1977 Texas Rangers season explained

Texas Rangers
Season:	1977
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)

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]

Offseason

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

Notable transactions

• November 17, 1976: Bert Campaneris was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.^[2]
• November 23, 1976: Doyle Alexander was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.^[3]
• December 9, 1976: Jeff Burroughs was traded by the Rangers to the Atlanta Braves for Carl Morton, Adrian Devine, Ken Henderson, Dave May, Roger Moret, and $250,000.^[4]
• December 15, 1976: Dave Criscione was traded by the Rangers to the Baltimore Orioles for Bob Babcock.^[5]
• January 11, 1977: Dave Righetti was drafted by the Rangers in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft.^[6]
• February 2, 1977: Fritz Peterson was released by the Rangers.^[7]
• February 5, 1977: The Rangers traded a player to be named later and cash to the Chicago Cubs for Darold Knowles. The Rangers completed the deal by sending Gene Clines to the Cubs on February 15.^[8]
• February 17, 1977: Brian Doyle, Greg Pryor and cash were traded by the Rangers to the New York Yankees for Sandy Alomar Sr.^[9]

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]

Opening Day starters

• Juan Beníquez
• Bert Blyleven
• Bert Campaneris
• Tom Grieve
• Mike Hargrove
• Toby Harrah
• Ken Henderson
• Jim Sundberg
• Claudell Washington
• Bump Wills

Notable transactions

• April 1, 1977: Carl Morton was released by the Rangers.
• April 12, 1977: Steve Foucault was traded by the Rangers to the Detroit Tigers for Willie Horton.^[12]
• April 30, 1977: Mike Marshall was purchased by the Rangers from the Atlanta Braves.^[13]
• May 9, 1977: Roy Howell was traded by the Rangers to the Toronto Blue Jays for Jim Mason, Steve Hargan and $200,000.^[14]
• May 23, 1977: Dave Moates was purchased from the Rangers by the New York Yankees.^[15]
• June 7, 1977: John Butcher was drafted by the Rangers in the 1st round (18th pick) of the secondary phase of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft.^[16]
• June 15, 1977: Dock Ellis was purchased by the Rangers from the Oakland Athletics.^[17]
• June 15, 1977: Jim Fregosi was traded by the Rangers to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Ed Kirkpatrick.^[18]

Roster

1977 Texas Rangers
Roster
Pitchers		CatchersInfielders		Outfielders		ManagerCoaches

Game log

Regular season

|-style="background:#cfc;"| 1 || || || @ Orioles|-style="background:#cfc;"| 2 || || || @ Orioles|-style="background:#cfc;"| 3 || || || @ Orioles|-style=background:#bbb| — || || || Orioles || colspan="8" | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: April 17)|-style=background:#bbb| — || || || Orioles || colspan="8" | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: July 12)|-style="background:#fcc;"| 6 ||
|| || Orioles|-style="background:#fcc;"| 7 ||
|| || Orioles|-style="background:#fcc;"| 11 || || || Twins|-style="background:#fcc;"| 12 || || || Twins|-style="background:#cfc;"| 13 || || || Twins|-style="background:#fcc;"| 14 || || || Twins|-style="background:#fcc;"| 15 || || || @ Royals|-style="background:#cfc;"| 16 || || || @ Royals|-style="background:#cfc;"| 17 || || || @ White Sox|-style="background:#cfc;"| 18 || || || @ White Sox|-|-style="background:#fcc;"| 19 || || || @ White Sox|-style="background:#cfc;"| 20 || || || @ Tigers|-style=background:#bbb| — || || || @ Tigers || colspan="8" | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: August 5)|-style="background:#cfc;"| 21 || || || Royals|-style="background:#fcc;"| 22 || || || Royals|-style="background:#cfc;"| 23 || || || Royals|-style="background:#fcc;"| 24 || || || White Sox|-style="background:#cfc;"| 25 || || || White Sox|-style="background:#fcc;"| 26 || || || White Sox|-style="background:#cfc;"| 27 || || || @ Royals|-style="background:#fcc;"| 28 || || || @ Royals|-style="background:#fcc;"| 29 || || || @ Royals|-style="background:#cfc;"| 30 || || || @ Royals|-style="background:#cfc;"| 31 || || || Tigers|-style="background:#cfc;"| 32 || || || Tigers|-style=background:#fcc| 36 ||
|| || @ Yankees || L 2–3 || Patterson (1–1) || Blyleven (4–5) || Lyle (7) || 2:35 || — || 19–17 || L1|-style=background:#cfc| 37 ||
|| || @ Yankees || W 1–0 || Perry (4–4) || Torrez (5–3) || — || 2:23 || 19,693 || 20–17 || W1|-|-style="background:#fcc;"| 43 || || || Red Sox|-style="background:#cfc;"| 44 || || || Red Sox|-style=background:#fcc| 48 || || || Yankees || L 2–9 || Hunter (2–3) || Alexander (6–3) || — || 2:24 || 21,978 || 24–24 || L1|-style=background:#cfc| 49 || || || Yankees || W 7–3 || Lindblad (2–3) || Figueroa (7–4) || — || 2:40 || 18,075 || 25–24 || W1|-style="background:#cfc;"| 50 || || || White Sox|-style="background:#fcc;"| 51 || || || White Sox|-style=background:#bbb| — || || || @ Red Sox || colspan="8" | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: June 12)|-style=background:#bbb| — || || || @ Red Sox || colspan="8" | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: August 25)|-style="background:#fcc;"| 52 ||
|| || @ Red Sox|-style="background:#fcc;"| 53 ||
|| || @ Red Sox|-style="background:#cfc;"| 61 || || || @ Twins|-style="background:#fcc;"| 62 || || || @ Twins|-style="background:#cfc;"| 63 || || || @ Twins|-style="background:#fcc;"| 64 || || || @ Twins|-|-style="background:#fcc;"| 77 || || || Royals|-style="background:#fcc;"| 78 || || || Royals|-style="background:#cfc;"| 84 || || || Orioles|-style="background:#fcc;"| 85 || || || Orioles|-style="background:#fcc;"| 86 || || || Orioles|- style="text-align:center; background:#bbcaff;"| colspan="12" | 48th All-Star Game in Bronx, New York|-style="background:#cfc;"| 91 || || || @ Orioles|-style="background:#cfc;"| 92 || || || @ Orioles|-style="background:#fcc;"| 97 || || || Tigers|-style="background:#cfc;"| 98 || || || Tigers|-style="background:#cfc;"| 99 || || || Tigers|-|-style="background:#cfc;"| 100 || || || @ White Sox|-style="background:#cfc;"| 101 || || || @ White Sox|-style="background:#cfc;"| 102 || || || @ White Sox|-style="background:#fcc;"| 103 || || || @ White Sox|-style="background:#cfc;"| 104 ||
|| || @ Tigers|-style="background:#cfc;"| 105 ||
|| || @ Tigers|-style="background:#fcc;"| 106 || || || @ Tigers|-style="background:#cfc;"| 107 || || || @ Tigers|-style="background:#fcc;"| 110 || || || Royals|-style="background:#cfc;"| 111 || || || Royals|-style="background:#cfc;"| 112 || || || White Sox|-style="background:#fcc;"| 113 || || || White Sox|-style="background:#cfc;"| 114 || || || White Sox|-style=background:#fcc| 119 || || || Yankees || L 1–8 || Torrez (14–10) || Moret (2–1) || — || 2:15 || 31,159 || 68–51 || L1|-style=background:#fcc| 120 || || || Yankees || L 2–6 || Tidrow (8–4) || Perry (10–10) || Lyle (19) || 2:35 || 34,004 || 68–52 || L2|-style=background:#fcc| 121 || || || Yankees || L 1–2 || Guidry (10–6) || Alexander (13–8) || Lyle (20) || 2:26 || 27,004 || 68–53 || L3|-style="background:#cfc;"| 124 ||
|| || @ Red Sox|-style="background:#cfc;"| 125 ||
|| || @ Red Sox|-style="background:#fcc;"| 126 || || || @ Red Sox|-style=background:#fcc| 127 || || || @ Yankees || L 5–6 || Clay (2–3) || Moret (2–2) || Lyle (21) || 2:38 || 29,000 || 71–56 || L2|-style=background:#cfc| 128 || || || @ Yankees || W 8–2 || Blyleven (12–11) || Torrez (15–11) || — || 2:37 || 33,179 || 72–56 || W1|-style=background:#fcc| 129 || || || @ Yankees || L 0–1 || Guidry (11–6) || Ellis (7–11) || — || 1:56 || 37,714 || 72–57 || L1|-style="background:#cfc;"| 130 || || || @ Royals|-style="background:#fcc;"| 131 || || || @ Royals|-|-style="background:#cfc;"| 132 || || || Red Sox|-style="background:#fcc;"| 133 || || || Red Sox|-style="background:#fcc;"| 134 || || || Red Sox|-style="background:#fcc;"| 135 || || || @ Twins|-style="background:#fcc;"| 136 || || || @ Twins|-style="background:#cfc;"| 137 || || || @ Twins|-style="background:#fcc;"| 146 || || || Twins|-style="background:#cfc;"| 147 || || || Twins|-style="background:#cfc;"| 148 ||
|| || Twins|-style="background:#cfc;"| 149 ||
|| || Twins|-|-|- style="text-align:center;"| 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

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C		149	453	132	.291	6	65
1B		153	525	160	.305	18	69
2B		152	541	155	.287	9	62
3B		159	539	142	.263	27	87
SS		150	552	140	.254	5	46
LF		129	521	148	.284	12	68
CF		123	424	114	.269	10	50
RF		120	340	82	.241	7	42
DH		139	519	150	.289	15	75

Other batters

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

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
	75	244	63	.258	5	23
	79	236	53	.225	7	30
	49	119	28	.235	4	15
	39	96	32	.333	5	28
	69	83	22	.265	1	11
	37	68	15	.221	0	5
	23	67	16	.239	2	6
	36	55	12	.218	1	7
	20	48	9	.188	0	3
	25	32	7	.219	0	3
	13	28	7	.250	1	5
	11	26	8	.308	0	3
	7	17	0	.000	0	0
	17	6	2	.333	0	1
	1	2	0	.000	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

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

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
	34	238.0	15	12	3.37	177
	34	237.0	17	11	3.65	82
	30	234.2	14	12	2.72	182
	23	167.1	10	6	2.90	90
	6	27.1	0	3	5.93	15

Other pitchers

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

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
	28	108.1	6	4	4.24	57
	18	72.1	3	3	3.73	39
	15	47.1	4	1	2.66	51
	12	35.2	2	2	4.04	18
	3	13.0	1	1	5.54	5
	2	7.0	1	0	6.43	5

Relief pitchers

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

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
	56	11	6	15	3.58	67
	42	4	5	4	4.20	46
	42	5	2	4	3.22	14
	6	1	0	0	8.76	10
	5	0	0	0	7.56	2
	4	0	0	0	1.35	3
	2	0	0	0	19.29	1

Awards and honors

• Jim Sundberg, Gold Glove, catcher, 1977
• Juan Beníquez, Gold Glove, outfield, 1977

All-Stars

All-Star Game

• Bert Campaneris, reserve

Other team leaders

• Stolen bases – Bump Wills (28)
• Walks – Toby Harrah (109)

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball.

References

• Book: Johnson. Lloyd. Wolff. Miles. The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. 3rd. Durham, North Carolina. Baseball America. 2007. 978-1-932391-17-6.

External links

• 1977 Texas Rangers team page at Baseball Reference
• 1977 Texas Rangers team page at www.baseball-almanac.com

Notes and References

1. Web site: 'Won' and done: Remembering Eddie Stanky . MLB.com . 3 November 2020 . en.
2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/c/campabe01.shtml Bert Campaneris page at Baseball Reference
3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/a/alexado01.shtml Doyle Alexander page at Baseball Reference
4. https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mortoca01.shtml Carl Morton page at Baseball Reference
5. https://www.baseball-reference.com/c/criscda01.shtml Dave Criscione page at Baseball Reference
6. https://www.baseball-reference.com/r/righeda01.shtml Dave Righetti page at Baseball Reference
7. https://www.baseball-reference.com/p/peterfr01.shtml Fritz Peterson page at Baseball Reference
8. https://www.baseball-reference.com/k/knowlda01.shtml Darold Knowles page at Baseball Reference
9. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19770218&id=efBLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=se0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3931,1097599&hl=en Alomar traded to Rangers
10. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19770623&id=dLosAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JRMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3850,4390544&hl=en Eddie Stanky named new Ranger manager
11. News: Eddie Stanky, 83, Spark Plug On 3 Pennant-Winning Teams . The New York Times . Joseph . Durso . June 7, 1999 . April 20, 2010.
12. https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hortowi01.shtml Willie Horton page at Baseball Reference
13. https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/marshmi01.shtml Mike Marshall page at Baseball Reference
14. https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/masonji01.shtml Jim Mason page at Baseball Reference
15. https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/moateda01.shtml Dave Moates page at Baseball Reference
16. https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/butchjo01.shtml John Butcher page at Baseball Reference
17. https://www.baseball-reference.com/e/ellisdo01.shtml Dock Ellis page at Baseball Reference
18. https://www.baseball-reference.com/f/fregoji01.shtml Jim Fregosi page at Baseball Reference