A 2010 season filled with strange events both on the field and in the courtroom has resulted in the fourth postseason appearance in Texas Rangers’ history. Rangers’ fans are hopeful that the 2010 postseason will end differently than the Rangers first three appearances.
Prior to the 1972 Major League Baseball season, the Washington Senators moved to Texas and switched from the American League East division to the American League West. The Senators failed to achieve any success in Washington and that streak continued for the first two seasons in Texas.
The Rangers experienced some success in the 1970s, finishing second in the American League West division in 1974, 1977, and 1978. Texas also finished in second place in 1981, 1986, 1993, but remained without a postseason appearance.
Major League Baseball realigned the divisions for the 1994 season and the Texas Rangers were at an advantage as they joined the new American League West division which only has four teams: the Rangers, Athletics, Mariners, and Angels. The Rangers held a one game lead in the division when the 1994 season was cut short due to the players’ strike which resulted in the loss of the 1994 postseason and the Rangers’ hopes of reaching the playoffs.
After a third place finish in 1995, the Rangers finally earned their first division championship in 1996, finishing 4.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners. Texas faced the New York Yankees in the 1995 American League Division Series, playing the first two games at Yankee Stadium. The Rangers won Game One by a final of 6-2, but lost Game Two in extra innings 5-4. The 1996 ALDS moved to Arlington and the Yankees were able to close out the series in four games, winning Game Three 3-2 and Game Four 6-4.
Following a third place finish in 1997, the Rangers returned to the postseason in 1998, finishing three games ahead of the Anaheim Angels. Texas again faced the New York Yankees in the 1998 ALDS. The Yankees held the Rangers’ offense scoreless in Game One as New York won 2-0. The Yankees were also victorious in Game Two, winning 3-1 and taking a 2-0 series lead. The series moved to Arlington for Game Three in which the Rangers were shutout again, losing by a final of 4-0. The Yankees eliminated the Rangers from the postseason for the second time in three seasons, with Texas only scoring one run in their three 1998 ALDS games.
The Rangers’ third postseason appearance is also their most recent, claiming the American League West division championship in 1999. For the third time in four seasons the Rangers faced the Yankees in the ALDS. Unfortunately for Texas fans, the 1999 ALDS was a repeat of the Rangers’ first two postseason appearances. The Rangers again struggled offensively, losing 8-0, 3-1, and 3-0.
The first three postseason appearances by the Texas Rangers resulted in only one playoff victory, giving the Rangers a 1-9 postseason record. Texas has only scored 18 runs in 10 playoff games, all under manager Johnny Oates.
The 2010 version of the Texas Rangers brings youth, exciting offense, and dominant pitching to the American League Division Series. The Rangers could give opposing teams fits, especially because they will not have the face the Yankees in the ALDS. Texas will face the Tampa Bay Rays in their 2010 American League Division Series.
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Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Rangers_(baseball) “Texas Rangers (baseball)” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1996_ALDS2.shtml “1996 League Division Series ‘” New York Yankees over Texas Rangers (3-1)” Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1998_ALDS2.shtml “1998 League Division Series ‘” New York Yankees over Texas Rangers (3-0)” Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1999_ALDS2.shtml “1999 League Division Series ‘” New York Yankees over Texas Rangers (3-0)” Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TEX/ “Texas Rangers Team History & Encyclopedia” Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
