1977 Texas Rangers season

Last updated

1977  Texas Rangers
League American League
Division West
Ballpark Arlington Stadium
City Arlington, Texas
Owners Bradford G. Corbett
General managers Dan O'Brien Sr. / Eddie Robinson
Managers Frank Lucchesi, Eddie Stanky, Connie Ryan, Billy Hunter
Television KXAS-TV
(Dick Risenhoover, Tom Vandergriff)
Radio WBAP
(Dick Risenhoover, Bill Merrill)
  1976 Seasons 1978  

The 1977 Texas Rangers season involved the Rangers finishing second in the American League West with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses. The 1977 Rangers were notable for having an American League record four managers in the same season. Frank Lucchesi began the season as the manager but team's board of directors decide to make a change after the Rangers entered June with a .500 record. Former Major League player and manager Eddie Stanky was introduced as the new manager on June 17 but changed his mind after one game and returned to his home in Alabama. Bench coach Connie Ryan served as the interim manager for six games before Billy Hunter was hired and led the team to a 60-33 record for the rest of the year. [1]

Contents

Offseason

On December 10, 1976, shortstop Danny Thompson died of leukemia. Thompson had played in 64 games for the Rangers in 1976.

Notable transactions

Regular season

For one June day in 1977, Eddie Stanky was drawn back into the major leagues as manager of the Rangers. [10] After that day, he abruptly quit and left for Alabama, saying only that he was homesick. [11]

Season standings

AL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Kansas City Royals 10260.63055264734
Texas Rangers 9468.580844375031
Chicago White Sox 9072.5561248334239
Minnesota Twins 8477.52217½48323645
California Angels 7488.4572839423546
Seattle Mariners 6498.3953829523546
Oakland Athletics 6398.39138½35462852

Record vs. opponents


Sources:
TeamBALBOSCALCWSCLEDETKCMILMINNYYOAKSEATEXTOR
Baltimore 6–85–65–511–412–34–711–46–48–78–27–34–610–5
Boston 8–67–33–78–79–65–59–64–68–78–310–16–412–3
California 6–53–78–76–44–66–95–57–84–75–109–65–106–4
Chicago 5–57–37–86–44–68–76–510–53–710–510–56–98–3
Cleveland 4–117–84–64–68–73–711–42–93–127–37–32–99–5
Detroit 3–126–96–46–47–83–810–55–56–95–55–62–810–5
Kansas City 7–45–59–67–87–38–38–210–55–59–611–48–78–2
Milwaukee 4–116–95–55–64–115–102–83–88–75–57–35–58–7
Minnesota 4–66–48–75–109–25–55–108–32–88–67–88–79–1
New York 7–87–87–47–312–39–65–57–88–29–26–47–39–6
Oakland 2–83–810–55–103–75–56–95–56–82–97–82–137–3
Seattle 3–71–106–95–103–76–54–113–78–74–68–79–64–6
Texas 6–44–610–59–69–28–27–85–57–83–713–26–97–4
Toronto 5–103–124–63–85–95–102–87–81–96–93–76–44–7

Opening Day starters

Notable transactions

Roster

1977 Texas Rangers
Roster
PitchersCatchers

Infielders

OutfieldersManager

Coaches

Game log

Regular season

1977 regular season game log: 94–68 (Home: 44–37; Away: 50–31)
April: 10–8 (Home: 2–6; Away: 8–2)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
1April 7@ Orioles
2April 9@ Orioles
3April 10@ Orioles
April 15 Orioles Postponed (Rain)(Makeup date: April 17)
April 16 Orioles Postponed (Rain)(Makeup date: July 12)
6April 17
(1)
Orioles
7April 17
(2)
Orioles
11April 21 Twins
12April 22 Twins
13April 23 Twins
14April 24 Twins
15April 26@ Royals
16April 27@ Royals
17April 29@ White Sox
18April 30@ White Sox
May: 11–13 (Home: 6–7; Away: 5–6)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
19May 1@ White Sox
20May 3@ Tigers
May 4@ Tigers Postponed (Rain)(Makeup date: August 5)
21May 6 Royals
22May 7 Royals
23May 8 Royals
24May 9 White Sox
25May 10 White Sox
26May 11 White Sox
27May 12@ Royals
28May 13@ Royals
29May 14@ Royals
30May 15@ Royals
31May 17 Tigers
32May 18 Tigers
36 May 25
(1)
@ Yankees L 2–3 Patterson (1–1) Blyleven (4–5) Lyle (7)2:3519–17 L1
37 May 25
(2)
@ Yankees W 1–0 Perry (4–4) Torrez (5–3)2:2319,69320–17 W1
June: 14–16 (Home: 6–7; Away: 8–9)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
43June 1 Red Sox
44June 2 Red Sox
48 June 6 Yankees L 2–9 Hunter (2–3) Alexander (6–3)2:2421,97824–24 L1
49 June 7 Yankees W 7–3 Lindblad (2–3) Figueroa (7–4)2:4018,07525–24 W1
50June 8 White Sox
51June 9 White Sox
June 10@ Red Sox Postponed (Rain)(Makeup date: June 12)
June 11@ Red Sox Postponed (Rain)(Makeup date: August 25)
52June 12
(1)
@ Red Sox
53June 12
(2)
@ Red Sox
61June 20@ Twins
62June 21@ Twins
63June 22@ Twins
64June 23@ Twins
July: 19–8 (Home: 11–6; Away: 8–2)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
77July 4 Royals
78July 5 Royals
84July 12 Orioles
85July 13 Orioles
86July 14 Orioles
48th All-Star Game in Bronx, New York
91July 22@ Orioles
92July 23@ Orioles
97July 29 Tigers
98July 30 Tigers
99July 31 Tigers
August: 19–13 (Home: 8–6; Away: 11–7)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
100August 1@ White Sox
101August 2@ White Sox
102August 3@ White Sox
103August 4@ White Sox
104August 5
(1)
@ Tigers
105August 5
(2)
@ Tigers
106August 6@ Tigers
107August 7@ Tigers
110August 10 Royals
111August 11 Royals
112August 12 White Sox
113August 13 White Sox
114August 14 White Sox
119 August 19 Yankees L 1–8 Torrez (14–10) Moret (2–1)2:1531,15968–51 L1
120 August 20 Yankees L 2–6 Tidrow (8–4) Perry (10–10) Lyle (19)2:3534,00468–52 L2
121 August 21 Yankees L 1–2 Guidry (10–6) Alexander (13–8) Lyle (20)2:2627,00468–53 L3
124August 24
(1)
@ Red Sox
125August 24
(2)
@ Red Sox
126August 25@ Red Sox
127 August 26@ Yankees L 5–6 Clay (2–3) Moret (2–2) Lyle (21)2:3829,00071–56 L2
128 August 27@ Yankees W 8–2 Blyleven (12–11) Torrez (15–11)2:3733,17972–56 W1
129 August 28@ Yankees L 0–1 Guidry (11–6) Ellis (7–11)1:5637,71472–57 L1
130August 30@ Royals
131August 31@ Royals
September: 19–10 (Home: 9–5; Away: 10–5)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
132September 2 Red Sox
133September 3 Red Sox
134September 4 Red Sox
135September 5@ Twins
136September 6@ Twins
137September 7@ Twins
146September 16 Twins
147September 17 Twins
148September 18
(1)
Twins
149September 18
(2)
Twins
October: 2–0 (Home: 2–0; Away: 0–0)
#DateTime (CT)OpponentScoreWinLossSaveTime of GameAttendanceRecordBox/
Streak
Legend:       = Win       = Loss       = Postponement
Bold = Rangers team member

Player stats

= Indicates team leader

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C Jim Sundberg 149453132.291665
1B Mike Hargrove 153525160.3051869
2B Bump Wills 152541155.287962
3B Toby Harrah 159539142.2632787
SS Bert Campaneris 150552140.254546
LF Claudell Washington 129521148.2841268
CF Juan Beníquez 123424114.2691050
RF Dave May 12034082.241742
DH Willie Horton 139519150.2891575

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
Ken Henderson 7524463.258523
Tom Grieve 7923653.225730
John Ellis 4911928.235415
Kurt Bevacqua 399632.333528
Sandy Alomar Sr. 698322.265111
Bill Fahey 376815.22105
Keith Smith 236716.23926
Jim Mason 365512.21817
Ed Kirkpatrick 20489.18803
Lew Beasley 25327.21903
Jim Fregosi 13287.25015
Pat Putnam 11268.30803
Roy Howell 7170.00000
Eddie Miller 1762.33301
Gary Gray 120.00000

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Gaylord Perry 34238.015123.37177
Doyle Alexander 34237.017113.6582
Bert Blyleven 30234.214122.72182
Dock Ellis 23167.11062.9090
Tommy Boggs 627.1035.9315

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Nelson Briles 28108.1644.2457
Roger Moret 1872.1333.7339
Len Barker 1547.1412.6651
Mike Marshall 1235.2224.0418
Jim Umbarger 313.0115.545
John Poloni 27.0106.435

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGWLSVERASO
Adrian Devine 56116153.5867
Paul Lindblad 424544.2046
Darold Knowles 425243.2214
Steve Hargan 61008.7610
Mike Wallace 50007.562
Bobby Cuellar 40001.353
Mike Bacsik 200019.291

Awards and honors

All-Stars

All-Star Game

Other team leaders

Farm system

LevelTeamLeagueManager
AAA Tucson Toros Pacific Coast League Rich Donnelly
AA Tulsa Drillers Texas League Marty Martínez
A Asheville Tourists Western Carolinas League Wayne Terwilliger
Rookie GCL Rangers Gulf Coast League Joe Klein

Notes

  1. "'Won' and done: Remembering Eddie Stanky". MLB.com. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  2. Bert Campaneris page at Baseball Reference
  3. Doyle Alexander page at Baseball Reference
  4. 1 2 Carl Morton page at Baseball Reference
  5. Dave Criscione page at Baseball Reference
  6. Dave Righetti page at Baseball Reference
  7. Fritz Peterson page at Baseball Reference
  8. Darold Knowles page at Baseball Reference
  9. Alomar traded to Rangers
  10. Eddie Stanky named new Ranger manager
  11. Durso, Joseph (June 7, 1999). "Eddie Stanky, 83, Spark Plug On 3 Pennant-Winning Teams". The New York Times. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  12. Willie Horton page at Baseball Reference
  13. Mike Marshall page at Baseball Reference
  14. Jim Mason page at Baseball Reference
  15. Dave Moates page at Baseball Reference
  16. John Butcher page at Baseball Reference
  17. Dock Ellis page at Baseball Reference
  18. Jim Fregosi page at Baseball Reference

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Righetti</span> American baseball player and coach (born 1958)

David Allan Righetti, nicknamed "Rags", is an American professional baseball coach and former player. A left-handed pitcher, Righetti played in Major League Baseball from 1979 through 1995 for the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, and Chicago White Sox. He served as the pitching coach for the Giants from 2000 through 2017.

The 1968 Minnesota Twins season was a season in American baseball. The team finished 79–83, seventh in the American League.

The 1979 New York Yankees season was the 77th season for the franchise. The season was marked by the death of their starting catcher, Thurman Munson, on August 2. The team finished with a record of 89–71, finishing fourth in the American League East, 13.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles, ending the Yankees' three-year domination of the AL East. New York was managed by Billy Martin, and Bob Lemon. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium.

The 1983 New York Yankees season was the 81st season for the Yankees. The team finished in third place in the American League East with a record of 91–71, finishing 7 games behind the Baltimore Orioles. New York was managed by Billy Martin. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee Stadium.

The 1952 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 71st season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 61st season in the National League. The Cardinals went 88–66 during the season and finished third in the National League.

The 1977 Baltimore Orioles season finished with the ballclub tied for second place in the American League East with a record of 97 wins and 64 losses. The Orioles stayed in contention for the division title until an 11–10 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 30. They in turn eliminated the Red Sox 8–7 the following day on October 1.

The 1979 California Angels season was their 19th in Major League Baseball. The Angels reached the postseason for the first time by winning the American League West Division with a record of 88–74, three games ahead of the Kansas City Royals in Jim Fregosi's first season as manager. The Angels were defeated by the Baltimore Orioles 3–1 in the 1979 American League Championship Series. Don Baylor had an outstanding season, playing in all 162 games, scoring 120 runs, hitting 36 home runs and driving in 139 runs on his way to being named the American League Most Valuable Player, gaining 20 of 28 first place votes.

The 1979 Texas Rangers season involved the Rangers finishing third in the American League West with a record of 83 wins and 79 losses.

The 1978 Texas Rangers season involved the Rangers finishing second in the American League West with a record of 87 wins and 75 losses.

The 1976 Texas Rangers season involved the Rangers finishing fourth in the American League West with a record of 76 wins and 86 losses.

The 1973 Texas Rangers season involved the Rangers finishing sixth in the American League West with a record of 57 wins and 105 losses.

The 1969 Washington Senators season involved the Senators finishing fourth in the newly established American League East with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses.

The 1973 Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their third consecutive American League West title with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses. The A's went on to defeat the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS for their second straight AL Championship, and won the World Series in seven games over the New York Mets to take their second consecutive World Championship.

The 1971 Oakland Athletics season involved the A's finishing first in the American League West with a record of 101 wins and 60 losses. In their first postseason appearance of any kind since 1931, the A's were swept in three games by the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship Series.

The 1978 Montreal Expos season was the tenth season in franchise history. The team finished fourth in the National League East with a record of 76–86, 14 games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies.

The 1977 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 96th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; their 91st in the National League. The Pirates finished second in the National League East with a record of 96–66. This was the first season where the player's last names appeared on the back of the jerseys.

The 1978 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 97th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 92nd in the National League. The Pirates finished second in the National League East with a record of 88–73.

The 1944 Chicago Cubs season was the 73rd season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 69th in the National League and the 29th at Wrigley Field. The Cubs finished fourth in the National League with a record of 75–79.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1977 Chicago Cubs season</span> Major League Baseball team season

The 1977 Chicago Cubs season was the 106th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 102nd in the National League and the 62nd at Wrigley Field. The Cubs finished fourth in the National League East with a record of 81–81, 20 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.

The 1978 Atlanta Braves season was the 108th season for the franchise and their 13th in Atlanta.

References