Texas Rangers history: Jose Canseco has homer go off his head

Jose Canseco was expected to be the missing piece for the Texas Rangers as they attempted to get to the postseason. Instead, on this day in 1993, he immortalized himself with one of the greatest bloopers in MLB history.

There was a time when Jose Canseco was the biggest star in the game. The Oakland Athletics slugger combined his impressive ability with his charming good looks, becoming one of the faces of the game. When he became the first player in MLB history to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in the same game, doing so in 1988. It is not a surprise that, when the Texas Rangers traded for him in 1992, they felt they would be getting that piece the needed to become a playoff contending franchise.

Canseco would certainly have a memorable stint with the franchise, but not in the way either would have wanted. There was his infamous stint on the mound on May 29, 1993, where he injured his arm in allowing three runs and five baserunners in his inning of work. However, before that, on this day in 1993, Canseco solidified his place in MLB blooper lore.

It all began innocently enough. Carlos Martinez led off the bottom of the fourth and hit a line drive to right center. Canseco appeared to have a line on the ball, and looked as though he would catch it on the warning track for the first out of the inning. Instead, Canseco completely missed the ball, and it would carom off his head for a home run.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

That run would prove to be decisive in the Indians 7-6 victory over the Rangers. It was also one of the last homers that Martinez would hit in his career, as he had just two more in the majors after bouncing the ball of Canseco’s noggin.

One also has to wonder if that shot to the head caused some sort of damage to more than Canseco’s ego. He has become increasingly more bizarre as time has gone on, appearing on various reality shows and attempting an ill-fated MMA career. His twitter rants have been quite entertaining, warning humanity about robots to just being completely insane. And insulting Alex Rodriguez.

Of course, these days, Canseco is remembered for being the only person to tell the truth about PEDs in baseball. His book, Juiced, did more than anything else to change the game, and put steroid usage in the spotlight. However, Canseco was just looking to make a quick buck instead of having any altruistic sympathies. He is, after all, the person who offered to spend a day with someone and do anything for $1000.

Next: Catching up with Max Pentecost

Jose Canseco has a mixed legacy in the game, but he is nothing but entertaining. The laughs really began on this day in 1993, when the Texas Rangers outfielder had a fly ball go off his head for a home run.