Rangerfans.com

Ranger Player from the Past: Dave Nelson

Posted by on at

I have so many players that I cannot wait to discuss in this section, I had a difficult time choosing which one to talk about today. I narrowed it down to one of my favorite Rangers of all time, and one of the least talked about. He played 2B for the 2nd place, 1974 ball club and his name was Dave Nelson. Manager Billy Martin called him one of the scrappiest kids that he had ever been around. When a reporter advised Martin that Nelson was 30 years old and far from a “kid”, Martin replied, “He is?”
Nelson came over with the Senators in ’72 and only played for the Rangers for four years (’72-’75). Despite his lack of history with the club, I would definitely consider him one of the largest over achievers in Ranger history. Nelson loved to run, although he was not the fastest guy in the league, he was the prototypical baserunner. He took pride studying pitchers and testing himself to see when he could get the quickest jump. From ’72-’74, Nelson stole 119 bases for Texas and ranks 4th on the Rangers all time list in stolen bases. His best year with the club was in 1973 when he hit .283 with 7 HR, 48 RBI, 71 runs and 43 SB. In 1974, Nelson broke his nose and never seemed to be the same type of player again.
The greatest day in Nelson’s career was August 30, 1974 (16 years ago today) against the Indians. He was facing Indians pitcher Dick Bosman in the first inning and Nelson singled. He then proceeded to tie a major league record by stealing second, third and home in the same inning. No other Ranger has ever accomplished this feat. If you give me nine players with the same type of heart as Dave Nelson, I promise you that I win the World Series every year, for as long as they are with me.
Thanks for reading and keep checking in for my next entry. I will discuss the 4th worst trade in franchise history and bring up another “Player from the past”. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, E-mail me. I would be happy to take the feedback and promise to answer all mail.
Click here to see Dave Nelson’s career statistics.
Remember the Rangers!
Jeremy Northrip
rangerhistory@hotmail.com

nelson69.jpg (45355 bytes)  nelson70.jpg (16754 bytes)  nelson73.jpg (18584 bytes)

G133: Rangers win big against Indians, 14-7

Posted by on at

How come they couldn’t have done this the night before when I was there? :)
I’m sorry, but I don’t have the time today to write about this – but it was nice to see the Rangers get out there with a big win for a change. I found myself rooting against Wetteland in the top of the 9th, though – I wanted the game to break the all time record – it missed by just a minute. :(

Roster Transaction

Posted by on at

  • RHP Darwin Cubillan assigned to AAA Oklahoma.
  • LHP Darren Oliver assigned to AAA Oklahoma for
    a rehab start.

G132: Rangers drop close one to Indans, 5-3

Posted by on at

Well, I went to this game, and given the way the Rangers were playing, I wasn’t expecting much in the way of attendance. This was one of my season ticket games, and I had heard on TV the other night that the Rangers were offering complimentary upgrades to folks who had tickets in the upper levels. Normally, I sit in Section 326, but I got a free upgrade to Sec 237. What was funny was that the section Lynn & I were in was the most populated section in the stadium it looked like (as it was one of the upgrade sections). Just 20 minutes from game time, it seemed like there was only 5,000 people in the stands. It eventually filled up to 24,000, but still – rather empty. I wasn’t a season ticket holder (or even a Ranger fan) the last time the Rangers were playing this bad in the late 70’s, but I can just imagine. Hell, I wonder what the players feel like in Montreal night after night.
Anyway, a third straight solid performance by Doug Davis led the Ranger charge. He pitched wonderfully through the first six innings. In the seventh, he ran into a little trouble, giving up two runs, and then our bullpen led the charge to defeat. Crabtree gave up the other three earned runs, although sitting in the stands, it didn’t feel like he pitched that badly. Dave Burba on the other side pitched better, unfortunately. He went 6 innings, giving up one (unearned) run, and the other Cleveland bullpen pitchers pitched well (except for Ricardo Rincon). It was just hard to get anything going offensively.
Raffy was ejected in the bottom of the 8th, giving some rise from the spartan crowd. In reading about this game, someone said that it was the first time in Raffy’s career that he was ejected (I find that hard to believe), but it was definitely the first player ejection of a Ranger this season – that’s not bad at all, considering this was game 132 of 162.
Overall a very warm night, and even though the Rangers lost, and it was a spartan crowd, I enjoyed the hell out of it. I just wish that it wasn’t so hot down here – would make coming out more enjoyable, I would think.

Rangers to play in Puerto Rico next year?

Posted by on at

NEW YORK (AP) — The 1999 opener was in Mexico and the 2000 opener in Japan. Next year, baseball could start its season in Puerto Rico.
The Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers are likely to open the 2001 regular season in San Juan on Sunday night, April 1, several baseball officials said Tuesday.
“I would say it’s in the discussion-of-details stage,” Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash said. “There’s a willingness to participate. It’s just a matter of getting the details done.”
Toronto would be the home team in the game at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, Ash said, and the teams would play an exhibition game in Puerto Rico the previous day. A decision is expected in a few weeks.
ESPN could televise the game as part of its Sunday night package. Network spokeswoman Diane Lamb said ESPN wouldn’t comment until after baseball makes an official announcement.
It would be the third straight international opener for baseball, which started the 1999 season at Monterrey, Mexico, with a game between San Diego and Colorado, and opened this season in Tokyo with a two-game series between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs.
Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez, the 1999 American League MVP, would be the top attraction for the game. Rodriguez, who is out for the season with a broken right thumb, was born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, and lives in Rios Pedros.
Texas infielder Luis Alicea was born in Santurce and lives in Florida.
Toronto first baseman Carlos Delgado is from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. While he agreed last December to a $36 million, three-year contract extension, he has the right, in the 10 days after the World Series, to demand that Toronto trade him by Feb. 15.
Last year, baseball discussed moving a three-game series between the Rangers and the Chicago White Sox this May 10-12 to Puerto Rico, but nothing became of those talks.
News of these negotiations originally was reported earlier this week by The Globe and Mail in Toronto.

Roster Transaction

Posted by on at

  • RHP Ryan Glynn recalled from DL
  • RHP Darwin Cubillan assigned to A Pulaski (a
    paper only transaction)

G129: Rangers lose to Blue Jays, 6-4

Posted by on at

No commentary on this one either. I was on the highways of Texas headed towards the best sausage I’ve ever had in my life from the Southside Market & BBQ. It’s “Elgin Hot Sausage”. Check it out.