest Senators player of all-time
Ruben Sierra: 2nd Triples, 5th Hits, HR & RBI, 6th Doubles, 7th Runs, 12th Steals, 15th WAR & SLG, 3x AL All-Star, runner-up 1989 AL MVP & Silver Slugger, 2x Top Ten AL MVP
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