The Texas Rangers Baseball Team gave fans thrills in 1991, as they compiled a winning record of 85-77. Still in all, they finished in third place in the West Division, 10 games behind the Twins and 2 games in back of the ChicSox. * Julio Franco Second Baseman RH – An aggressive batsman, he led all major league baseball players in batting average with a robust .341 in 1991. He powers line drives to all fields, likes to hit high fastballs and has extremely quick bat speed. Julio Franco has batted over .300 five times in the last six seasons .306, .319, 303, .316, .296, and .341 (1986-1991) and in those 6 seasons he stole 10, 32, 25, 21, 31 and 36 bases. * Nolan Ryan 1991 Season – He holds almost every Strikeout Record – This was his 22nd consecutive season of notching over 100 strikeouts (Ks). On October 6, 1991 pitching in Arlington Texas, fastballer Nolan Ryan finished the ‘91 season with 203 strikeouts and a record lifetime total of 5511. His 22nd season of recording 100 or more strikeouts broke the old mark of 21 set by Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton 1966 thru 1986. * Dean Palmer Third Baseman / Left Fielder RH – Dean Palmer crushed the baseball during his play in the minors during 1991 and after he joined the Rangers during his rookie season. Playing with Oklahoma City AAA minors he belted 11 homers during his first 16 games, and had 22 HR in 60 games with a .299 batting average. Texas Rangers manager Bobby Valentine was quoted as saying, “Bring him up! We need a hitter like that.”After joining the Rangers for the second half of the season Dean Palmer lined 15 homers had 37 RBIs and batted .199 in 81 games (1991 was rookie major league season). * Three Rangers batters hit over .300 in 1991 – Julio Franco .341 … Rafael Palmerio .322 (7th in AL) and Ruben Sierra .307 (12th in AL). * John Barfield Pitcher Left handed – John Barfield had a good rookie season as a long reliever and spot starter with the Rangers in 1990. He rang up a 4-3 w/l record plus one save in 33 games. He’s an artist on the pitching mound and mixes the ball around from side-to-side to stymie batters. John Barfield has many different speeds in his pitching arsenal and likes to keep the ball low over the plate. In 1991 he had a 4-4 record in 83.1 innings. He started in pro baseball in 1986 with Daytona Beach A minors. * Wayne Rosenthal Relief Pitcher RH – Wayne Rosenthal uses a sidearm delivery and his fastball hits the radar at over 90 mph. He was a 1986 Texas Rangers draft pick #24 and worked his way up thru the minors first with the Sara Rangers of the Rookie League where he had a 4-2 record with a stunning 0.83 ERA. His last stop in minors was with Oklahoma City AAA in early 1991 where he was 3-2 with a 4.01 ERA, and struckout over one batter per inning pitched 59 in 51.2 innings, 32 games. Wayne Rosenthal debuted in the major in mid-’91 and had a 1-4 record with 61 Ks in 70.1 innings. Baseball historian |
