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1972-1973 Texas Rangers 1972-1973 Texas Rangers

The Big move to Texas

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The Famous "Green Box"

What's a green box and why is it so famous? Well, just like a baseball dugout, that's where the stories are told. The "Green Box" appeared on the Baseball Historian web site during our inception back in 1999 and has been holding kangaroo court ever since. Enjoy the stories...

The big move to Texas... the 1972-1973 Texas Rangers
Two years of losing didn't dim the fans' hopes

The new team began in 1972 and despite going a dismal 54-100, the worst record in all of baseball, the Rangers' players were greeted warmly by their fans. 1973 was more of the same, the team posted a 57-105 record, again the worst in baseball, and finished 37 games out of first place.

It was a long uphill climb for the 'new guys on the field.'

Anyway here's a list of some players:

The Texas Rangers, 1972-1973...

* Jeff Burroughs, OF, - was the Rangers' leading slugger in 1973, pacing the club in homers with 30, in RBIs with 86, and in slugging pct with .487, while batting .278. Burroughs was the first player selected in the 1969 Amateur Draft and signed for a $88,000 bonus.

* Bill Gogolewski, Pitcher, - born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on 10/26/47 he split time between starting and relieving and hurled 151 innings in '72, went 4-11 with a 4.23 ERA. Mainly a fastball pitcher, in '72 Gogolewski fanned 95 in 151 innings... in '73 collected 75 Ks in 124 innings, while finishing at 3-6 for the year.

* Pitchers: 1972... Dick Bosman 8-10, 3.63 ERA, 29 Games... Pete Broberg 5-12, 4.29 ERA, 39 G... Casey Cox 3-5, 4.41 ERA, 35 G... Jan Dukes 0-0, 3.86 in 3 G... Bill Gogolewski 4-11, 4.23 in 36 G... Rich Hands 10-14, 3.32 in 30 G... Rich Hinton 0-1, 2.38 in 5 G... Jerry Janeski 0-1, 2.84 in 4 G... Steve Lawson 0-0, 2.81 ERA in 13 G... Paul Lindblad 5-8, 2.62 in 66 G... Jim Panther 5-9, 4.13 in 58 G... Mike Paul 8-9, 2.17 ERA in 49 G... Horacio Pina 2-7, 3.20 in 60 G... Jim Roland 0-0, 8.10 in 5 G... Jim Shellenback 2-4, 3.47 ERA in 24 Games.

* Larry Biittner, OF-1B - an outstanding clutch-hitter... in 1972 hit .259 in 137 games... Biittner played 13 seasons in the major leagues for various teams and carried a .273 career batting average.

Batting Stats: 1972... Dick Billings .254, 5 HR, 58 RBIs in 33 Games... Ted Ford .235, 14 HR, 50 RBIs in 129 G... Toby Harrah .259, 31 RBIs in 116 G... Vic Harris .140 in 61 G... Jeff Burroughs .185 in 22 G... Bill Fahey .168 in 39 G... Tom Grieve .204, 3 HR, 11 RBIs in 64 Games.

*Ken Suarez, Catcher - a seven year major league veteran by the time 1972 rolled in... was the Rangers' backup-backstop in '72... was their main catcher in '73 and hit .248 in 278 at bats... a fine defensive catcher, with a good throwing arm.

* Jackie Brown, RH Pitcher - relying most on his fastball - in 25 games in '73 was 5-5, pitched 66 innings, with 45 Ks. In '74 went 13-12, a fine 3.57 ERA in 35 games.

* Jim Bibby, Starting Pitcher - was traded to the Rangers in early-'73 and threw a no-hitter against Oakland on 7/30/73. Posted a 9-10 in 1973... striking out 157 in just 180 innings.

*Bill Sudakis, 1B-OF - born in Joliet, Illinois on 3/27/46... made his big league debut in '66... joined the Rangers in '73 and hit 11 doubles, 15 homers, 43 RBIs in just 234 at bats.

* Jim Fregosi, 3rd Baseman, - a veteran of 13 big-league seasons, Fregosi noted for his fine defensive work, joined the Rangers in 1973 and hit .269 in 156 games.

For complete stats of all baseball players, please see Players section on our home page

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