Rangers Mt. Rushmore: Best Outfielders
By Jared Sandler | @sandlerJ
MLB.com created a cool "Mt. Rushmore" campaign that asks fans to identify the people who'd make up their favorite team's Mt. Rushmore. The results will be unveiled a part of the All-Star festivities in Cincinnati.
Going along with the theme, each week I'll introduce a new Rangers themed Mt. Rushmore prompt and unveil the four faces who best demonstrate that prompt. Feel free to play along yourself.
Week 1 — Texas-Born Players
Week 2 — Best First-Round Picks
Week 3 — Best Rookie Years
Week 4 — Drafted In 30th Round Or Later
Week 5 – Best Catchers
Week 6 – Best 1st Baseman
Week 7 - Best 3rd Basemen
This week look at the Mt. Rushmore of Rangers outfielders.
Juan Gonzalez: A two-time AL MVP with the Rangers, Gonzalez is responsible for some of the franchise's best offensive seasons. His 157 RBI campaign in 1998 still stands as the franchise record. No one's spent more time (1089 games) in a Rangers outfield than Juan, who leads all Rangers outfielders in runs (685), hits (1248), doubles (250), HR (280), and RBI (905).
Gonzalez was also a part of the team's first three division title squads and was a monster in their first ever post-season series, blasting five HR in four games, despite losing to the Yankees.
Ruben Sierra: His 1059 games played in the Rangers outfield is second to only Gonzalez. A three-time All-Star with the Rangers, Sierra enjoyed two stints in Arlington, including a career-resurrecting one in 2000-2001 after he had been out of baseball as a 33-year old in 1999.
The best years of his career were with Texas, including the 1989 year when we led the Majors in 3B (14) and RBI (119). His 160 HR as a Rangers outfielder rank second to Gonzalez, as do his 680 RBI.
Josh Hamilton: His Rangers story is still being written, but there's no doubting his significance in franchise history as a catalyst of the team's only two World Series squads as well as achievements like an AL MVP (2010), a four-home run game (2012), as well as the legendary HR derby performance at Yankee Stadium (08).
Hamilton is one of the best players to ever play for the Rangers, even if the sample size is smaller than some. He won an RBI title (2008) and a batting title (2010) with Texas.
Rusty Greer: One of the franchise's all-time fan favorite was also a very productive player. Of those with at least 400 games as a Rangers outfielder, Greer's .305 batting average ranks second to Josh Hamilton's .310 mark and his 1177 hits rank second to Gonzalez's 1248.
His 1996 season is one of the best offensive seasons for a Rangers player, compiling a .332 average--sixth best all-time in franchise history--to go along with 65 extra base hits and 100 RBI.
Greer is also remembered for his all out hustle, resulting in memorable diving catches, as well as a non-diving catch he made as a center fielder to secure Kenny Rogers' perfect game.
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