1972 Texas Rangers

1972 Texas Rangers / Franchise: Texas Rangers / BR Team Page

Record: 54-100, Finished 6th in AL Western Division (1972 AL)

Managed by Ted Williams

Coaches: Joe Camacho, Doug Camilli, Nellie Fox, Sid Hudson, George Susce and Wayne Terwilliger

Ballpark: Arlington Stadium

History, Comments, Contributions

The 1972 Texas Rangers were the first edition of the team to play in Arlington, TX. The preceding season, they were the Washington Senators but were moved to the greener pastures of Texas by owner Bob Short who claimed to be losing money hand-over-fist in the Nation's Capital. He was mainly out for a quick profit, but the Dallas, TX-Fort Worth, TX area would prove to be an excellent market over the long run.

In the short run however, the original Rangers were a terrible team. They lost 100 games in a season shortened by a strike, finished 20 1/2 games behing the next-to-last team, the California Angels, lost 15 consecutive games at one point - still a franchise record - and could not hit. The team batting average of .217 was the fourth-lowest of the 20th century, only behind the 1972 New York Yankees and two teams from the heart of the Deadball Era. Their awful performance discouraged Hall of Famer Ted Williams from ever managing again.

Awards and Honors

• All-Star: Toby Harrah

Further Reading

• Steve West and Bill Nowlin, eds.: The Team That Couldn't Hit: The 1972 Texas Rangers, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2019. ISBN 978-1-943816-93-4