Odd Man Rush

It is with great pride that I present to you Part 1 of the most memorable moments in recent Texas Rangers history.  Compiling this list was a collaborative effort.  

The list represents good and bad moments that happened both on and off the field.  I did not include trades and acquisitions, with one very notable exception.  Perhaps in the near future (or around trade deadline time), we’ll come up with a list of the best and worst trades in Rangers history.  For now, the memorable moments:

20. April 1, 1994: The Ballpark in Arlington opens

In 1991, it was clear that the Rangers needed to move out of Arlington Stadium, an old minor league ballpark.  The new park was modeled after several classic stadiums, but it has met mixed reviews among baseball and sports publications.  In 2006, Sports Illustrated ranked it #5 for Fan Value. However, ESPN.com ranked it #17 overall just three years earlier.  Recent reviews have it at 15th and 25th.  What became quickly apparent to Rangers fans following the opening of the stadium was that it was pretty much the opposite of Arlington Stadium in terms of friendliness to pitchers.  The jet stream continues to be a problem in drawing free agent pitchers to this day.

19. August 3, 2003: Johnny Oates inducted into Rangers Hall of Fame

In my opinion, the hierarchy of Rangers managers goes thusly: Oates, Valentine, and Martin, with an honorable mention for Ted Williams because hey, he’s Ted Williams.  Oates remains the only manager to take the Rangers to the playoffs, and he was unfairly forced to resign in 2001 following unrealistic expectations after Tom Hicks committed $252 million to one player (see #14).  In 2003, following a diagnosis of brain cancer, he rode onto the field as an inaugural inductee to the Rangers Hall of Fame.  He died about a year and a half later.  You can see part of that induction in this video.

18. 2003, 2006, 2008: Rangers heroics at the All Star Game

The National League hasn’t won an All-Star game since 1996, thanks in large part to Texas Rangers players. 

In 2003, the American League trailed 6-4 entering the 8th inning when the NL brought Eric Gagne in to close.  The AL made it a one-run game before Hank Blalock came up and hit the go-ahead two run homer to win the game.  It was the only save Gagne blew that year, and since it wasn’t an official game, his eventual record-setting consecutive saves record was allowed to continue.

In 2006, the American League once again trailed, this time 2-1 entering the ninth.  On this occasion, it was Michael Young’s two-run triple that proved to be the difference.  Young was named the MVP.

Young was the hero again in 2008, driving in the winning run via sacrifice fly.  The RBI came against Brad Lidge, and the game became his only blown save all season as well.  

The 2004 All-Star game wasn’t close, but Alfonso Soriano was named MVP of that game also.

17. May 22, 1997: Mark Holtz’ last game

Mark Holtz and Eric Nadel were without question the best broadcast team the Rangers have ever had.  I contend that Holtz is also the best TV guy to do Rangers games on a regular basis.  His catchphrase, "Hello, win column!", shouted after victories, was uttered one last time during Holtz’ final game on May 22, 1997.  He died three and a half months later.   The phrase is still displayed on the Rangers’ center field scoreboard after wins.

16. June 29, 2005: Kenny Rogers assaults a cameraman

The Rangers and Kenny Rogers have always had an on-again, off-again relationship.  Rogers spent three stints in Texas, leaving on good terms the first two times.  The third time, however, was not such an amicable split.  On June 29, 2005, with the Rangers slumping, but still in second place and on the fringe of contention, Rogers assaulted two cameramen, saying, "I told you to get those cameras out of my face."  One of the gentlemen was sent to the hospital, as were the Rangers postseason hopes after Rogers was suspended for 20 games.

15. June 12, 1997: Arlington hosts the first regular season interleague game

Okay, so the Rangers lost the game.  But it was still the first-ever regular season interleague game, and it happened in our ballpark.  The Rangers have played the most interleague games (212) in the major leagues since its implementation, and have gone 103-109.

14. December 2000: A-Rod signs a $252 million contract

Following a disappointing 2000 season, Tom Hicks was eager to prove that he was willing to spend to put the Rangers back into contention, which resulted in what was at the time the biggest baseball contract ever.  The record is so ridiculous that it has only been passed by A-Rod himself.  The signing should be memorable just for that fact alone, but the ramifications that it had on the team make it even more so.  There was little room for signing other free agents, and the team had to say goodbye to some of their beloved stars, such as Ivan Rodriguez.  Finally, the unrealistic expectations caused by the signing led to the departure of Johnny Oates (see #19).  

13. September 8, 1990: Nolan Ryan takes a Bo Jackson liner to the face

This picture has always epitomized Nolan Ryan for me:

On September 8, 1990, Bo Jackson lined a Nolan Ryan fastball back up the middle and hit Ryan square in the mouth with it.  Nolan calmly picked up the ball and threw the speedy Jackson out, then stayed in the game and retired the side.  And some people call this wussy-boy steroid user named "Rocket" the greatest living pitcher.  What do they know?

12. September 13, 2004: Frank Francisco throws a chair

Kids, let me tell you a story.  Frank Francisco wasn’t always a closer with terrible entrance music.  One day in Oakland, the thug fans behind the bullpen decided to turn their trash talk personal by mentioning then-Ranger Doug Brocail’s stillborn child.  Francisco, a middle reliever at the time, lost his cool and threw a chair into the stands.  He missed almost two years due to a suspension and Tommy John surgery and became the pitcher you now know and love for getting five-out saves.

11. 1996, 1998, 1999: AL West titles

There was something to like about each of the Rangers division-winning teams.  1996 represented the first title ever for the Rangers, and it showed the promise of a team with staying power.  1998 featured another MVP season from Juan Gonzalez, who drove in 101 runs before the All-Star break.  1999 was the best season ever for Texas, who won 95 games.  Unfortunately, these seasons sit at #11 on our list for one reason: playoff ineptitude.