He played in the Rangers’ first three
playoff series. Won a record 13 Gold Gloves as a catcher. Holds the Major
League record with 2,377 games caught, started 12 All-Star Games and won seven
Silver Slugger Awards. In an era where the league average for throwing out
base-runners was 31 percent, eight times he led baseball by gunning down more
than 50 percent.
In 1999, he was the American League Most
Valuable Player. And from the time he arrived in Arlington as a 19-year-old in
1991 he set the standard for Rangers’ catchers past, present and future.
Johnny Bench might have been a better
defensive catcher. Mike Piazza better offensively. But there’s never been a
better Ranger than …
Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez.
My Top 20 all-time Texas Rangers ...
20. Alex Rodriguez - If he
wasn't a 'roided-up a-hole he'd be much higher
19. Jeff Burroughs - '74 AL
MVP
18. Julio Franco - '91 batting champ with .341 average
17. Frank Howard - Hit first homer at Arlington Stadium, then 245 as Ranger
16. Will Clark - Grinding first baseman on Texas' first two division champs
(continued from page 1)
15. Buddy Bell - Best defensive infielder in history of franchise
14. Rusty Greer - Did he
ever catch a fly ball without diving?
13. Nolan Ryan - Seventh
no-hitter and 5,000th strikeout be damned, 51 wins rank only 11th
12. Fergie Jenkins - 90
complete games, 17 shutouts and 25 wins in '74
11. John Wetteland - All-time saves leader
(continued from page 2)
10. Toby Harrah - Original
shortstop is sixth all-time in games played; second in stolen bases
9. Kenny Rogers - Best lefty
pitcher, by a mile over Jon Matlack
8. Jim Sundberg - Third in
games played, six consecutive Gold Gloves at catcher
7. Ruben Sierra - Second in
triples and one of the best OF arms in team history
6. Charlie Hough - Chain-smoking knuckleballer holds every important pitching record
(continued from page 3)
5. Rafael Palmeiro - Steroids or not, he's third in hits and second in franchise homers
4. Josh Hamilton - AL
batting champ and MVP on franchise's first World Series team
3. Michael Young - Franchise
leader in games, at-bats, runs and hits
2. Juan Gonzalez - Texas'
only two-time MVP
1. Pudge Rodriguez - Team's
all-time best defensive player also among Top 10 in every offensive stat and
won MVP in '99
Can't say I disagree with this list other than two minor things. Woulda put Young in front of Juando and according to a previous list woulda put Iverson ahead of ARod. Pound for pound he woulda been better since he was ahead of Russell and Wilt in a previous list.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
The Volume Shooter
aka NTDSLARS
Nolan ment more than Wetteland ever did.
ReplyDeleteBeltre > Bell, Nolan is top 5
ReplyDeletea-fraud wasnt here long enough clsrk will always be known as a giant wetteland as a yankee we need jeff russell pete obrian steve bueshelle jeff frye long time rangers not rent a players and rusty needs to be top 5
ReplyDeleteTomorrow...Barry vs. Emmitt.
ReplyDeleteWednesday...the DH: Yes or No.
90 complete games for Fergie Jenkins. That must have been some weed he was smoking that year.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Witless!
stick w/b-ball, cause you don't know jack about baseball.
ReplyDeleteBuddy Bell could have made this list 5 years ago. Not today. Not even close.
ReplyDelete"20. Alex Rodriguez - If he wasn't a 'roided-up a-hole he'd be much higher"
ReplyDeleteThen your top 5 contains 3 noted juicers.
Bad decision, coach.