ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 08: A view as the Texas Rangers take on the Los Angeles Angels in the third inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 8, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Despite a rough history, the Texas Rangers have had some great players on their roster. Which of those greats make the franchise Mount Rushmore?
The Texas Rangers had their beginnings back in Washington D.C. As the second incarnation of the Senators, the franchise exhibited the same woeful performance as the original Senators. After spending 11 years in Washington, the franchise moved west, settling into Arlington and becoming the Texas Rangers.
Success did not follow. While the Rangers finished second six times, they did not make the postseason until 1996. Texas had three trips to the postseason in four years, but won only one game. The Rangers then sank back into the basement of the American League West, where they remained for much of the following decade.
Then came the 2010s. Suddenly, the Rangers were a perennial postseason contender, and have reached the playoffs five times this decade. They made their first two World Series appearances, losing the 2011 title in heartbreaking fashion as they were unable to get that final strike. Yet, the Rangers have found a way to keep coming back to the playoffs, hoping to finally bring a title to Arlington.
This past season was an anomaly for the decade. They found themselves in the rare position of being sellers at the trade deadline, sending Yu Darvish to the Dodgers. And yet, the Rangers may not be that far from another postseason run. Perhaps, as Dr. Weird said on Aqua Teen Hunger Force, this time will be different.
Even with those struggles, the Texas Rangers have had several star players on their roster. Which of those players comprise the franchise Mount Rushmore?
A solid player with the Indians, Buddy Bell became a star when he was traded to the Texas Rangers.
Bell had one of his finest seasons in 1979, his first with the Rangers. That year, he had 200 hits and 101 RBI, both career highs. In fact, he would never reach those plateaus again. He won his first Gold Glove award, and finished tenth in the MVP vote. Bell had become one of th ebetter players in the league.
That continued during his time in Texas. He was a four time All Star, and in 1984, won his only Silver Slugger award. Bell won six consecutive Gold Glove awards, taking home the honor in each of his six full seasons in Texas. He had certainly established himself as one of the better third basemen in the game.
Overall, during his time with the Rangers, Bell produced a solid .293/.351/.431 batting line. Although he was not much of a power threat, Bell did hit 197 doubles and 87 homers. He also displayed an excellent batting eye, with 335 walks and only 297 strikeouts in 4032 plate appearances. Bell was a solid hitter, with excellent bat control and ability to make contact.
During the early 1980s, Buddy Bell was one of the top third basemen in the game. his rise to stardom coincided with his acquisition by the Texas Rangers.
Very quietly, Adrian Beltre has put together a Hall of Fame career. The Texas Rangers third baseman is finally getting recognized for his accomplishments.
After seemingly being on the downside of his career, Beltre returned to form on a one year, make good contract with the Red Sox. The Rangers signed him as a free agent that offseason, hoping that his resurrection in Boston was not a fluke. That investment has turned out to be a brilliant move, as he has become one of the better players in franchise history.
During his seven seasons in Arlington, Beltre has been a three time All Star, and a three time Silver Slugger. He has furthered his reputation as one of the best fielding third basemen in the game, winning three Gold Glove awards. His value to the Rangers, and his place amongst the best in the game, has started to be recognized, as he has finished in the top ten four times in the AL MVP vote.
Overall, Beltre has produced a .308/.360/.517 batting line in Arlington, with 216 doubles and 184 homers. He has continued to climb his way up the all time batting charts, notching his 3000th career hit in 2017. If he can stay healthy, and keep producing for another couple of years, he may well reach the 500 homer plateau as well.
Adrian Beltre just keeps on going for the Texas Rangers. Just don’t touch his head when going to celebrate.
Rafael Palmeiro’s time with the Texas Rangers was split nearly in half. In those two time periods, he was essentially two different players.
In his first stint in Texas, Palmeiro was more of a doubles hitter than a power threat. He made a single All Star Game, doing so in 1991, the year he led the American League in doubles. His power increased during that time, as his home runs went from the mid 20s to 37 in 1993, his free agent season.
When Palmeiro returned in 1999, he was much more of a power threat. He hit 40 or more homers three times, and did not hit fewer than 38 home runs in any of his five seasons. Palmeiro made another All Star Game, won the 1999 Silver Slugger, and finished fifth in the MVP vote that year. He also won his final Gold Glove award at first, despite playing only 28 games in the field.
However, his legacy was ruined by his PED usage. After pointing his finger at Congress and adamantly denying that he used ever used steroids, he was suspended for PED usage on August 1, 2005. That suspension ruined his chances at the Hall of Fame, as he fell off the ballot after four seasons. Yet, Palmeiro’s performance, even in the context of the Steroid Era, was solid. During his ten years in Texas, he produced a .290/.378/.519 batting line, hitting 321 homers and 321 doubles.
A solid player, Rafael Palmeiro’s legacy has been tarnished by his PED usage. And yet, in an era when PEDs were rampant, he was still one of the better players in the game.
Rodriguez was a rarity as a catcher, someone that could not only hit with some pop, but also had a bit of speed. He was an eight time All Star and six time Silver Slugger, one of the top offensive catchers in the game.
Yet, he was so much more than a good hitting catcher. Rodriguez was brilliant defensively, with incredible quickness and a strong arm. He won eight Gold Gloves with the Rangers, and his defensive prowess was a part of his selection as the 1999 American League MVP. While that selection was shrouded in controversy, with Pedro Martinez being left off of several ballots, Rodriguez was still a strong candidate for his all around performance.
During his time with the Rangers, Rodriguez posted a solid .304/.341/.488 batting line. He belted 217 homers and 352 doubles in his 13 years in Texas, a solid power showing for a catcher. Rodriguez also had excellent speed, stealing 81 bases, including 25 steals in his MVP season. He was, without a doubt, a different breed of catcher than what we had been used to.
Ivan Rodriguez was a star behind the plate, and possibly the greatest catcher in baseball history. He was certainly the greatest player to suit up for the Texas Rangers.
