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Texas Rangers: Another day, another milestone for Adrian Beltre

By Bobby Mueller

SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers hits a double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 15, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers hits a double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 15, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre just keeps climbing in the record books.

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre hit his 475th career home run on Wednesday, tying Stan Musial and Willie Stargell on the all-time list.

On Wednesday afternoon in Texas, Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre launched his 475th career home run, tying him with Stan Musial and Willie Stargell on the all-time list. The three players are now tied for 30th. Next up are Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff, both with 493 career dingers.

Tying Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Willie Stargell in career home runs is an impressive accomplishment for Beltre. Musial is a legend. He’s one of the top 20 players in the history of the game and he’s beloved in St. Louis, where he played his entire career. Stargell, similarly, played his entire career in one place, Pittsburgh, and is a legend in that town. He was a big part of the last two World Series-winning teams in the ‘Burgh.

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Beltre, on the other hand, has played on four different teams. He doesn’t have the distinction that Musial and Stargell have of being one-franchise players. He had his early years with the Dodgers when he was sometimes considered a disappointment. He broke out with a monster season in 2004 that led to a free-agent deal with the Seattle Mariners.

In Seattle, many fans weren’t happy with Beltre’s production after his big 48-HR 2004 season with the Dodgers, but he was better than people realize. The ballpark hurt his offense, but his glove was so good that he averaged 3-4 WAR with the Mariners (depending on whether you favor Fangraphs or Baseball-Reference WAR). Then he went to Boston and had a great year, which led to a free agent deal with the Rangers in 2005. He’s been in Texas ever since and has become a beloved fan favorite.

Now Beltre is in his age-39 season and has 475 career home runs. Because of the recent home run era, 500 career home runs isn’t the magic mark it once was, but there are still fewer players with 500 home runs than with 3000 hits. And there are only six players who have accomplished both: Hank Aaron, Alex Rodriguez, Willie Mays, Albert Pujols, Rafael Palmeiro and Eddie Murray.

Beltre is a long shot to be the seventh. His contract expires at the end of the season and he hasn’t said whether he’ll be back in 2019. Even if he comes back, he would be unlikely to hit 25 home runs in one season when you consider his past two campaigns. He hit 17 dingers in 94 games in 2017 and has 13 big flies in 111 games this season.

Health has been an issue in each of the past two years and at 40 years old next year, Beltre is unlikely to be a guy who plays 150 games. History is also against him. Since 1901, only three 40-year-olds have hit 25 or more homers in a season. David Ortiz launched 38 round-trippers in 2016. Darrell Evans hit 34 in 1987. Dave Winfield hit 26 in 1992. That’s it. That’s the list. All three played at least 150 games as 40-year-olds. Beltre would likely need to play two or three more years to reach 500 home runs.

Being a 3000 H/500 HR guy would be an incredible accomplishment for Beltre, but he doesn’t need it to solidify his career as a Hall of Fame player. That ticket to Cooperstown has been punched. He’s 16th on the all-time list with 3159 career hits. If he plays another season and has another 100 hits, he would pass Cal Ripken, Jr., Nap Lajoie and Eddie Murray. Another 125 hits would put him ahead of Willie Mays for 12th all-time.

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Based on Fangraphs WAR, Beltre is 33rd among position players, which has him within 1 WAR of George Brett and Chipper Jones. In the pantheon of great third basemen, you have Mike Schmidt and Alex Rodriguez on the top tier, with Eddie Mathews the next tier down, then Wade Boggs, Chipper Jones, George Brett and Brooks Robinson. Adrian Beltre fits in perfectly with this group. Even if he doesn’t come back to play next year, Beltre has had an incredible career.

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