RANGERS FUN FACTS
RANGERS “FUN FACTS” are a great way to learn about the team!
*Attendance at Globe Life Park in Arlington for Opening Day 2011 versus the Red Sox was a sellout crowd of 50,146, the eighth largest regular season crowd in the history of the Texas Rangers.
*American League MVP Josh Hamilton won the 2010 A.L. batting title with an average of .359, over 30 points higher than the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera who finished second at .328. Hamilton also hit 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. Hamilton is the first player in the A.L. to not only win the title, but also slam 30-or-more homers since Manny Ramirez (Red Sox) in 2002.
*Hamilton is the third Texas Ranger hitter to win the A.L. batting title. The others are Julio Franco (.341 in 1991) and Michael Young (.331 in 2005).
*Neftali Feliz recorded 40 saves during the 2010 regular season which set an all-time MLB record for saves in a season by a rookie. Kazuhiro Sasaki of the Mariners held the previous record with 37 during the 2000 season. Feliz also struck out 71 batters in 69 1/3 innings and allowed opponents an average of only .176.
*According to MLB, on Opening Day 27.7% of its players in 2011 are foreign-born, representing 14 countries and territories. Of the 846 players on active rosters or disabled lists, 234 are foreign-born, led by 86 Dominican Republic players. Puerto Rico third with 20.
*Six Rangers players were selected to play in the 2010 All-Star Game which set a team record for the most Rangers players representing the team in a single All Star Game. DH Vladimir Guerrero and OF Josh Hamilton received the most votes from fans at their respective positions, and 2B Ian Kinsler, SS Elvis Andrus, and P Neftali Feliz were named reserves. The Rangers traded for pitcher Cliff Lee only five days before the All-Star Game. Lee, who began the 2010 with the Mariners before arriving in Arlington on July 9th, had already been elected an American League All-Star, thus becoming the 6th Rangers representative in the 2010 Midsummer Classic.
*More All-Star facts: SS Elvis Andrus (21 years, 10 months) and P Neftali Feliz (22 years, 2 months) are the 2nd and 3rd youngest Rangers All-Stars ever behind Ivan Rodriguez (20 years, 8 months) in 1992. Andrus is the 5th Rangers shortstop to earn an All-Star team berth joining Toby Harrah (’75-’76), Bert Campaneris (’77), Alex Rodriguez (’01-’03) and Michael Young (’04-’08). The Rangers have had at least two All-Star selections in 7 of the past 8 years.
*The same owner who moved basketball’s Lakers from Minneapolis to Los Angeles is the same man who moved the Washington Senators to Arlington where the team would become known as the Texas Rangers. Bob Short moved the team to Arlington after the 1971 season.
*Former Rangers pitching coach Dick Bosman holds an unusual distinction in team history. He was the starting pitcher for the Washington Senators’ final game on Sept 30, 1971 before the team moved to Arlington and became the Rangers. He also was the starting pitcher for the first Rangers game on April 15, 1972.
*Shortstop Elvis Andrus, a native of Maracay, Venezuela, learned English as a teenager by listening to Rascal Flatts songs and reading the song lyrics on Google.
*Pitcher C.J. Wilson’s Guitar Hero Metallica Madness charitable event raised $12,000 last year, a new record for the event. Proceeds go to his children’s charities as well as the Texas Hemophilia Camp.
*Ian Kinsler became the 4th Ranger in club history to hit for the cycle (HR, triple, double, single in the same game) on April 15, 2009at Globe Life Park in Arlington versus the Orioles. For the game, he totaled 6 hits (including 1 HR, 1 triple, 2 doubles and 2 singles. Only one other Ranger has totaled 6 hits in one game (Alfonso Soriano in a 10-inning game in ’04). Kinsler also scored 5 runs and totaled 13 bases, just one short of the team record set by Jose Canseco in 1994.
In addition to Kinsler (2009), the other Rangers to hit for the cycle include Oddibe McDowell (1985), Mark Teixeira (2004) and Gary Matthews Jr. (2006).
*Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz represented the Dominican Republic is the 2009 World Baseball Classic. But he also had previously represented his country on the Dominican national BASKETBALL team.
*All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton gave up smokeless tobacco at the behest of his 8-year old daughter, Julia, who asked her daddy to give up the habit.
*Rangers catcher Taylor Teagarden earned a bronze medal as a member of USA’s baseball team in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
(TEAM FUN FACTS)
*The Rangers payroll on opening day 2011 was $92.3 million, the thirteen highest payroll in Major League Baseball. The $92.3 million is a significant increase over last year’s Opening Day payroll of $55 million, the 27th highest total in MLB.
*The New York Yankees once again have the highest Opening Day payroll in the major leagues at $201.7 million.
*Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees 3rd baseman, boasts the title of ‘highest paid player’ for the 11th consecutive season. Rodriguez’s 2011 salary is $32 million, almost as much as the entire 27-man roster of the Kansas City Royals ($36.1 million).
*The average salary of 844 Major League Baseball players on rosters and the disabled list for Opening Day 2011 was $3.3 million, an increase of 0.2% from the previous season
*Tom Grieve was selected as the 13th member of the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame. His induction takes place in a pregame ceremony July 24, 2010. Grieve has spent 42 of his 43 seasons in major league baseball as a Ranger. He started his playing career with the Washington Senators, coming to Texas when the team moved to Arlingtonin 1971. He joined the front office in 1980 after his playing career ended in 1979. He served 10 seasons as Rangers general manager, then moved to the broadcast booth where he has served as a game analyst for the past 16 seasons.
*The Rangers spend anywhere from $60 to $95 per bat, depending on whether the player prefers to hit with a wooden bat made of ash (approx $60) or maple (up to $95). The Rangers clubhouse manager can order bats from any of a total of 29 accredited manufacturers. A player may go through two dozen to six dozen bats in just one season (source: Dallas Morning News, 5/27/09).
(BALLPARK FUN FACTS)
*The Rangers finished the 2010 season with an attendance of 2,505,171. That's the most since 2005.
**Josh Hamilton’s 480-foot blast off Astros starter Roy Oswalt in the Rangers’ 10-1 win on June 27, 2010 was the second longest home run in the history of Globe Life Park in Arlington, behind only Jose Canseco’s mammoth 480-foot shot in 1994.
*Grass clippings from the field are used in mulch for the outside landscaping or returned to the field as fertilizer.
*All edible foods left over from prep that are not used for games are sent to Mission Arlington.
*The playing surface consists of Bermuda Tifway 419. The sod was grown on a farm in nearby Granbury, Texas. The sod was laid in 4x100 foot strips on the field in October, 1996. Drainage line are laid every 15 feet over the expanse of the entire field. The playing surface is then covered by 4-to-5 inches of pea gravel, plus 14-to-15 inches of sand mixture. The field’s drainage capacity is 9-to-10 inches of water per hour. The irrigation system allows the entire outfield to be watered from one station at 750 gallons per minute, or 50,000 gallons per hour.
*The tarp, which is used to protect the field during rain delays, is mounted on a hydraulic lift and stored below ground down the left field line, preventing any sight-line problems. Thanks to the below ground storage, there are no obstructed views for fans seated down the left field line.
*The Rangers helped the Miracle League build a new Texas Rangers Miracle League Field in Arlington which provides opportunities for all children to play baseball regardless of their abilities. The stadium includes wheelchair accessible dugouts and a completely flat playing surface which eliminates barriers for wheelchair-bound players. The custom-designed synthetic turf is cushioned to help prevent injuries. The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation helps fund the maintenance and upkeep of the field.
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RANGERS “FUN FACTS” are a great way to learn about the team!
*Attendance at Globe Life Park in Arlington for Opening Day 2011 versus the Red Sox was a sellout crowd of 50,146, the eighth largest regular season crowd in the history of the Texas Rangers.
*American League MVP Josh Hamilton won the 2010 A.L. batting title with an average of .359, over 30 points higher than the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera who finished second at .328. Hamilton also hit 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. Hamilton is the first player in the A.L. to not only win the title, but also slam 30-or-more homers since Manny Ramirez (Red Sox) in 2002.
*Hamilton is the third Texas Ranger hitter to win the A.L. batting title. The others are Julio Franco (.341 in 1991) and Michael Young (.331 in 2005).
*Neftali Feliz recorded 40 saves during the 2010 regular season which set an all-time MLB record for saves in a season by a rookie. Kazuhiro Sasaki of the Mariners held the previous record with 37 during the 2000 season. Feliz also struck out 71 batters in 69 1/3 innings and allowed opponents an average of only .176.
*According to MLB, on Opening Day 27.7% of its players in 2011 are foreign-born, representing 14 countries and territories. Of the 846 players on active rosters or disabled lists, 234 are foreign-born, led by 86 Dominican Republic players. Puerto Rico third with 20.
*Six Rangers players were selected to play in the 2010 All-Star Game which set a team record for the most Rangers players representing the team in a single All Star Game. DH Vladimir Guerrero and OF Josh Hamilton received the most votes from fans at their respective positions, and 2B Ian Kinsler, SS Elvis Andrus, and P Neftali Feliz were named reserves. The Rangers traded for pitcher Cliff Lee only five days before the All-Star Game. Lee, who began the 2010 with the Mariners before arriving in Arlington on July 9th, had already been elected an American League All-Star, thus becoming the 6th Rangers representative in the 2010 Midsummer Classic.
*More All-Star facts: SS Elvis Andrus (21 years, 10 months) and P Neftali Feliz (22 years, 2 months) are the 2nd and 3rd youngest Rangers All-Stars ever behind Ivan Rodriguez (20 years, 8 months) in 1992. Andrus is the 5th Rangers shortstop to earn an All-Star team berth joining Toby Harrah (’75-’76), Bert Campaneris (’77), Alex Rodriguez (’01-’03) and Michael Young (’04-’08). The Rangers have had at least two All-Star selections in 7 of the past 8 years.
*The same owner who moved basketball’s Lakers from Minneapolis to Los Angeles is the same man who moved the Washington Senators to Arlington where the team would become known as the Texas Rangers. Bob Short moved the team to Arlington after the 1971 season.
*Former Rangers pitching coach Dick Bosman holds an unusual distinction in team history. He was the starting pitcher for the Washington Senators’ final game on Sept 30, 1971 before the team moved to Arlington and became the Rangers. He also was the starting pitcher for the first Rangers game on April 15, 1972.
*Shortstop Elvis Andrus, a native of Maracay, Venezuela, learned English as a teenager by listening to Rascal Flatts songs and reading the song lyrics on Google.
*Pitcher C.J. Wilson’s Guitar Hero Metallica Madness charitable event raised $12,000 last year, a new record for the event. Proceeds go to his children’s charities as well as the Texas Hemophilia Camp.
*Ian Kinsler became the 4th Ranger in club history to hit for the cycle (HR, triple, double, single in the same game) on April 15, 2009at Globe Life Park in Arlington versus the Orioles. For the game, he totaled 6 hits (including 1 HR, 1 triple, 2 doubles and 2 singles. Only one other Ranger has totaled 6 hits in one game (Alfonso Soriano in a 10-inning game in ’04). Kinsler also scored 5 runs and totaled 13 bases, just one short of the team record set by Jose Canseco in 1994.
In addition to Kinsler (2009), the other Rangers to hit for the cycle include Oddibe McDowell (1985), Mark Teixeira (2004) and Gary Matthews Jr. (2006).
*Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz represented the Dominican Republic is the 2009 World Baseball Classic. But he also had previously represented his country on the Dominican national BASKETBALL team.
*All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton gave up smokeless tobacco at the behest of his 8-year old daughter, Julia, who asked her daddy to give up the habit.
*Rangers catcher Taylor Teagarden earned a bronze medal as a member of USA’s baseball team in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
(TEAM FUN FACTS)
*The Rangers payroll on opening day 2011 was $92.3 million, the thirteen highest payroll in Major League Baseball. The $92.3 million is a significant increase over last year’s Opening Day payroll of $55 million, the 27th highest total in MLB.
*The New York Yankees once again have the highest Opening Day payroll in the major leagues at $201.7 million.
*Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees 3rd baseman, boasts the title of ‘highest paid player’ for the 11th consecutive season. Rodriguez’s 2011 salary is $32 million, almost as much as the entire 27-man roster of the Kansas City Royals ($36.1 million).
*The average salary of 844 Major League Baseball players on rosters and the disabled list for Opening Day 2011 was $3.3 million, an increase of 0.2% from the previous season
*Tom Grieve was selected as the 13th member of the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame. His induction takes place in a pregame ceremony July 24, 2010. Grieve has spent 42 of his 43 seasons in major league baseball as a Ranger. He started his playing career with the Washington Senators, coming to Texas when the team moved to Arlingtonin 1971. He joined the front office in 1980 after his playing career ended in 1979. He served 10 seasons as Rangers general manager, then moved to the broadcast booth where he has served as a game analyst for the past 16 seasons.
*The Rangers spend anywhere from $60 to $95 per bat, depending on whether the player prefers to hit with a wooden bat made of ash (approx $60) or maple (up to $95). The Rangers clubhouse manager can order bats from any of a total of 29 accredited manufacturers. A player may go through two dozen to six dozen bats in just one season (source: Dallas Morning News, 5/27/09).
(BALLPARK FUN FACTS)
*The Rangers finished the 2010 season with an attendance of 2,505,171. That's the most since 2005.
**Josh Hamilton’s 480-foot blast off Astros starter Roy Oswalt in the Rangers’ 10-1 win on June 27, 2010 was the second longest home run in the history of Globe Life Park in Arlington, behind only Jose Canseco’s mammoth 480-foot shot in 1994.
*Grass clippings from the field are used in mulch for the outside landscaping or returned to the field as fertilizer.
*All edible foods left over from prep that are not used for games are sent to Mission Arlington.
*The playing surface consists of Bermuda Tifway 419. The sod was grown on a farm in nearby Granbury, Texas. The sod was laid in 4x100 foot strips on the field in October, 1996. Drainage line are laid every 15 feet over the expanse of the entire field. The playing surface is then covered by 4-to-5 inches of pea gravel, plus 14-to-15 inches of sand mixture. The field’s drainage capacity is 9-to-10 inches of water per hour. The irrigation system allows the entire outfield to be watered from one station at 750 gallons per minute, or 50,000 gallons per hour.
*The tarp, which is used to protect the field during rain delays, is mounted on a hydraulic lift and stored below ground down the left field line, preventing any sight-line problems. Thanks to the below ground storage, there are no obstructed views for fans seated down the left field line.
*The Rangers helped the Miracle League build a new Texas Rangers Miracle League Field in Arlington which provides opportunities for all children to play baseball regardless of their abilities. The stadium includes wheelchair accessible dugouts and a completely flat playing surface which eliminates barriers for wheelchair-bound players. The custom-designed synthetic turf is cushioned to help prevent injuries. The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation helps fund the maintenance and upkeep of the field.
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