Top Rangers Moments of the Last 20 Years: #10-1
June 19, 2009 Posted by RobertNote: I’m having trouble getting the embedded videos to show up on #9 & #5. Until I can fix this, they will just be links.
Part 1 (#20-11) is here.
10. August 22, 2007: Rangers 30, Orioles 3
The Rangers set a major league record by scoring 30 runs in one game. The performance was so awe-inspiring that Tim Kurkjian had trouble keeping it together in describing it on ESPN. Of course, a game like this invites statistical analysis. You can find some of that here. One of my favorite stats? Wes Littleton earned a save – yes, that’s right – by pitching three shutout innings. Box Score
9. May 26, 1993: Jose Canseco uses his head
I’m afraid that this needs no explanation: Video
8. 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003: MVP Awards for Juan Gonzalez (twice), Ivan Rodriguez, and Alex Rodriguez
The fact that 3 Rangers players won 4 MVP awards in the span of just 8 years speaks to the level on individual accomplishment that players have achieved in Texas. Unfortunately, it also points to the lack of team success that has plagued the franchise. These 3 are now almost certainly tainted names, but they each had career seasons in Arlington.
7. August 22, 1989; June 11, 1990; July 31, 1990; May 1, 1991: Nolan Ryan Milestones in a Rangers uniform: 5000 Ks, No-hitter #6, 300 Ws, No-hitter #7
Nolan Ryan’s plaque in Cooperstown shows him wearing a Rangers hat, and the reason for that is because he was able to accomplish so many statistical feats while in Arlington. He spent more time with both the Angels and the Astros, but most of his iconic pictures show Ryan in a Texas uniform. Only 24 pitchers have achieved the 300 win mark (and some have speculated that it is now an unreachable plateau). With 324 wins, Ryan stands at #14 on the all-time list. The other 2 accomplishments are widely considered to be among baseball’s untouchable records. Notably, Nolan pitched his 7th no-hitter on the same day that Rickey Henderson broke the all-time steals record, overshadowing his feat.
6. May 29, 1993: Jose Canseco pitches
Three days after Jose Canseco let one out off his noggin, he somehow convinced bumbling manager Kevin Kennedy that he needed to pitch in a blowout game against the Red Sox. In 1 inning of work, Canseco threw 33 pitches (only 12 were strikes), walking 3 and giving up 2 hits and 3 earned runs, good for a career ERA of 27.00. In the process, he injured his elbow and was lost for the remainder of the season. He underwent Tommy John surgery, leading to this image which was run in Ranger programs the following year:
5. July 28, 1994: Kenny Rogers throws a perfect game
Kenny Rogers’ perfect game is memorable mostly for two reasons: (1) It’s the only perfect game in team history, and (2) Rusty Greer made an amazing catch in the 9th inning to preserve it. You can see it at about the 1:08 mark here: Video
4. October 1, 1996: The Rangers win a playoff game
The Rangers hold the ignominous honor of being the only MLB team to have never won a playoff series. They have played a total of 10 playoff games, all against the New York Yankees, and they won the first and have lost the last 9. The lone win featured home runs from Juan Gonzalez and Dean Palmer, and John Burkett was the winning pitcher. Unfortunately, the Rangers were unable to turn their early postseason success into anything positive. Box Score
3. July 14, 2008: Josh Hamilton takes over the Home Run Derby
Anybody who has followed baseball the last couple of years knows Josh Hamilton’s story: A young baseball phenom throws away his career to drug addiction, then finds Jesus and hits in batting cages at his local Putt Putt to get his swing back. America fell in love with Josh during the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium in its last year. Hamilton took pitches from one of his old Little League coaches, the 71 year old Clay Council and hit 28 home runs in the first round, beating Bobby Abreu’s record. He didn’t hit one out of the stadium like he wanted to, but he did get to tell ESPN’s Erin Andrews about the dream he had in 2006 where he participated in a home run derby in Yankee Stadium and talked to a blonde reporter about it afterwards.
2. June 20, 1991: Pudge makes his major league debut
One of the greatest catchers to ever play the game had a decent major league debut, if you just look at the box score. Pudge hit a 2 RBI single and struck out. You have to look a little deeper to see just how special it was. The 19 year old Rodriguez, who would become known for striking fear into the hearts of baserunners everywhere, threw out two runners at second. More memorable, though, was the fact that he got married at home plate in Arlington Stadium before the game. What a way to celebrate.1. August 4, 1993: Nolan Ryan beats down Robin Ventura
In 1993, Nolan Ryan was 46 years old and winding down his Hall of Fame career. Robin Ventura was 26 and in his 4th year. When Ventura took exception to the Ryan hitting him on August 4, he charged the mound and learned a lesson about respecting his elders. Nolan, using a move he says he uses on steers at his ranch in South Texas, put Ventura in a headlock and hit him 6 times on the head before being pulled away. Ventura was ejected, while Ryan was allowed to stay in the game. Video
