Happy birthday to the Rangers first ever MVP, Jeff Burroughs!

Jeff hit .301 with 118 RBIs in 1974. He slugged 25 home runs that year, and would have hit more had it not been for the howling south wind at the old Arlington Stadium turning some of his mighty blasts into harmless fly balls. That wind was a constant source of frustration for the young slugger.

He was the very first Ranger player to hit a grand slam.  (July 26th 1973)

And did you know that Nolan Ryan almost became a Ranger in 1976? The Angels were willing to trade him straight up for Jeff. But the Rangers who backed out of the deal when they learned Ryan had had surgery in the 1975 season. Not major surgery, but simply to remove four bone chips. Wouldn't that have been something!

Happy birthday David Hulse!

David's Major league career was sadly cut short by injuries but before he hung up his cleats he had some highlight moments for Ranger fans to look back on. The speedy outfielder had the very first base hit in the brand new Ballpark in Arlington. He was also involved in a couple of the funniest incidents in Ranger history as seen below...

David has a good chuckle at an infamous Canseco moment

David sprays the Angels dugout with foul balls

Happy birthday Jurickson Profar!

The kid from Curacao with the infectious smile was at one time the number one prospect in all of baseball. The sky was the limit for him. Ranger fans eagerly watched his progress through the minors. He simply could not miss.

Then, like Ruben Mateo before him, he suffered a devastating injury. A torn labrum in his throwing shoulder cost him almost 2 years off the field. He is still working to recover full range of motion to this day.

When he did make it back he was without a regular position to play. He was used in a utility role for a while before eventually being traded to the Athletics.

It's been a struggle to say the least. But hope abounds! He has now been acquired by the Padres and reunited with new Padre manager Jayce Tingler, the former ranger coach who has known him since he was 15 years old. He turns 26 today, and will be given every chance to play second base every day for the Padres. 

He may no longer have superstar potential, but I wish him every success in San Diego.

Jurickson Profar's first Major League At-Bat

What are the odds?

Former Ranger great Jeff Huson played shortstop in 116 games for a total of 765 innings during the 1991 season. That's a lot of opportunity for photographers at the various ballparks to get some good action shots. Somehow one play in one inning of all those games made it onto three different baseball cards by three different card companies for the 1992 season. It's the Rangers likely turning a double play against the A's with Jeff avoiding that lunkhead Jose Canseco sliding into second base. Has anyone seen a similar scenario?

Jeff is now a color commentator for the Colorado Rockies.

Happy birthday to Jerry "The Guv'nor" Browne!

Jerry, one of only ten big league ballplayers from the U.S. Virgin Islands, was the Rangers Rookie of the Year in 1987. More about Jerry!

Aw, spring!

An example of cruel and unusual photo selection!

By almost any measure John Burkett had a very nice Major League career. Over the course of 15 seasons he had a winning record, 166-136. He was an All-Star in 1993 and then again in 2001. He was a solid starter for the Texas Rangers from 1996 to 1999 and won the Rangers very first postseason game against the hated Yankees on October 1st, 1996.

But at some point he must have angered the people at Topps. Because in 1999 they used the picture above for his baseball card. John was pitching in the American league, so the only time he would come to bat would be in an interleague game on the road. He started a grand total of one interleague game away from home in 1998 and had exactly three at-bats. Meanwhile he had started 32 games that year and pitched 195 innings. But they sifted through all the pictures of John that year and came up with this one, taking a swing so ugly it could have been me standing in there!

They done him wrong, I tells ya!

Ruben Mateo turns 42 today

It's always exciting for Ranger fans to follow the development of young ballplayers. And Ruben was one of the hottest can't-miss prospects the team had ever had. He made his big league debut in June 1999. He was leading all rookie players in batting average when his leg was broken badly running to first base on June 2, 2000. He missed the rest of the season and sadly was never the same after that. He's living in Florida now and we all wish him well. Oh, what might have been...

Vladimir Guerrero is 45 today!

For years during the late '90s and early aughts, I kept hearing about this crazy good hitter abusing pitchers in the Great Frozen North. Since he played in the National League, I didn't get to see him much, but his numbers were undeniable. This guy could hit!

When he left France West and landed in Anaheim, Ranger pitchers began to get a taste of what it was like to face him. And boy did he rake!

Then the Angels let him walk and he landed in Arlington for one sweet season. 2010. What a joy he was to watch on a regular basis. Talk about bat-to-ball skills! (see video below)

So, thanks Vladdy for stopping by Arlington on your way to Cooperstown.

Vladimir Guerrero Hitting EVERYTHING Compilation

TEX@LAA: Vlad drives in five on four hits, two home runs

February 8: Happy birthday to recovering Ranger Matt Bush!

Matt dang near ruined his life with booze. Even spent some time behind bars after an incident that nearly killed a man. But he righted his ship and made it all the way to the big leagues thanks to the Rangers giving him a new chance. He's still a Ranger! Signed to a minor league deal and working his way back from Tommy John surgery. I'm pulling for the guy, hope you are too.

Ranger birthday for February 7: Endy Chavez

When anyone says the words 'Game 6', every Ranger fan is cut to the quick. It still hurts. Perhaps it always will. Endy assumed he would stay in the game on defense after pinch hitting in the top of the ninth. But he was called back. And the rest is painful history.
https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2018/07/07/im-not-gonna-forget-that-so-easy-how-sitting-endy-chavez-may-have-cost-rangers-the-2011-world-series/

Born on this day: Former Ranger Great... Richie Zisk!

Last on the list of all-time Rangers, but not last in our hearts, Richie was a Ranger from 1978 to 1980. He batted clean-up, and started in right field at the 1978 All-Star Game at San Diego Stadium in San Diego. For the season, Zisk batted .262 with 22 home runs and 85 RBIs splitting time between left field, right field and designated hitter.
Thrown out by Ted Simmons to end the first inning of ASG, 1978

Today's Ranger birthday: Mark Hamburger!

Mark spent his entire major league career with the Rangers. His debut came late in the year that broke all our hearts. 2011. His first appearance: August 31. His last appearance: September 26. His record: 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA. Mark's major league career was brief. But I remember him.

He wasn't on the post season roster, and in 2012 he failed a drug test for pot and was suspended 50 games. Never made it back to the bigs but kept playing, eventually landing in Australia. of all places. Here's an article about his time there.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-14/mark-hamburger-could-save-australian-baseball/8265580