1974 Texas Rangers season

MLB yearly infobox
name = Texas Rangers
season = 1974
misc =

current league = American League
y1 = 1961
division = Western Division
y2 = 1972
Uniform logo =
ballpark = Arlington Stadium
y4 = 1972
city = Arlington, Texas
y5 = 1972
owners = Bob Short, Bradford G. Corbett, Amon Carter, Jr., Ray Nasher
managers = Billy Martin
television = WBAP-TV
(Dick Risenhoover, Jimmy Piersall, Burt Hawkins)
radio =WBAP
(Dick Risenhoover, Bill Mercer)|

The Texas Rangers 1974 season involved the Rangers finishing 2nd in the American League west with a record of 84 wins and 76 losses.

Offseason

* October 25, 1973: Bill Madlock and Vic Harris were traded by the Rangers to the Chicago Cubs for Ferguson Jenkins. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/madlobi01.shtml Bill Madlock page at Baseball Reference] ]

Regular season

* Hurricane Herb Washington made his major league debut was on April 4, 1974 against the Texas Rangers. Despite having no professional baseball experience, he was tapped by Oakland owner Charlie Finley to become the A's "designated runner".

* June 4, by|1974 - "Ten Cent Beer Night" - 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.

*During the season, Fergie Jenkins would be the last pitcher to win at least 25 games in one season for the Rangers in the 20th Century. [Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.99, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, NY, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0]

eason standings

Transactions

*June 5, 1974: 1974 Major League Baseball Draft
**Tommy Boggs was drafted by the Rangers in the 1st round (2nd pick). [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/boggsto01.shtml Tommy Boggs page at Baseball Reference] ]
**Gary Gray was drafted by the Rangers in the 10th round. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/grayga01.shtml Gary Gray page at Baseball Reference] ]

Roster

Pitching

Starting pitchers

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 Year1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
* Jeff Burroughs, Leftfield, Starter
* Jim Sundberg, Catcher, Reserve

References

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TEX/1974.shtml 1974 Texas Rangers team page at Baseball Reference]
* [http://baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1974&t=TEX 1974 Texas Rangers team page at www.baseball-almanac.com]