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!