October 7, 2026
October 7, 2026
1996 Texas Rangers: Playoffs In Arlington
The Texas Rangers organization laid its foundation in 1972 after moving from Washington, D.C., and the former second version of the Washington Senators would not see postseason baseball for decades. Through the 1970s and the 1980s, the Rangers were unable to overcome adversity and reach the postseason, but toward the end of the 1990s, everything would change. 1996 marked the very first year in the franchise’s history that postseason baseball would be played.
The Rangers made some key moves before the start of the regular season. On December 21, 1995, the Rangers signed free agent starting pitcher Ken Hill, and on the very next day, December 22, they signed relief pitcher Mike Henneman. On January 16, 1996, the Rangers signed free agent shortstop Kevin Elster. All three of these signings proved to be significant.
The 1996 Texas Rangers went 90-72, finishing 4.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners to win the American League West division, though they went just 3-10 against the Mariners in head-to-head play. The Rangers went 50-31 at home and 41-40 on the road.
Left fielder Rusty Greer batted .332 with 18 home runs and 100 RBIs off 180 hits, 41 doubles, 6 triples, and 9 stolen bases. Right fielder Juan Gonzalez batted .314 with 47 home runs and 144 RBIs off 170 hits and 33 doubles. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who would be called by his nickname “Pudge,” batted .300 with 19 home runs and 86 RBIs off 192 hits and 47 doubles. Center fielder Darryl Hamilton batted .293 with 184 hits, 29 doubles, and 15 stolen bases. Second baseman Mark McLemore batted .290 with 150 hits, 23 doubles, and 27 stolen bases. First baseman Will Clark batted .284 with 13 home runs and 72 RBIs off 124 hits and 25 doubles.
Third baseman Dean Palmer batted .280 with 38 home runs and 107 RBIs off 163 hits and 26 doubles. Kevin Elster had 24 home runs and 99 RBIs off 130 hits and 32 doubles. Designated hitter Mickey Tettleton had 24 home runs and 83 RBIs off 121 hits and 26 doubles. Outfielder Damon Buford had 41 hits, 9 doubles, and 8 stolen bases in 90 games. Right fielder Warren Newson had 10 home runs, 60 hits, and 14 doubles in 91 games.
Ken Hill went 16-10 with 170 strikeouts and a 3.63 ERA, recording 7 complete games and 3 shutouts. Roger Pavlik went 15-8 with 127 strikeouts and 7 complete games. Bobby Witt went 16-12 with 157 strikeouts and 2 complete games. Darren Oliver went 14-6 with 112 strikeouts, 1 complete game, and 1 shutout. Kevin Gross went 11-8 with 1 complete game. John Burkett went 5-2 with 1 complete game and 1 shutout.
As the closer, Mike Henneman had 31 saves despite going 0-7. Relief pitcher Ed Vosberg went 1-1 with 8 saves and a 3.27 ERA. Jeff Russell went 3-3 with 3 saves and a 3.38 ERA. Gil Heredia had 1 save. Dennis Cook went 5-2 from the bullpen.
The 1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game featured 2 Rangers, as Ivan Rodriguez made the American League squad as a starter and Roger Pavlik made it as a reserve. Rodriguez broke out in many ways in 1996, as he would also win a Gold Glove Award and a Silver Slugger Award for his position. Juan Gonzalez proved to be one of the most valuable players in all of baseball, winning the American League Most Valuable Player award and a Silver Slugger for his position. Kevin Elster won the Comeback Player of the Year award. Sharing the award with Joe Torre of the New York Yankees, Rangers manager Johnny Oates was named American League Co-Manager of the Year.
The Texas Rangers had finally reached the postseason, but just as quickly as they got in, they were eliminated by the New York Yankees in the 1996 American League Division Series, falling 3 games to 1. The Yankees would go on to begin their World Series championship dynasty by winning the 1996 World Series.
The Rangers initially gave fans reasons to be optimistic, winning Game 1 on October 1 at Yankee Stadium II by a score of 6-2. John Burkett pitched a complete game, giving up 10 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs while recording 7 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 1st inning, center fielder Bernie Williams had an RBI groundout. The top of the 4th featured the core power of the Texas lineup, as Juan Gonzalez smoked a 3-run home run and Dean Palmer followed with a 2-run home run. In the bottom of the 4th, second baseman Mariano Duncan had an RBI single, but in the top of the 6th, the Rangers sealed the victory with an RBI single by Mark McLemore.
The Texas Rangers would return to the postseason a couple more times, in 1998 and 1999, but they would have to wait all the way until 2010 to capture their next postseason victory. Thankfully for the organization, the 1996 Texas Rangers sparked the beginning of what they envisioned all along, as they brought the playoffs to Arlington.
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