The Texas Rangers have announced that Josh Hamilton will be the next former player to be inducted into their franchise Hall of Fame.

It was a long road for Hamilton, a former number one Draft Pick whose career was derailed by a severe drug addiction and after leaving baseball for three years he made a comeback in 2005 he would make his MLB debut in 2007 with the Cincinnati Reds at age 26 and after a good rookie campaign he was traded to the Texas Rangers where he would spend the next five seasons, all of which would see him earn All-Star honors.  Hamilton was a vital component of Texas’ back-to-back American League Pennants in 2010 and 2011, and in the former year he would win the MVP while also winning the Batting Title.  Hamilton would sign with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2013 but returned for one more season in Texas for 2015, which would be his final year in the Majors.

Hamilton’s overall numbers with the Rangers would see him collect 814 Hits with 150 Home Runs, 531 Runs Batted In and a .302 Batting Average

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Josh Hamilton for earning this honor.

Bringing a strong power game to all four of the Major League teams he played for (Texas, Atlanta, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees) Mark Teixeira would go deep 409 times in his career including winning the Home Run Title in 2009 (39) with eight other seasons of 30 or more.  A three-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger, Teixeira also showed off good defensive skill at First Base as he was a five-time Gold Glove winner.  It should also be noted just how strong his 2009 season was where he helped his Yankees win the World Series and was the American League runner-up for the MVP.

Let's get all the derogatory stuff out of the way…and we know there is a lot.

While we talked about PED use a lot with Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, et all., they were baseball superstars who took enhancements (allegedly) when the players' union and Major League Baseball had not yet agreed that they were banned substance.  That is important to note, as Alex Rodriguez was caught when there were penalties in place, leaving no doubt that he cheated and was suspended from the game for the entire 2014 season. 

There is more, of course.

The Yankees famously tried everything to get out of the lavish contract they signed him to. A-Rod folded in many postseasons and clutch situations. He was also not known to be the most cohesive figure in the clubhouse.

That is a lot of negative, and yet…

Alex Rodriguez is still one of the best players that ever played the game.

Touted as a superstar, Alex Rodriguez was the first overall choice of the 1993 Draft. In the year he turned 20, he won the American League Batting Title with a 36-homer season and an OPS of 1.045. A-Rod was the cornerstone of a young, dynamic Seattle Mariners team that was a strong World Series contender in the late '90s. He was considered the best offensive infielder in baseball and one of the game's most complete players. 

When he achieved free agency, Rodriguez signed what was at the time by far the richest contract in baseball history with the Texas Rangers. While he couldn't make Texas a contender, Rodrigues did not disappoint, winning three straight Home Run titles and his first MVP (2003). Texas, however, could no longer afford him, and after a deal was voided to Boston, A-Rod moved to New York, where the most controversial yet productive period began.

While many remember the bad times with New York, it should never be forgotten that this was where he won two more MVP Awards, two more Home Run Titles, and three more Slugging Titles.  He went yard 351 times as a New York Yankee alone!  As mentioned, his postseason performance (.259/.365/.457 over 330 Plate Appearances) is well below his regular season numbers. His 2009 postseason was excellent and a part of why the Yankees won the 2009 World Series.  If he does get into the Hall of Fame, shouldn't it be as a New York Yankee?

Love him or hate him, we are talking about a player who is a statistical juggernaut.  He has a career bWAR over 117, is a member of the 3,000 Hit Club and smashed 696 Home Runs.  His career Slash Line of .295/.380/.550 is also excellent considering the longevity of his career.  These digits are impossible to ignore, no matter what lens you use.

For the record, if we here at Notinhalloffame.com had a Baseball Hall of Fame vote, we would vote for him (we think).  Maybe we would not.

The issue that we deal with in regards to Rodriguez is that his PED use took place AFTER the MLBPA agreed to the parameters of what would happen if you used them. Not only that, he was suspended twice. A-Rod might be welcomed back into the fold as a broadcaster, but the voters are rejecting him, and we understand why.

Regular visitors to Notinhalloffame.com know that we are methodically working on the Top 50 players for every franchise.  The step afterwards will be a look at how each of those organizations honor their past players/executives/coaches in their respective Halls of Fame/Rings of Honor and/or Retired Numbers. 

As such, it is of news to us that the Texas Rangers will be retiring the number of former Catcher, and now Hall of Famer, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez.  This announcement follows Rodriguez’ selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Rangers have retired three numbers in the past, the #26 of former Manager, Johnny Oates, the #34 of Pitcher, Nolan Ryan and the mandatory retired #42 of Jackie Robinson.  I-Rod’s #9 will make the fourth.

Rodriguez, who will be wearing the Texas Rangers cap on his plaque for the Hall, was selected on his first year of eligibility.  Rodriguez played 1,507 of his 2,543 Games for Texas and was a ten time All Star while playing for the Rangers.  He was named the American League MVP in 1999 and he won 10 Gold Gloves and 6 Silver Sluggers as a Texas Ranger.

His overall numbers as a Texas Ranger include 1,747 Hits, 217 Home Runs, a .304 Batting Average with a bWAR of 49.9.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Ivan Rodriguez for his latest accomplishment.

The Texas Rangers have announced that former infielder, Michael Young, will become the next inductee into their franchise Hall of Fame.

Young was a Texas Ranger from 2000 to 2013 and has the team record in At Bats, Runs Scored, Hits, Total Bases, Doubles and triples and is a seven time All Star.  Young would twice lead the American League in Hits (2005 & 2011) and won the Batting Title in ’05.  He is also a five time Texas Rangers Player of the Year.

His overall statistics as a Texas Rangers includes a Slash Line of .301/.347/.444 with 2,230 Hits and 177 Home Runs.  He finished eighth in MVP voting twice.

Young becomes the 20th player to make the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and he is ranked eleventh in our all-time Texas Rangers list.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Michael Young for earning this prestigious honor.

Shall we continue

We think so too!

The next North American franchise, that we will look at in regards to the Top 50 of All-Time are the Texas Rangers.  The Rangers have yet to win the World Series but they have been very competitive as of late and are a solid contender to win the big one in upcoming years.

You can click here to get the entire list here but here is a sneak preview of the top five:

1.  Ivan Rodriguez

2.  Rafael Palmeiro

3.  Juan Gonzalez

4.  Buddy Bell

5.  Jim Sundberg


Up next are the Green Bay Packers, one of the most celebrated sports teams of any discipline.



Look for that soon and as always we thank you for your support!

John Wetteland was a Texas Ranger for the last four seasons of his career where he would make two All-Star Games and collect 150 Saves.  He would finish 6th in Cy Young balloting in 1999 and is currently the all-time saves leader for the team.  Wetteland entered the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2005.

Having the best seasons of his career as a member of the Washington Senators, Dick Bosman would lead the American League in Earned Run Average in 1969 and would also lead the AL in the now sabremetric stat of ERA+.  While Bosman would have a losing record in Washington his sabremetrics were still strong.

A ten year veteran with the then Washington Senators, Ed Brinkman proved to be a decent Shortstop in the American League.  Brinkman would have better individual seasons elsewhere, but his greatest tenure was with the Senators where he would flash his defensive prowess by leading the American League in Defensive bWAR twice.

Spending the first half of his career with the Texas Rangers Francisco Cordero proved to be one of the best Relief Pitchers in MLB.  The seven-year MLB veteran would become an All-Star in 2004 when he accumulated 49 Saves.

Twice an All-Star with the Rangers, Nelson Cruz had five seasons where he belted 20 Home Runs.  Cruz would be named the American League Championship Series MVP in 2011, and over his Rangers career, he had 773 Hits with 157 Home Runs.

Spending his first seven seasons in MLB with the Texas Rangers, C.J. Wilson’s best year with Texas was his final one.  That year he made his first Al- Star Game and finished 6th in Cy Young voting.  Wilson was used primarily as a reliever (and did well with 52 Saves) but his conversion to the starting rotation has proven to be his calling.

Bert Blyleven, the Hall of Fame Pitcher, suited up for the Texas Rangers for two seasons in the 1970’s whereby he only had a 23 and 23 record, but he showed incredible control by winning the WHIP Title in 1977.  Those two seasons in Texas two of the best he ever had in that category.  He would also boast an ERA under 3.00 both seasons.

Somewhat of an unlikely former MVP, Jeff Burroughs was named the American League Most Valuable Player in 1974 where he led the AL in RBIs and finished third in both On Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage.  Burroughs had good pop with the bat, smacking 108 Home Runs as a Ranger.  Had his defense just been average (he never had a full season with a positive Defensive bWAR), his ranking would have been significantly higher.

Jon Matlack was a three-time All-Star with the New York Mets but was still an effective Starting Pitcher when he arrived in Texas.  Matlack would alternate between starting and the bullpen in the last few years of his career, and posted a 43-45 Record with 493 Strikeouts as.a Ranger.

Spending all but his final season with the Rangers, Hank Blalock was a two-time All-Star and had three consecutive seasons with over 170 Hits.  Blalock would showcase some decent power with 152 Home Runs and was a popular player with the fans.

A two-time All-Star with the Texas Rangers, Jeff Russell would lead the AL in Saves in the 1989 season and the Relief Pitcher would accumulate 134 Saves for the team.  Russell would be rewarded with the American League Rolaids Relief Award for his ’89 campaign.   The Rangers inducted Russell into their Hall of Fame in 2015.

A Starting Pitcher for the Rangers for most of his career, Jose Guzman won 66 Games and fanned 715 batters for the team.  Guzman would finish in the top ten in Strikeouts per Nine Innings three times with Texas.

Rick Heiing began his career with the Texas Rangers, mostly in the bullpen, and was largely forgotten after being traded to Florida.  A year later, he was traded back, and it would be far more memorable.

In his second stint with Texas, Heiling would enjoy a season (1998) where he would win 20 games and lead the American League in that category.  Heiling would however give up a lot of Home Runs, but overall was a winning pitcher for Texas with a 68 and 51 record.  Coincidentally, he was with the Marlins again in 2003 when they won the World Series.

The Hall of Fame spitball Pitcher, Gaylord Perry, spent three-and-half-seasons with the Texas Rangers over two tours, the first seeing a run as the club’s ace in the mid-70’s.  Perry had a 48 and 43 record with a 3.26 ERA in Texas and finished in the top five in FIP each year.  Perry was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.