Rangers Mt. Rushmore: Texas-Born Players
By Jared Sandler | @sandlerJ
105.3 THE FAN -- 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 as 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.
This week -- Texas-born Texas Rangers.
Nolan Ryan (Refugio, TX): Well, this one seems obvious. Pardon me if I'm insulting you for even beginning to explain Nolan's merit.
No matter where you stand on Nolan's unfortunate split with the Rangers, he's easily one of the organization's most important members in its history. He added so much history in such a short time as a player, and so much credibility in such a short time as an executive.
David Murphy (Houston, TX): Not only does he lead all Texas-born players in games played for the Rangers (826), but he also leads in HR (85), RBI (362), and 2B (159), among other categories. He also played a role in both of the franchise's World Series appearances.
Beyond what he did on the field, Murphy earns a spot on my mountain for being a great ambassador for the team and a valued member of the clubhouse.
Mike Hargrove (Perryton, TX): He spent five seasons (1974-1978) with the Rangers, playing in 726 games. "The Human Rain Delay," dubbed as such for his deliberate routine at the plate, Hargrove's .293 batting average with the Rangers is tops among all Texas-born players who spent more than one season with the club (Randy Velarde hit .297 in 2001).
An All-Star in 1975, Hargrove was also the franchise's first AL Rookie of the Year, winning the award in 1974.
Danny Darwin (Bonham, TX): The right-handed tosser pitched in 224 games wearing the Rangers jersey, almost two times more than any other pitcher born in Texas. Darwin worked both as a starter (94 games) and as a reliever (130 games), compiling a career 3.72 ERA with Texas, going 55-52.
Darwin spent the first seven years of his career with the Rangers, spending his eighth season with the club in 1995, a season split between Texas and Toronto.
What makes Darwin a little more endearing might be that he was an undrafted free agent -- an underdog story. Darwin was also known as a tough guy with several stories about his purported antics, which seems like a perfect reputation for a guy on a Mt. Rushmore of Texas-born Rangers.
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