1980 – At Exhibition Stadium, Rangers P Ferguson Jenkins is arrested for possession of illegal drugs after customs officials discover an estimated $500 worth of cocaine, marijuana, and hashish in his suitcase. The arrest stuns the entire country, where Jenkins, a Canadian citizen, is considered a national hero.
Al Oliver belts four home runs – one in the opener and three in the nightcap – as the Rangers sweep a doubleheader from the Tigers, 9 – 3 and 12 – 6. He is the second American League player to hit four home runs in a doubleheader this season. Al also adds a double and triple in the opener and his 21 total bases for the two games is a record.
White Sox third base coach Bobby Winkles, baserunner Mike Squires and manager Tony LaRussa go off on third base umpire Fredd Spenn in Arlington, Texas on July 17, 1980 after Spenn had called Squires out on an attempt to steal the base. All three argued he was safe, but the ump got the last word,…
On May 3, 1980, Ferguson Jenkins of the Texas Rangers becomes the fourth pitcher in history to record 100 wins in each major league. He joins fellow Hall of Famers Jim Bunning, Gaylord Perry, and Cy Young in the exclusive club. Jenkins defeats the Baltimore Orioles, 3-2 at Arlington Stadium, for his 100th American League…
At Arlington Stadium’s season opener, Jon Matlack and Yankee southpaw Ron Guidry match zeroes for nine innings. In the 12th, with his 1978 Opening Day nemesis, Richie Zisk, at the plate, Goose Gossage allows Mickey Rivers to score the game’s only run from third base when his first and only pitch is wild, giving the Rangers a 1-0 victory.
1980 – The Montreal Expos trade 1B/OF Rusty Staub to the Texas Rangers in exchange for infielders Chris Smith and LaRue Washington.
San Diego Padres trade future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry
December 26, 1979 Jim Kern also was the recipient of the American League Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year Award in 1979. He led the Rangers in games pitched with 71. He went 13-5 with 29 saves with a miniscule ERA of 1.57. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Play by Play, Box Scores, News Paper Reports and other…
On July 22, 1979, future Hall of Famer George Brett clubs three home runs and piles up five RBIs against the Texas Rangers. Brett’s power surge, part of a 23-home run season, lifts the Kansas City Royals to a 7-6 win. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@
On June 24, 1979, 20-year-old future Hall of Famer, Rickey Henderson makes his major league debut for the Oakland A’s in the first game of a doubleheader, a 5-1 loss to Texas. Henderson picks up a single, a double, and his first stolen base in four at-bats against the Texas Rangers. Later in the season,…
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