1974 Texas Rangers season


The 1974 Texas Rangers season involved the Rangers finishing second in the American League West with a record of 84 wins and 76 losses. It would be only the second time in franchise history that the club finished over.500 and the first since the club relocated to Arlington, Texas. The club became the first team to finish over.500 after two consecutive 100-loss seasons.

Offseason

During the season, Ferguson Jenkins won 25 games for the Rangers, which was Jenkins' personal best for a season and remains the Rangers franchise record for wins by a pitcher in one season. He would also be the third pitcher in the history of the American League to win 25 games in the 20th century and not win the Cy Young Award.

Ten Cent Beer Night

On June 4, in one of the most remarkably ill-conceived promotions in Major League Baseball history, fans at Cleveland Municipal Stadium for a Cleveland Indians vs. Texas Rangers game were served as many beers as they wanted for just 10¢ each. After numerous instances of drunken fans throwing debris or running onto the field — "streaking" in many instances — the situation boiled over in the 9th inning when a fan ran onto the field and snatched Rangers outfielder Jeff Burroughs' cap and glove. Burroughs' teammates charged out to his aid, followed by hundreds of rioting Cleveland fans who poured out onto the field.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

Player stats

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.PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C13236891.247336
1B131415134.323466
2B121474112.236342
3B151520157.302149
SS161573149.2602174
LF114453132.291441
CF11328363.223226
RF152554167.30125118
DH11835298.278774

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
138562164.292458
8425966.255932
7823060.2611234
349225.27207
547615.19705
134411.25013
16317.22600
9150.00000
250.00000
100----00

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
4126419194.74149
41328.125122.82225
35216.213123.57134
28117394.3852

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
1229048.0715

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVERASO
6989122.24106
260004.1318
140106.5518
120006.598
100019.291

Awards and honors

1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Spokane, Gastonia