Rangers | narcissism

Opening Day Roster:

1977 was a good year for the Rangers. For just the third time in franchise history they finished above .500, and they did so in fine fashion - only 4 years removed from losing 105 games, they finished 94-68, best in team history, and good for second place, 8 games behind Kansas City. They did so partly on the strength of their potent offense, but also on the arms of two future hall of fame starters, Gaylord Perry and Bert Blyleven, who won 29 games between the two of them, and bullpen closer Adrian Devine, who had a record in relief of 11-6 to go along with 15 saves.

After the season, though, Perry was traded to San Diego for Dave Tomlin, who never pitched a game with Texas, and Blyleven and Devine were traded away in a massive 4-team swap that netted the Rangers Jon Matlack from the Mets and Al Oliver from the Pirates. Other wheeling and dealing on the part of owner Brad Corbett got the Rangers Richie Zisk from the White Sox, Bobby Bonds from California and Fergie Jenkins from Boston.

The result was that Texas entered 1978 as a favorite, in some corners, to dethrone Kansas City in the division and possibly go even farther. They were expected to be an offensive powerhouse, with enough good pitching and improved defense to potentially bring Texas its first championship in its 18 year history. In the end, the Rangers turned out to be the most dissappointing team in baseball. An 8-game losing streak in April and an almost total offensive collapse doomed them to a season of playing catch-up. Though they got a quick hold of first place on June 25, they took a nosedive after the break and never recovered. They finished 87-75, in a second place tie with the Angels, 5 games behind the Royals. In any previous year this would have been great - in 1978 it was terrible and led to house-cleaning in the fall.

In their minor league system, Gene Nelson, future relief specialist for Tony LaRussa's A's teams of the late 1980s, was in the Gulf Coast rookie league, and future Yankee Dave Righetti was at AA Tulsa.

Billy Hunter, in his first full season as skipper, was let go with one game left in the season, ostensibly because Corbett had heard players grumbling about his "rules" - the reality is he was let go because he simply couldn't be kept after such a disappointing year. He was replaced on an interim basis by his third base coach, Pat Corrales, who wound up inheriting the job full time for 1979. Billy's other coaches included Fred Koenig at first, Jimmie Schaffer in the bullpen, Connie Ryan with the hitters and Sid Hudson with the pitchers.

Doyle Alexander, SP:

In his 19-year career, Doyle pitched for 8 teams. 1978 found him in his second year with the Rangers. In 28 starts, he went 9-10 with a 3.86 era. On April 26, he tossed a 6-hit complete game shutout against the Indians. But two complete game losses - 2-1 to the Royals and 1-0 to the A's - were more typical of the sort of year in was in Texas.

Jon Matlack, SP:

Acquired from the Mets as part of a huge 4-team deal late in spring training, Jon paid dividends in 1978. He had a record of 15-13, led the team with a 2.27 era and 18 complete games (including a 2-hit shutout against the Angels on June 24), and tied for the team lead with 157 strikeouts. He pitched for the Rangers for another 5 years, but never was this good again. He gave the team a scare in spring training when he developed shoulder pain during an exhibition game. However, x-rays were negative, and after resting 3 days, he was fine.

Steve Comer, RP:

Steve made his major league debut on April 15 in Fenway Park. Through mid-July, he was used exclusively in relief, compiling a stellar 0.90 ERA over 30 innings pitched. He joined the rotation on July 17, and pitched almost solely as a starter the rest of the year. As a starter he went 8-3, including two complete game shutout victories. After Jenkins and Matlack, he wound up being the most reliable starter during the second half.

Rogelio Moret, RP:

Roger got into a single game before being put on the DL on April 13. He went into what was termed a "catatonic" state in the Ranger clubhouse, and was place under psychiatric care. He returned on May 27, to a standing ovation in Arlington, and got into 6 games in relief, along with 2 starts. He was then granted a leave of absence to be with is pregnant wife in Puerto Rico. While in Puerto Rico he was placed in a psychiatric hospital after suffering another incident. He was placed on the DL on June 22, and never returned to action. His final major league appearance was on June 16 against the Blue Jays - he started and took the loss.

Len Barker, CL:

A highly-prized young hurler, Len entered the season as the designated closer, and Hunter was heard to predict he'd win the AL Fireman of the Year Award. It was not to be. Len got off to an erratic start, and yielded the closer's role to Reggie Cleveland in May. From May 27 through June 22, he was demoted to Tucson to get in as much work as possible. Once he returned, he was just another arm in the pen for the rest of the year. He'd eventually find brief success in Cleveland, including a perfect game to his credit in 1981.

Jim Sundberg, C:

Already conisdered by many the premiere defensive catcher in the game, in 1978 Jim added offense to his repetoire. While the rest of the team was slumping, he authored a team record 22-game hitting streak in April and May which saw his average jump from .250 to .344. He finished the year at .278 with 6 HR and 58 RBI, was named to the AL All Star squad, and won a gold glove. When criticism descended on Corbett and Hunter later in the year, he consistently maintained the fault lay with he and his teammates for not performing.

Dock Ellis, SP:

After splitting 1977 between 3 team (Yankees, A's, Rangers), Dock settled into a full year with the Rangers in 1978, before splitting 1979 between Texas and the Mets. He made 22 starts, going 9-7 with a 4.20 ERA. In early June, he had a melt-down over Billy Hunter's rules about players' use of alcohol when traveling. Hunter had to shout the length of the team bus for him to "sit down and shut up". In one of his florid quotes about his skipper, Dock said he was Hitler, but that he wasn't going to make a lampshade out of him [Ellis]. Hunter for his part said he liked Dock, and that he helped keep the team loose.

George Medich, SP:

After pitching for 3 teams during 1977 (Oakland, Seattle and the Mets), George was acquired by the Rangers as a free agent for 1978, and stayed with the team through 1982. He started the year in the rotation, but faltered early and was sent to the pen in late April. He rejoined the rotation in June, and pitched well enough as a starter the rest of the year. He went 9-8 with a 3.74 ERA and 2 saves. He tossed a 2-hit complete game shutout over the Red Sox on July 26.

Fergie Jenkins, RP:

One of the most underappreciated pitchers of his era, HOFer Jenkins won 20 or more games in 6 consecutive seasons for the Cubs from 1967-1972. He was acquired by Texas from Boston for a minor leaguer in December of 1977. Hunter initially used him out of the pen but, when Paul Lindblad came off the DL in late April and gave the team 10 pitchers, Fergie moved into the rotation to stay. It was a wise move. As a starter, Jenkins led the team with 18 wins and tied for the lead with 157 strikeouts. He authored 3 complete game shutout wins.

Jim Umbarger, RP:

Jim was plugged into the rotation in late April when George Medich was relegated to bullpen duty. On May 6 he threw a complete game win in Yankee Stadium, but otherwise was only marginally effective. He was returned relief duty in June, and finished with a 5-8 record, a 4.88 era and a single save. His final major league appearance came on September 28 - he earned the win in relief in Seattle.

John Ellis, C:

Backing up Jim Sundberg was an exercise in waiting. Through the first 2 months of the season, John got into exactly 2 games. He saw more action in June and July, less in August and was used fairly regularly in September. In 34 total games, he hit .245 with 3 HR and 17 RBI.

Sandy Alomar, IF:

In the final year of his 15-year career in 1978, the former Angels star was used by Texas as a reserve infielder. He was on the DL from April 24 through June 13, and again from July 13 through September 8. His final major league appearance came on September 30 in Seattle - he started at 1st, went 1-for-3, and scored what would wind up being the winning run.

Kurt Bevacqua, IF:

In his 7th year, and with his 5th team, Kurt was used as an infield reserve and occasional DH until Toby Harrah was moved from third to short later in the year. From mid-July onward, Kurt was basically the starting third baseman, although Hunter did audition Lowenstein, Mason and Alomar there as well. He and Juan Beniquez came to blows and had to be pulled apart in the clubhouse in early August in what probably had something to do with tensions mounting over the disappointing season.

Mike Hargrove, IF:

In 1978, Mike was in his 5th year as the Rangers' starting first baseman and was one of the most popular players wth the fans. The 1974 Rookie of the Year saw his average dip from .305 to .251, and his power numbers declined as well. In late June, he explained to the press that no on had given up - he and his teammates were trying their hardest. On September 16, he suffered a severe ankle sprain avoiding a Matt Keough pick-off attempt at first, and had to be helped from the field. He only played in one more game as a Ranger, and was traded to Cleveland shortly after the season ended as Corbett tried to shed some salary.

Mike Jorgensen, IF:

Signed as a free agent in January, the former Gold Glove winner was used as Mike Hargrove's backup at first, more often than not appearing as a defensive replacement later in games. A ten-year veteran at the time, Mike's glove won him another 7 seasons in the big leagues.

Bert Campaneris, IF:

Campy was dogged, like many of his teammates, by a dismal batting average in 1978 - on June 30, he was hitting .188. He raised this to .220 by July 15, but by the end of July it was back on the south side of .200. For this reason, he lost the starting shortstop job to Toby Harrah. He rode the bench as a reserve the rest of the year, and vowed he wouldn't put up with such treatment again ("one bad year, and they sit me"). He was traded to the Angels for Dave Chalk in May of 1979. He was on the DL from May 19 through June 6.

Toby Harrah, IF:

Toby spent much of the season at his familiar position - third base. In late July, he missed 6 games with a wrist injury, and when he came back Hunter moved him to short. Though he was hitting barely .210, his power numbers were still decent and Hunter wanted to keep him in the line-up. Campaneris' offensive woes gave him the opportunity to sit Bert and shift Toby. It also gave him the ability to get different bats, particularly Bevacqua's, into the order on a regular basis. Harrah wound up hitting .229 with 12 HR and 59 RBI.

Jim Mason, IF:

Jim and Toby Harrah were the only two 1978 Rangers to have played for the team while they were still the Washington Senators. Jim left the club to play with the Yankees and Blue Jays for a few years, but returned mid-way through 1977. He was used primarily as an infield reserve at short in 1978.

Bump Wills, IF:

Maury's boy was in his second season as the Rangers' second baseman in 1978. He entered the season coming off a hot rookie campaign vowing to steal 40 bases and to cut down on strikeouts. He wound up leading the team with 52 steals (4th best in baseball), and managed to reduce his Ks from 96 to 91 (second on the team to Bobby Bonds). He was briefly platooned at second with Kurt Bevacqua in July because of his sagging average, much to his dismay (how, he wondered, could he play my way out of this slump if he wasn't allowed to play regularly?). He ended the year hitting .250 with 9 HR and 57 RBI, and was one of the top fielding second basemen in the game.

John Lowenstein, OF:

John was the Rangers' super sub in 1978. Although carried nominally as an outfielder, he saw more action at DH and at third base, where he started a number of times for Toby Harrah in May and then again a number of times in August and September after Toby was moved to short.

Bobby Thompson, OF:

Bobby made his major league debut on April 16, going 1-3 as the Ranger center fielder at Fenway. He was used as an outfield reserve throughout the season, and was the every-day center fielder when Beniquez was on the DL in June and July. He was on the DL from July 26 through September 1. His final major league appearance came on September 25 against the Twins as a defensive replacement for Beniquez in center. In his only major league season, Bobby hit .225 with 2 HR, 12 RBI and 7 stolen bases.

Richie Zisk, OF:

Zisk came into 1978 as the premiere acquistion of the Rangers' off-season - Corbett had signed him for 2.8 million over 10 years. He began as the DH, and moved to right when Washington was taken out of the line-up. He played in left while Al Oliver was on the DL, and DH'd a lot in August and September. In all, he started 40+ games each in right, left and at DH. He hit 22 HR, drove in 85 runs and batted .262, and was selected as the American League's starting right fielder for the All Star Game in San Diego. He was on the DL with a wrist injury from July 21 through August 1. His career never really took off the way it might have due to injuries and he played his last games in 1983 for the Mariners.

In-Season Moves:

Bob Babcock, RP:

Bob was hurriedly called up from Tucson when the Rangers were forced to place Roger Moret on the DL on April 13. He was sent back down without having seen any action when the team signed Reggie Cleveland on April 18. He'd spend the rest of '78 at Tucson, and would make his major league debut in 1979.

Paul Lindblad, RP:

Paul started the year on the DL, and was activated on April 23. In 39.2 innings of relief work, the lefty earned 2 saves and a record of 1-1 before being sold to the Yankees on August 1.

Nelson Norman, IF:

Nelson was summoned from Tucson when Bert Campaneris went on the DL on May 19. He made his major league debut on May 20 at Seattle, and got into another 9 games before being shipped back to Tucson when Campaneris returned on June 6. He was recalled in September when rosters expanded.

Gary Gray, IF:

Gary was brought up from Tucson when Richie Zisk went to the DL on July 21. He got into 17 games the rest of the way, including 11 starts as DH, and hit 2 HR with 6 RBI. On August 6, he hit a walk-off 2-run pinch-HR in the bottom of the 9th, giving Texas a 3-2 win over the Indians.

Johnny Grubb, OF:

The veteran Grubb was acquired in a trade with the Indians for a couple minor leaguers on August 31. He was added to the roster the next day. During September, he was used as an outfield reserve and DH.

LaRue Washington, IF:

Another September call-up, LaRue made his major league debut on the 7th as a pinch-runner in California. He had hit .300 at Tucson.

Juan Beniquez, OF:

Juan was in his third year as the Rangers' starting center fielder, and was coming off a Gold Glove-winning campaign. On June 12, he was hit in the hand by a Doug Bird pitch and suffered a broken bone. He was on the DL from June 13 through July 13, On the year, he contributed 11 HR, 50 RBI and 10 stolen bases. He hit .260 which was among the highest on the team.

Al Oliver, OF:

Al arrived in Texas from the Pirates just before the season began as part of that 4-team deal. He was a rare bright spot on the roster all year long - he hit .325, far and away the best on the team (Sundberg was #2 with .278), with 14 HR and 89 RBI. On June 14, he fell to the ground after swinging at a pitch and suffering pulled muscles under his rib cage. This forced him to go on the DL for the first time in his career - he was out from June 18 (retro to the 14th) through July 13. When he arrived in Texas, veteran Dave May was wearing his traditional #16, and since Oliver didn't feel right asking for it, he opted for "0", which he said was really meant to be an "O" to stand for Oliver.

Claudell Washington, OF:

The Rangers' starting left fielder from 1977 showed up late to camp after severely spraining his ankle in a pick-up basketball game in January. He started in right field the first week of the season, but was benched because of his poor hitting (he was hitting .235 at the time - later in the year, that would have been considered good). He played rarely into the beginning of May and on the 16th was traded to the White Sox for Bobby Bonds.

The Rangers and Angels rumble in Anaheim on July 2, 1978, after Bert Campaneris threw a ball at Angel pitcher Ken Brett who had fallen on top of him in a play at the plate.

Reggie Cleveland, CL:

Reggie was purchased from the Red Sox on April 18, and by early May had succeeded Len Barker as the team's closer. In retrospect, the acquisition of Cleveland may have been the most important addition the Rangers made, as he brought both stability and success to the pen. In 75.2 innings, he finished 41 games, saved 12, struck out 46 and compiled a 5-7 record.

Bobby Bonds, OF:

Bobby was acquired in a trade with the White Sox for Claudell Washington on May 16. As the starting right fielder for the rest of the season, he led the team with 29 HR and had 82 RBI, 32 stolen bases and a .265 average. After Johnny Grubb was obtained from Cleveland there was a lot of speculation that the Tribe and Texas weren't done dealing, and that Bonds could wind up in Cleveland. To this, Bobby said he'd retire before going to Cleveland. On October 3, he went to Cleveland with Len Barker for Jim Kern and Larvell Blanks. He didn't retire.

Pat Putnam, IF:

Pat was called up from Tucson when Al Oliver went on the DL on June 18. He got into 14 games, including 10 starts as the DH, before heading back to Tucson on July 13 when Oliver returned. He was recalled again in September.

Paul Mirabella, SP:

Paul was called up from Tucson when Bobby Thompson went to the DL on July 26. He made his major league debut on July 28 at Comiskey Park - he started, went 7.2 innings, gave up 8 hits and 5 runs, and claimed the 9-5 win. He made another 4 starts, and by September was working exclusively out of the pen. All told, he compiled a record of 3-2 with 1 save.

Billy Sample, OF:

A September call-up, Billy made his major league debut on the 2nd in Milwaukee. Starting at second base, he led off the game and stroked a single in his first major league at-bat.

Danny Darwin, RP:

Considered an untouchable property in pre-season trade talks, Danny was called up in September when rosters expanded. He got his 21-year career started when he made his major league debut on September 8, throwing 2 innings of mop-up relief in Oakland. In a lone start on the 24th, he struck out the first 4 batters he faced, and went on to earn the win.

Greg Mahlberg, C:

Called up in September, Greg got into a single game, which happened to be his major league debut. He entered the game on the 24th against the Mariners as a defensive replacement.