9. Cliff Lee
He was only a rental for a half a season and the playoffs but did he ever make an impact? Upset cause he left? Didn't think he was that great in the regular season? He played like a champ and was one of the biggest reasons the Rangers made it to their first World Series While his ERA for the Rangers in the regular season was 3.98, it could have been considerably lower had he not been pitching the day he stepped off the plane. He had 96 strikeouts and 12 walks. His 4-6 record had more to do with the fact that the Rangers offense shutdown when they watched him. In the 15 regular season games he pitched, the offense scored 3 or less runs seven times. Then look at his post season numbers and it looks like me playing Triple Play 2005 on rookie mode. His strikeout to walk ratio was 23.50 to 1. Compared to Colby Lewis who's was 1.85 to 1 and CJ Wilson who's was 1.70 to 1. The closest competition was Cole Hammels with 17 to 1 which would be impressive considering third place was at 9 to 1. Then his ERA was 2.78 which was messed up by a bad game in the World Series at the hands of a smoking hot Giants team. He had over 11 strikeouts per nine innings. His WHIP was 0.81. He pitched and won key games in the Tampa series including the series' fifth game. Then he dominated the Yankees to the point there is a well verified rumor that they threw game six of the ALCS just to avoid game seven against Cliff.
8. Josh Hamilton
This pains me. Josh is now the number 1 baseball enemy of Rangers fans. He says stupid stuff and was very injury prone but for those years here in Texas until the last part of 2012 when he did play he was spectfreakingtavular. In five seasons he had 771 hit, 156 doubles, 142 homers and 506 RBIs. He was an All-Star every season that he played for the Rangers. Who could forget his 2008 homerun derby? He didn't win but set the record of 28 homeruns in a single round. Then there was May 8, 2012. It was probably the last good memory of JHam. He hit four homers in one game against the O's. He also had a magical series against the Yanks in the 2012 ALCS. He hit .350 with 4 homeruns and an OBP of .536 in six games. He was also intentionally walked five times in that series. He might not feel the Texas love anymore but there was a time when he was our favorite athlete in this town.
7. Buddy Bell
He was a solid hitter for the Rangers. He hit .300 or better in two of the full six seasons he played the with the Rangers and hit below .290 only once. He had 200 hits, 42 doubles and 101 RBI in 1979. Of course his offense is not what made him a spectacular player and a four time all-star as a Ranger. It was his defense. He won six Gold Gloves as a Ranger.
6. Fergie Jenkins
When you think Rangers and pitchers of old, you think Nolan Ryan but while Nolan was still an Angel there was a guy named Fergie winning for the Rangers. While he would come back and pitch later for the Rangers, the 1974 season was his best. Combine that with his 1975 season and one could conclude that he was the greatest Rangers pitcher until Nolan and still maybe to this day. In 74, he won 25 games. That makes him only one of three Rangers pitchers to have a 20 win season and still the all-time Rangers' leader in wins for a single season. He is also tied for 6th with 18 in the 1978 season. He is also the Rangers career leader in innings pitched. He had 29 complete games in 1974, 22 in 1975 and 16 in 1978. That puts him 1, 2 and 6 in that category for Rangers all-time. Just off those seasons alone, he has more complete games than Roy Halladay who is the active MLB leader in complete games with 67. Most don't remember this Ranger but that Canadian could throw.
5. Ron Washington
In the seven years that he has been manager, the Rangers have only had two losing seasons. They are currently on a streak of five straight winning seasons and four straight 90 win seasons. He is the Rangers all-time winningest manager. He has led them to back to back World Series in 2010 and 2011. They have played in more than 162 games four straight years. He seems like a down to earth guy. Just show up to work and do your job kind of guy. Plus he is great for Washisms. Sometimes that's how baseball go.
4. Nolan Ryan
His career started before the Rangers were even around. He has become the face of the organization. In the 90s, he was in the twilight of his career. Yet, he threw his 6th and 7th no-no's during this time. He also reached the 5,000 strikeout plateau and won his 300th game. Then he came back in the late 2000s and early 2010s as team president then part owner. During that time the team became winners and ALCS champions. While I believe Wash was more instrumental to this success, Nolan cannot be forgotten and combine that with his playing career and he edges out Wash for now.
3. Adrian Beltre
When you look up baseball stud in the dictionary, you will see this guy. He came to this club in 2011 and has become a leader. The type that teaches the young guys and then shows them on the field. He has hit at least 30 homers in each of his three seasons in Texas. He is currently number 2 on the Rangers' list for all-time batting average. He has hit 98 homers and 98 doubles. He is only one of seven Rangers to have a slugging percentage above .500 all-time. And what about that fielding? He won a Gold Glove in 2011 and 2012 but wait, there's more. Ever heard of a Platinum Glove? Well he has because he has won two of them. Turns out they have only been giving it out for two years now. It is awarded to the best defensive player in each league as voted on by the fans. Then in Game 4 of the 2011 ALDS against Tampa, he smacked three homeruns out of the park. You can put him up there with the likes of Reggie and The Babe and Brooks Robinson. However, never, ever touch his head.
2. Michael Young
He is number one in Rangers history in games played (1823), at bats (7399), runs scored (1085), hits (2230), doubles (415), and triples (55). He is top 10 in homers (177), RBI (984), walks (532) and average (.310). He was not the greatest fielder in Rangers history but could be plugged into any infield position. He accepted roles that he did not choose just for the good of the team. He was with this team when they were no good and was able to know what it was like to finally make it to a World Series, two times. He is a guy who is just a grinder. He had five straight seasons of 200 hits and a total of six. He hit .300 or better in seven seasons. If there is no Ichrio and the Rangers are a better team earlier in his career then Michael Young would be a household name.
1. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez
One the best catchers of all-time. He is top ten in Rangers history for games played (1507), at bats (5754), runs scored (866), hits (1747), doubles (352), triples (28), homeruns (217), RBI (842) and average (.304). He is number because of his great offense and even better defense. He won ten straight Gold Gloves. He was selected to the all-star team ten straight years. He even won the MVP in 1999. At the height of his career, nobody wanted to run against him because they were going to be thrown out at second.
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