Nolan Ryan and the 25 Most Beloved Figures in Texas Rangers History

The Texas Rangers' recent success has been somewhat attributed to the presence of team CEO, president and principal owner Nolan Ryan.  Even before 2010, Rangers fans idolized Ryan as the franchise's best.  

Since 1972 the Texas Rangers have had a number of figures that were loved by the fanbase.  

Here is a list of the 25 most beloved figures in Texas Rangers history.

Just Outside of the Top 25

Mike Napoli

He's only had one season with the team but his postseason performance will not be soon forgotten by the fans.  In Game 3 of the Divisional Series, the dirtbag was up to bat with the entire ballpark chanting "Nap-o-li!" and he came through.  The Hall of Fame gift shop in Vandergriff Plaza is going to sell a ton of jerseys with No. 25 on the back of them next year.  

Dean Palmer

In 1992 Palmer became the first Texas ballplayer to hit a home run in his first three games.  Deano manned the hot corner from 1989 to 1997.  He was an integral part of the Rangers winning the West in '96.

Francisco Cordero

Coco was a crucial player for the Rangers but his production faltered in April of 2006.  He was traded to the Brewers in a deal that included Carlos Lee and Nelson Cruz.

Bobby Witt

The Oklahoma product was a key piece to the pitching staff when the Rangers were winning in the late '90s.  "Witt and Wild" was a flamethrowing fan favorite.

25. Nelson Cruz

Nelson Cruz has lit up the competition in the recent postseasons.  His six home runs in the ALCS this year had the fans thinking about a ring heading into the World Series.  

He's been a dark-horse candidate for the AL MVP the past two years.  His cannon arm and dangerous bat will have people thinking the same thing this year.

Cruz is always smiling and impressing with his play in right.  He'd be higher on this list if he could stay healthy.  His hamstrings seem to be a problem every year.  It's tough to say a guy who isn't on the field half the season is higher than No. 25 all-time.

24. Hank Blalock

Hank Blalock was a fan favorite from 2002 to 2009.  He fielded solidly for the team and hit for power much like George Brett.  

His blast off of Eric Gagne (who hadn't and didn't blow a save that entire season) in the All-Star Game put him in the national spotlight.  It showed everyone what Rangers fans already knew—Hank could hit.  

He had his own group of fans that were at every home game called "Hank's Homies."  Hamstring and shoulder injuries ended Blalock's tenure with the Rangers.  He was a hit while he was here.

23. Ferguson Jenkins

Fergie Jenkins is probably better known for his days with the Chicago Cubs.  His later career included two stops in Arlington.  

Jenkins won a personal-best 25 games in 1974.  That still stands as the Rangers' all-time win record.  He's one of the Rangers' few Hall of Fame members.  

22. John Wetteland

Wetteland came to the Rangers in 1996 when Mariano Rivera emerged as the closer of forever for the New York Yankees.  

While Wetteland was in Texas he was embraced by the fans.  He set a Rangers record with 43 saves and became the first Ranger to record a save in the All-Star Game.  

He was known for never washing his cap.  He'd trot out to the mound donning a sweat-stained red cap with an almost-yellow "T" on the front and shut down offenses with authority.  

21. Toby Harrah

Toby Harrah was a solid all-around player.  The defensive third baseman had a bat as well.  He was the Rangers' first All-Star representative. 

Toby was a team leader during his time in Texas and still sits around the top of a number of defensive stat lists.  

Harrah and teammate Bump Willis hit back-to-back inside-the-park home runs on August 27th, 1977.

20. Bobby Valentine

Newer Rangers fans are of the impression that all they do is win pennants.  The fact is, they were bad.  In Bobby Valentine's first season the Rangers improved by 25 games.  

He's the Rangers' longest-serving manager with 1,186 games under his belt.  They never finished higher than second in the division with Valentine at the helm and he was relieved of his duties in 1992.  He gave the franchise its first taste of winning.

19. Jim Sundberg

From 1974 to 1989, Jim Sundberg played 12 seasons as the backstop for the Rangers.  Sunny won six consecutive Gold Gloves from 1976 to 1981.  His first Gold Glove was the first in Ranger history.

Before there was "Pudge," there was Sunny.  He remains one of the most beloved figures in Rangers history.

18. Rafael Palmeiro

Palmeiro was the Rangers first baseman for two periods—from 1989 to 1993 and again from 1999 to 2003.  

He still holds the record in games played (1,573) and runs (958) for the franchise.  Raffy was a solid first baseman but continued his career with the Rangers, playing DH for a number of years.  

Palmeiro would be higher on the list of beloved figures if he hadn't have been so involved in the steroid controversy. 

17. Buddy Bell

Bell was an incredible player for the Rangers at third base.  He was a fixture there from 1979 to 1985.  He won six straight Gold Gloves and the Silver Slugger award.  

Bell is a member of the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame.

16. Eric Nadel

Eric Nadel is the lead voice for the Rangers radio broadcast team.  Nadel has been with the Rangers since 1979.  

In 1991, Nadel was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame.  He has received the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Texas Sportscaster of the Year Award four times (1999, 2001, 2002 and 2006).  Nadel has also won the Associated Press award for Best Play-by-Play in Texas three times.

One of Nadel's most famous calls was Nolan Ryan's 5,000th strikeout.  He's a welcome voice to Rangers fans.  There's nothing quite like hearing Nadel shout "That ball is history!" 

15. Charlie Hough

The knuckleballer was already a veteran when he came to the team in 1980.  He may have never really been a star away from Texas, but he was the ace of a very pedestrian pitching staff.  

He had a very distinct look to his delivery and his creativity was unmatched.  

14. Ruben Sierra

Ruben Sierra was signed by the Rangers in 1986.  He immediately began to go on a tear in the major leagues.  He was a favorite of kids all around Texas too.  

He was young and he was good.

He came back to Texas a couple of times during his 20-year career, winning the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2001. 

He was a team favorite of one of the most talented players to ever come through Arlington.

13. Kenny Rogers

Kenny Rogers spent 12 years with the Texas Rangers organization.  The Gambler is the Rangers' all-time leader in appearances and is second on the club's wins (133) and innings (1,909) lists.  He is third in starts (252) and strikeouts (1,201).  He also won four Gold Gloves with the team.

Rogers also threw the only perfect game in Rangers history on July 28th, 1994 against the division-rival Angels.

12. Ian Kinsler

Kinsler's play on the field has him pinned as the Rangers' best second baseman of all time.  He's been in the 30/30 club twice in his career and he's been among the league's top three second basemen every season he's played.  

In his six seasons with the team, he's become an obvious fan favorite.  He is polarizing though.  He's been ejected from games for his complaining numerous times and his chin hits his chest every time he pops the ball up as he trots to the dugout.  

However, his contagious smile and incredible play on the field are expected to be familiar sights in Arlington for a long time.  

11. Will Clark

Will Clark was the Rangers first baseman from 1994 to 1998.  During his time in Texas, Will was a leader on a team that won division titles in 1996 and 1998.  

He replaced Rafael Palmeiro and then in '98 was replaced by Palmeiro.  A solid fielder, Clark was also a .300 hitter who could knock in 100-plus RBI.  

10. Ron Washington

Ron Washington is easily the Rangers' most successful manager.  He's been with the team for five seasons and taken them to back-to-back World Series.  

Washington's speech and energy on and off the field make him loved by everyone.  He handled a potentially career-ending situation with tact and gained the respect of everyone.  

Washington admittedly goes with his gut when he makes his decisions and so far he hasn't disappointed.  

Wash's famous line was marked and dropped often by 1310 The Ticket's Michael Gruber, and it caught on nationally:

"That's the way baseball go."

9. Tom Grieve

Tom Grieve was a player, general manager and is currently the television broadcaster for the Texas Rangers.

As a player, Grieve was with the team for six years.  He was a more-than-serviceable outfielder and DH for the team.

As the GM, Grieve pulled off one of the greatest trades in team history.  He received Jaime Moyer and Rafael Palmeiro from the Cubs for Mitch Williams.  

Grieve's biggest contribution to the team has been his broadcasting.  TAG just finished up his 17th season of broadcasting.  He is respected as well as admired by fans and players alike.  He's been with the Washington/Texas franchise for almost 43 of his 44 years in baseball.

8. Mark Holtz

Mark Holtz was the television voice for the Rangers from 1982 to 1997.  Holtz had a contagious passion for Rangers baseball and his joy couldn't be disguised.  His personality warmed fans' hearts the moment he stepped into the booth.  

Eric Nadel, the Rangers lead radio announcer and Holtz's partner for 13 years, is quoted as saying the following:

"

"In my opinion, Mark Holtz was the first announcer who truly got fans excited about listening to Rangers games. His ability to paint word pictures and capture the excitement of late-game dramatic moments was and still is unequaled. In addition, Mark's warm, friendly personality came through on the air, endearing him to Ranger fans from the moment he arrived. He informed and entertained a new generation of Ranger fans as the team was gaining credibility and more than doubling its attendance. His role in the growth of the team's following was enormous."

"

He led off every game with "It's baseball time in Texas."  Every game that the Rangers won was punctuated with a "Hello win column!"

7. Rusty Greer

On July 28th, 1994, Rusty Greer made a diving catch in center field to save Kenny Rogers' perfect game.  There wasn't a ball that Greer couldn't get to.  

His all-out style of play made him a Rangers fan favorite.  If he wasn't dirty, he wasn't happy.  That style ultimately led to the end of his career.  In 2002, Greer was limited to only 51 games.

Greer was inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2007.

6. Johnny Oates

Johnny Oates was the Texas Rangers manager from 1995 to 2001.  He quickly managed the team to their first playoff appearance in 1996.  He was voted Manager of the Year that year along with Joe Torre.  All told, Oates led the Rangers to three division titles.  

Oates died at the age of 58 because of a brain tumor.  The Rangers have since retired his number.  

5. Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton's story is amazing.  He came to the Rangers in 2008 and has been tearing it up in the major leagues ever since.  

The 2010 AL MVP, the 2008 Home Run Derby—this player's career has been nothing short of stellar.  He hasn't been in Texas long, but his impact has been invaluable.  

His play on the field is only half of the story.  Hamilton has been a legitimate hero for younger fans.  He's worked tirelessly toward helping community.  Hamilton is everything an organization could want. 

4. Juan Gonzalez

Juan Gone.  Juando.  Igor.  Senor Octubre.  There wasn't a nickname that could describe the Rangers outfielder.  

He was big, strong and hit line drives.  Gonzalez stepped up to the plate with bad intentions.  

The two-time MVP spent 12 seasons with the Rangers.  His power was unfathomable.  He hit a home run estimated to be 473 feet during the Home Run Derby at Camden Yards.  While he was with the Rangers, fans couldn't get enough of him.

3. Michael Young

Michael Young is the face of the Rangers franchise.  He's spent his entire 12-year career in Texas and made every year count.  He's had six 200-hit seasons, is a Gold Glove award winner, a seven-time All-Star, has 2,000-plus hits and a .304 career batting average.  

Young has also been cooperative with the team.  He's moved from second to short, short to third and third to being a utility/DH.  2011's trade talks were out of the ordinary to say the least.  But when it was all said and done, Young showed up to training camp and produced his best season yet.

He's quietly led this team through good and bad times and the fans have noticed.

2. Pudge Rodriguez

Pudge came to the Rangers in 1991, starting playing at the age of 19 and at the risk of sounding cliche, the rest is history.  

He won 10 straight Gold Gloves.  He won the MVP in 1999.  He was a six-time Silver Slugger.  Pudge did everything he could for the Rangers.  His accomplishments are numerous but it was his impact on the fans that was unquantifiable.  

When Pudge came back to Texas in 2009, he was given a standing ovation almost every time he came to bat.  Texas loves Pudge.  

1. Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan spent a relatively short amount of time in Texas, but his five years were unforgettable.  

His stats are shocking but a couple of stories linked with Ryan are how he became a legend.  

Robin Ventura, a rookie at the time, charged the mound towards Ryan and was immediately thrown in a headlock.  Nolan pummeled his head a number of times before they were separated.  The beating is one of the most famous fights in Major League Baseball history.

In a game against the Royals, Bo Jackson hit Nolan in the face with a line drive.  Ryan calmly picked up the ball and tossed it to first with blood bursting out of his lip.  He refused to leave the game even though he was covered in blood.  

When Jackson came up again, Nolan threw what some say were the four hardest pitches he ever threw.  Bo barely got a piece of one but didn't come close to anything else.  

Now Nolan is the president.  He's changed the culture of the team.  The pitching staff got tough and the team has been successful.  Everything Nolan does is considered above reproach.  

He's a mainstay in the front row.

There's not a Rangers fan alive who doesn't respect what Nolan has done for the organization.