Adrian Beltre and Chuck Morgan selected as 2021 class to Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame

Arlington, TX—Adrian Beltre, one of the top all-around third basemen in Major League history and Chuck Morgan, the public address announcer and in-game entertainment wizard at three Arlington ballparks, have been selected as the 23rdt and 24th members of the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame, it was announced this morning.

Beltre and Morgan will be inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame in a pre-game ceremony on Saturday, August 14 prior to the 6:05 p.m. game with the Oakland A’s at Globe Life Field.

Beltre announced his retirement as an active player on November 20, 2018 after a brilliant 21-year Major League career with the Dodgers (1998-2004), Mariners (2005-2009), Red Sox (2010), and Rangers (2011-18). He ranks among the all-time leaders in doubles (11th, 636), games (14th, 2933), total bases (14th, 5309), extra base hits (14th, 1151), hits (16th, 3166), RBI (25th, 1707), and home runs (31st, 477) and has the second most career hits of any non-U.S. native in history behind Albert Pujols. The only other players ever with at least 3166 hits and 477 home runs are Hank Aaron, Pujols, Willie Mays, and Eddie Murray.

In his eight seasons with the Rangers, Beltre batted .304 with 199 homers and 699 RBI in 1098 games. He was a four-time selection as the Rangers’ Player of the Year (2012-13-14-16), won three Rawlings Gold Gloves (2011-12-16), and earned a pair of Silver Slugger Awards (2011-14). Beltre was also selected to three American League All-Star teams in his Rangers’ tenure, starting the 2011 and 2012 Midsummer Classics.

He ranks among the Rangers lifetime leaders in homers (4th), RBI (6th), batting average (6th), extra base hits (6th, 448), hits (7th, 1277), total bases (7th, 2133), games (9th), at bats (9th, 4194), and doubles (9th, 239). Beltre hit at least .300 five times and drove in 100+ runs on three occasions as a Ranger. He produced one of the more memorable moments in club history when he doubled for his 3000th career hit on July 30, 2017 versus Baltimore at Globe Life Park. His .332 average as a Ranger at Globe Life Park was the highest in the 26-year history of the park, and he ranks second with 120 homers and 426 RBI.

The Rangers retired Beltre’s number 29 on June 8, 2019 during a pre-game ceremony at Globe Life Field, one of only six numbers retired by the Rangers franchise.

On April 4, 1983, a former Nashville DJ announced the starting lineups for the Texas Rangers season opener with the Chicago White Sox at Arlington Stadium in his debut as a Major League Baseball public address announcer.

Chuck Morgan has not missed a game behind the microphone since. Entering today, his consecutive regular season games streak stands at 3,038 games. Morgan called his 3000th consecutive game in the PA booth on September 26, 2020 with his microphone from that game donated to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Of his 39 years on the job, 38 have been working in three ballparks in Arlington. He spent the 2002 season as the in-park voice of the Kansas City Royals.

While official records are not kept, there is no doubt this is the longest consecutive games streak among current MLB public address announcers. Dan Baker, who is in his 50th year doing PA for the Philadelphia Phillies, has missed games along the way. All-time numbers are inconclusive, but it is believed that Chicago Cubs legendary Wrigley Field announcer Pat Pieper did every home game from 1924 until his death in 1974.

Morgan is currently the Rangers Executive Vice President, Ballpark Entertainment, Promotions, and Production and has also worked in marketing, broadcasting, and sponsorships in his nearly four decades with the club, He has been responsible for origination of Texas Rangers Captain, the club’s annual Fan Feat event, and countless other promotions and on-field activities. Morgan is credited with the creation of the in-park Dot Race, an innovation that led to numerous other sports teams having regular mascot and other races.

The Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame was created in 2003 to honor those individuals who have excelled for the franchise both on and off the field. To be considered for Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame selection, former players must have spent a minimum of four seasons in a Texas uniform and be retired as an active player for a minimum of one year.

More details on the Hall of Fame pre-game ceremony on August 14 will be announced in the coming weeks.