Lone Star Ball's 25 Best Rangers Ever and the Future

by philkid3 on Nov 13, 2008 4:46 PM CST

Alright, the last few votes were a little sad, but congratulations to Gaylord Perry on getting 20% of the LSB vote and being named the 25th best Ranger ever.

This list is Lone Star Ball's community opinion of the 25 greatest players in our club's history:

Ivan Rodriguez 1991-2002

Juan Gonzalez 1989-99, 2002-03

Nolan Ryan 1989-93

Rafael Palmeiro 1989-93, 1999-03

Alex Rodriguez 2001-03

Rusty Greer 1994-2002

Michael Young 2000-08

Charlie Hough 1980-90

Kenny Rogers 1989-95, 2000-02, 2004-05

Jim Sundberg 1974-83, 1988-89

Buddy Bell 1979-85, 1989

Ruben Sierra 1986-92, 2000-01, 2003

Fergie Jenkins 1974-75, 1978-81

Toby Harrah 1972-78, 1985-86

Will Clark 1994-98

Kevin Brown 1986-94

Mark Teixeira 2003-07

Julio Franco 1989-93

John Wetteland 1997-2000

Tom Grieve 1972-77

Rick Helling 1994-96, 1997-2001

Bobby Witt 1986-92, 1995-98

Dean Palmer 1989-97

Jeff Russell 1985-92, 1995-96

Gaylord Perry 1975-77, 1980

What stands out? What would you change?

Also, thanks to everyone for contributing. I enjoyed a lot of the process and the research and commentary that came out of it. This was something I was interested in seeing through and thank you to everyone who helped.

Finally, who, if anyone, is going to be at the top of this list some day?

Poll

What current Ranger is most likely to be at the top of this list some day?

Elvis Andrus

1 votes

Blake Beavan

1 votes

Engel Beltre

0 votes

Chris Davis

10 votes

Neftali Feliz

5 votes

Josh Hamilton

45 votes

Derek Holland

6 votes

Eric Hurley

4 votes

Kasey Kiker

7 votes

Ian Kinsler

8 votes

Michael Main

9 votes

Max Ramirez

0 votes

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

1 votes

Justin Smoak

8 votes

Taylor Teagarden

0 votes

Michael Young

1 votes

OTHER (Specify)

0 votes

106 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

o my god. its over!

by Save us on Nov 13, 2008 5:53 PM CST reply actions

Main

I went with Main.

I thought about going with Hamilton but the Rangers have had some amazing hitters. I think it’s virtually impossible for Hamilton to outperform what Pudge and Juan did for us.

I think if we had a dominating pitcher, he’s make the list easier since we hardly ever had one.

Throughout all the player’s careers, I think Main will probably have the best one.

by Coolbean04 on Nov 13, 2008 6:15 PM CST reply actions

+1

I went with Main for the same reason

In reference to how good the Steelers have been in their history: "No one is even close to them."- Steal Home

by MayurP on Nov 13, 2008 6:46 PM CST up reply actions

Agree

It would have to be a pitcher.

But lets be serious – Pudge’s years in Texas aren’t simply the best ever as a Ranger. They’re probably some of the best ever by any player in baseball history when position is considered. He’s going to retire soon among the top 4 or so catchers in baseball history. His Rangers years anchored that.

It’ll be a long time before another Ranger reaches such heights.

by JBImaknee on Nov 13, 2008 7:21 PM CST up reply actions

True

He was simply amazing behind the plate, on the bases, and hitting for power and average to all field. Could hit anything. I think he would’ve had astronomical batting averages and bigger doubles totals if he’d taken a few bad pitches, but I like having that one guy in the lineup that the pitcher has no idea how to get out. There were lots of pitches at his ankles that he hit hard.

613photo

by Black Francis on Nov 13, 2008 9:16 PM CST up reply actions

Me too

For the exact same reasons.

"I would say that our gaping hole isn’t nearly as gaping as the A’s hole [was] or Mariner’s would be." - tyd3311

by LSJ on Nov 13, 2008 10:40 PM CST up reply actions

Pudge

I was just looking at his career stats and I was really surprised that he only walked more than 40 times in a season twice in his career. He had a 41 BB and a 55 BB season and the rest were under 40 BB’s. That’s pretty crazy!

by Coolbean04 on Nov 13, 2008 10:16 PM CST reply actions

Kinsler

I voted for Ham-bone but I thought Kinsler would get more votes. Isn’t he in the running to the best 2nd that we’ve ever had? By the end of his career, if he stays here, I’d think he’d rank ahead of MY, especially if he can shore up the defense.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Nov 14, 2008 12:56 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, Kinsler has a great chance.

Especially if one of the BP guys (Silver?) was right in his prediction that he’ll have a Jeff Kent-like career.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Nov 14, 2008 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

Hamilton

In the end, I think his power will win out over Kinsler and I just don’t see any pitcher able to dominate enough to be better than Hamilton over his Ranger career.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Nov 14, 2008 1:45 PM CST reply actions

I think for the future it's between three players.

I could certainly see one of the top three pitchers having the ceiling to be the best, and I’ll be surprised if one of them doesn’t at least become the become the best Rangers pitcher ever, but they still haven’t even made the Majors.

Davis, Kinsler and Hamilton have, and I could go with any of the three. The thing is, while Hamilton is great, he’s already in his late 20s. Having a career that can top Pudge would be hard. Kinsler, I think, if healthy, is our best player, and hasn’t started at too old an age. But he’s still started pretty late and while he may be our best right now, he may never have a year better than Pudge’s best.

So I went with Davis, who has already shown he can be at least good at the Major League level and is young with a great future and tons of potential. I think he has the best odds right now of having a truly great career and doing it entirely in Texas.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Nov 14, 2008 3:01 PM CST reply actions