Puneet Varma (Editor)

1974 Texas Rangers season

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General manager(s)
  
Dan O'Brien, Sr.

Manager(s)
  
Billy Martin

Owner(s)
  
Bob Short, Bradford G. Corbett, Amon Carter, Jr., Ray Nasher

Local television
  
WBAP-TV (Dick Risenhoover, Jimmy Piersall, Burt Hawkins)

Local radio
  
WBAP (Dick Risenhoover, Bill Mercer)

The 1974 Texas Rangers season involved the Rangers finishing second in the American League West with a record of 84 wins and 76 losses (two rained-out games were never completed). It would be only the second time in franchise history (to that point) that the club finished over .500 and the first since the club relocated to Arlington, Texas. The club became the first (and, to date, only) team to finish over .500 after two consecutive 100-loss seasons.

Contents

Offseason

  • October 25, 1973: Bill Madlock and Vic Harris were traded by the Rangers to the Chicago Cubs for Ferguson Jenkins.

    • Regular season

    During the season, Ferguson Jenkins won 25 games for the Rangers, which was Jenkins' personal best for a season and remains the Rangers franchise record for wins by a pitcher in one season. He would also be the third pitcher in the history of the American League to win 25 games in the 20th century and not win the Cy Young Award.

    Ten Cent Beer Night

    On June 4, in one of the most remarkably ill-conceived promotions in Major League Baseball history, fans at Cleveland Municipal Stadium for a Cleveland Indians vs. Texas Rangers game were served as many beers as they wanted for just 10¢ each. After numerous instances of drunken fans throwing debris or running onto the field — "streaking" in many instances — the situation boiled over in the 9th inning when a fan ran onto the field and snatched Rangers outfielder Jeff Burroughs' cap and glove. Burroughs' teammates charged out to his aid, followed by hundreds of rioting Cleveland fans who poured out onto the field.

    Notable transactions

  • April 25, 1974: Mike Kekich was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.
  • June 5, 1974: 1974 Major League Baseball Draft
  • Tommy Boggs was drafted by the Rangers in the 1st round (2nd pick).
  • Gary Gray was drafted by the Rangers in the 10th round.

    • Starters by position

    Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Other batters

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Starting pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Other pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Relief pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Awards and honors

  • Jeff Burroughs, AL MVP
  • Mike Hargrove, AL Rookie of the Year
  • Ferguson Jenkins, Comeback Player of The Year
  • Billy Martin, Associated Press AL Manager of the Year

    • All-Stars

    1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

  • Jeff Burroughs, left field, starter
  • Jim Sundberg, reserve

    • Farm system

    LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Spokane, Gastonia

    References

    1974 Texas Rangers season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA