Texas Rangers Top Ten: Pudge, Igor and Julio
By Tab Bamford
In the 1990s, the arrival of two Puerto Ricans – Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez and Juan “Igor” González – elevated the Texas Rangers from perennial also-ran into contenders. Their potent bats led to both winning multiple Silver Sluggers as they led the Rangers’ offensive attack. They also demonstrate that the most significant contributions of Latinos on the Texas Rangers have come primarily in the batter’s box versus the mound. Sure the Rangers have enjoyed the stellar fielding of “Pudge” behind the plate, Rafael Palmiero at first base and Adrian Beltré at third base. But it is in the batter’s box where one can most clearly see the powerful impact that Latinos have made on the Rangers franchise.
Which Latino came out on top in the Rangers Top 10? To figure that out, we kept it simple by using WAR (as calculated by Baseball-Reference.com) as our metric of choice in composing our ranking. And while this is one measure of the impact of these players, you might have your own opinion as to who deserves to higher (or lower) on that team’s Top 10
Are there any surprises on the Rangers list? Anyone you believe is missing? Let us know.
Texas Rangers
1. Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez
13 years with Texas, 50.1 WAR, 10-time All-Star, 10 Gold Gloves
Puerto Rico
Now an inducted member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, “Pudge” was the class of his generation behind the plate. He was the youngest player in the majors in his first and second seasons and nobody in their right mind tried to steal a base against him. Offensively, Rodríguez slashed .304/.341/.488 with 217 home runs, 842 RBI and 866 runs scored in 1,507 games with the Rangers during his incredible career.
2. Rafael Palmeiro
10 years with Texas, 44.6 WAR, two-time All-Star, one Gold Glove Award
Cuba
Palmeiro was part of a major seven-player trade between the Cubs and Rangers in December of 1988 that included Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams going to Chicago and the Rangers receiving pitchers Jamie Moyer, Drew Hall and Palmeiro. The Cuban-born and Miami-raised Palmeiro would have two, five-year stints with the Rangers during which time he accumulated 958 runs scored, 1,692 hits, 321 doubles, 321 home runs and 1,039 RBI with an .897 OPS in 1,573 games. Amazingly, he walked (805) more than he struck out (754) over those ten seasons in Texas.
3. Adrian Beltré
Seven-plus years with Texas, 41.5 WAR, three-time All-Star, three Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers
Dominican Republic
Beltré didn’t get to Texas until his age-32 season but he’s still out there eight years later producing on a nightly basis. He recently played in his 1,000th game with the organization and it feels like he’s passing another significant milestone each week. He’s one of the all-time great third basemen and he’s spent more time in a Rangers uniform than any other during his legendary career.
4. Juan González
13 years with Texas, 31.9 WAR, two-time All-Star, two-time American League MVP
Puerto Rico
During the 1990s there weren’t many hitters more feared than “Igor” in the middle of the Rangers’ lineup. He made his debut at 19 and, in his first full season as a 21-year-old, he hit 27 home runs and drove in 102. He led the AL in home runs in 1992 and 1993, earning his first All-Star Game invitation in ’93. He led the league with 50 doubles and 157 RBI in 1998. In exactly 1,400 games with the Rangers, González hit 372 home runs, drove in 1,180 runs and scored 878 times with a .907 OPS.
5. Elvis Andrus
Nine-plus years with Texas, 28.9 WAR, two-time All-Star
Venezuela
Andrus has been a tremendous speed merchant since he made his debut as a 20-year-old in 2009. He is the all-time Rangers leader with 266 stolen bases (and counting) and has scored 755 runs in 1,393 games with Texas. He eclipsed 100 runs scored for the first time in his career last year. Andrus was the runner-up to Oakland’s Andrew Bailey for the 2009 American League Rookie of the Year Award.
6. Michael Young
13 years with Texas, 26.9 WAR, seven-time All-Star, one Gold Glove
USA / Mexico
Young is the Rangers’ all-time leader in plate appearances, hits, doubles, triples, and total bases, among other offensive categories. Selected to seven All-Star teams, Young also won a Gold Glove for his work at short in 2008. What many fans may not realize is that Young is the proud son of a Mexican-American mother and grew up in southern California celebrating baptisms, weddings, and quincerias with his Mexican relatives.
7. Alex Rodriguez
Three years with Texas, 25.5 WAR, three-time All-Star, 2003 AL MVP
US / Dominican Republic
ARod leaving Seattle is one of the more impactful economic moves in major league history, and he certainly put up regular season numbers to warrant the massive contract he received before the 2001 season. Rodriguez led the American League in home runs in all three of his seasons in Arlington and also led the league with 142 RBI in 2002. His three-year production is staggering: .305/.395/.615 with 156 home runs, 395 runs batted in and 382 runs scored in only 485 games played.
8-tie. Julio Franco
Five years with Texas, 20.2 WAR, three-time All-Star, three Silver Sluggers
Dominican Republic
Franco and his contortionist approach at the plate arrived in Texas in 1989 as a 30-year-old and immediately made an impact. He was named an All-Star in each of his first three seasons with the Rangers and led the American League with a .341 average in 1991. Not many remember Franco’s wheels but he stole 88 bases over those first three seasons in Texas. With the Rangers, Franco slashed .307/.382/.440 with 388 runs scored and 98 stolen bases in 632 games.
8-tie. Rubén Sierra
10 years with Texas, 20.2 WAR, three-time All-Star, one Silver Slugger
Puerto Rico
Sierra made his debut as a 20-year-old in 1986 and finished sixth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. The following season he blasted 30 home runs and drove in 109 while leading the league with 643 at bats. Not a regular stolen base threat, Sierra led the league with 14 triples and 119 runs batted in in 1989, the season he first made the All-Star Game. He played for nine teams during his 20-year career, but always somehow wandered back to Texas. He hit 180 home runs and drove in 742 in 1,190 games with the Rangers.
10. Jose Guzman
Six years with Texas, 13.8 WAR
Puerto Rico
Guzman’s best season with the Rangers was 1992 when he posted a 16-11 record and struck out 179 in 224 innings – all career bests. He signed with the Cubs that winter and appeared in 34 more games over the following two seasons.
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