Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Hamilton returns, inducted into Rangers' hall

Written by 
Published in Baseball
Saturday, 17 August 2019 21:51

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Josh Hamilton said he had forgotten how the grass looked and smelled at the home of the Texas Rangers. He hadn't been there since he played in the AL Division Series four years ago.

Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP the season the Rangers went to their first World Series, was back for the first time on Saturday for his induction into the team's hall of fame.

"That was fun," the five-time All-Star said after the team showed a video filled with highlights of his five-plus seasons in Texas, including big home runs and incredible catches in the outfield.

The slugger's story is well-documented, from being the first overall pick out of high school in the 1999 amateur draft by Tampa Bay to the drug and alcohol addictions that nearly destroyed his career. He was out of baseball for three-and-a-half years before his comeback. He made his big league debut with Cincinnati in 2007 before being traded to the Rangers after that season.

"Looking back reminds me of God's grace and his mercy," Hamilton said, sharing his Christian faith during his induction speech. "Some people will say that I'm a hypocrite, or they have said it. I simply say I'm human. Y'all know my story. You can't look at that and tell me that you think I did that all on my own or with just willpower. It didn't happen. That much willpower doesn't exist in the world."

Hamilton thanked a long list of people, including his parents and three daughters, who were with him on the field. The 38-year-old fondly talked about the Rangers organization, including former coaches and teammates. General manager Jon Daniels, who traded top pitching prospect Edinson Volquez to the Reds for Hamilton, was there to unveil the player's plaque.

The highlights included clips from his awe-inspiring display in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium in 2008, when he led the American League with 130 RBIs while hitting .304 with 32 homers in his first full season. He hit four homers in the 2010 AL Championship Series and had a four-homer game at Baltimore in 2012.

Former Arlington Mayor Richard Greene, who during his time in office from 1987 to '97 played a major role in getting the team a new stadium and keeping the Rangers in Arlington, was also inducted into the Rangers' hall.

Hamilton hit .302 with 150 homers and 531 RBIs in 697 games with Texas. In his eight big league seasons, he hit .290 with 200 homers and 701 RBIs in 1,027 games.

He left the Rangers in free agency after the 2012 season for a $125 million, five-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels. He was recovering from shoulder surgery when the Angels traded him back to Texas in 2015 after two injury-plagued seasons in Los Angeles. After 50 games in 2015, he had surgery on his left knee at least three times and never played again, even after going to spring training two more times.

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, who was in the visiting dugout Saturday, was the first-round draft pick by Tampa Bay the year after Hamilton, and they came up in the Rays organization together.

"I grew up with him in the game and had a chance to watch him. He's the single most talented baseball player I've ever been around," Baldelli said. "If you drew up, like, a prototype kind of superhero-type baseball player, like, that's what he was. He was a well above average runner. He had great instincts in the field. He had the best arm in baseball."

With the induction of the former slugger and past mayor, there are 22 people in the Rangers' hall. Hamilton and Greene were the first inductees in three years since Michael Young, whose No. 10 jersey will be retired by the team in two weeks.

There are 21 home games left at the current Globe Life Park in Arlington, which is in its 26th season. A new stadium with a retractable roof is nearly three-quarters complete across the street and will open for the 2020 season.

"It just adds significantly to the opportunity," Greene, who supports the new stadium, said of being inducted in the stadium he helped build. "This is certainly a bittersweet season for us that love this place and have spent 25 years here."

Read 442 times

Soccer

Ex-Uruguay striker Forlán loses pro doubles debut

Ex-Uruguay striker Forlán loses pro doubles debut

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMONTEVIDEO, Uruguay -- Former soccer star Diego Forlán's newfound c...

New video puts ref Coote under fresh scrutiny

New video puts ref Coote under fresh scrutiny

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPGMOL, the refereeing body for English football, has confirmed that...

Pulisic: USMNT given 'reset' by Pochettino arrival

Pulisic: USMNT given 'reset' by Pochettino arrival

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAC Milan star Christian Pulisic praised a "reset" for the United St...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Former employee files civil lawsuit against Suns

Former employee files civil lawsuit against Suns

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsA former Phoenix Suns employee sued the team Wednesday, citing alle...

Cavs hold off Sixers, 6th team ever to start 13-0

Cavs hold off Sixers, 6th team ever to start 13-0

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHILADELPHIA -- Donovan Mitchell scored 11 of his 23 points in the...

Baseball

Williams' Medal of Freedom, MVP up for auction

Williams' Medal of Freedom, MVP up for auction

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBOSTON -- Ted Williams' Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was pr...

Guardians, AL Central champions, tweak staff

Guardians, AL Central champions, tweak staff

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCLEVELAND -- Guardians manager Stephen Vogt made some tweaks to Cle...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated