Franchise Timeline
2000
Dec 11, 2000: Alex Rodriguez signs a 10-year, $252 million contract with Texas at the age of 25.
2002
Oct. 1, 2002: Jerry Narron is dismissed as Rangers manager after a 72-90 season.
Oct. 11, 2002: The Rangers hire Buck Showalter as 16th full-time manager in club history.
2003
July 15, 2003: Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock gave the American League an All-Star Game victory -- and home-field advantage in the World Series -- by slugging a two-run home run in the eighth inning off Dodgers closer Eric Gagne at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.
2004
The Rangers enjoyed a dramatic turnaround in 2004 by winning 89 games and finishing just three games back in the American League West. Buck Showalter engineered the Texas renaissance and was named AL Manager of the Year. The Rangers had five All-Stars: shortstop Michael Young, third baseman Hank Blalock, second baseman Alfonso Soriano, starting pitcher Kenny Rogers and closer Francisco Cordero. First baseman Mark Teixeira and Soriano picked up Silver Slugger Awards and Rogers earned his third Gold Glove. The Rangers were in first place as late as Aug. 5, thanks largely to the dynamic offense provided by their infield and the solid work of the bullpen. Each member of the starting infield -- Teixeira, Soriano, Young and Blalock -- went past the 20-homer plateau. Texas was only the second club in Major League history to have all four starting infielders record more than 20 homers.
Feb. 16, 2004: Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig approves the trade of Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees in exchange for Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later (minor league shortstop Joaquin Arias.)
July 13, 2004: Alfonso Soriano is named the 2004 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player after going 2-for-3 with a three-run home run. He becomes the first Major League player to win the Top Vote-Getter award and the All-Star Game's MVP award in the same summer.
2005
Michael Young won the American League batting championship, first baseman Mark Teixeira won a Gold Glove and set a Major League record for RBI by a switch-hitter and the Rangers sent four players to the All-Star Game. But they still won ten less games than the year before and finished in third place in the American League West with a record of 79-83. The Rangers hit 260 home runs, the second most in Major League history, but their pitching staff had a 4.96 ERA, the third highest in the American League. The Rangers were 46-40 at the All-Star break, five games out of first place. But they fell out of contention with a 1-12 roadtrip in August. The season saw the Rangers boast seven players with at least 20 homers each en route to setting a club record for homers at home. Kenny Rogers led the team in wins (14) and ERA (3.46). Mark Teixeira paced Texas' red-hot offense with 43 home runs and 144 RBIs.
Sept. 18, 2005: The Rangers hit five homers, including blasts by David Dellucci, Alfonso Soriano, Rod Barajas and two by Teixeira -- one from each side of the plate -- to up the season total at home to a Major League-record 152 home runs and complete the four-game sweep.
Dec. 27, 2005: The Rangers sign free-agent right-hander Kevin Millwood to anchor their starting rotation for next season. In 2005, Millwood posted an AL-best 2.86 ERA while with the Indians.
2006
Michael Young was the Most Valuable Player in the All-Star Game with a two-run triple in the top of the ninth that gave the American League a 3-2 victory. The Rangers still finished 80-82 and manager Buck Showalter was replaced at the end of the year by Oakland third base coach Ron Washington. Young set a new team record with 52 doubles and the team led the Majors with 357 doubles, another club record.
Nov. 6, 2006: Ron Washington named manager of the Texas Rangers.
April 28, 2006: Kevin Mench homers in his 7th consecutive game, becoming the first right-handed batter in ML history to accomplish that feat.
July 11, 2006: Michael Young named All-Star Game MVP with 2-run, game-winning triple in the 9th inning at Pittsburgh's PNC Park.
September 13, 2006: Gary Matthews Jr. becomes the 3rd Ranger to hit for the cycle in a 4-4, 3 RBI effort against Detroit at Comerica Park.
October 4, 2006: Buck Showalter dismissed as manager.
November 6, 2006: Ron Washington is named the 17th full-time manager in club history.
2007
March 2, 2007: Rangers sign shortstop Michael Young to a contract extension through 2013.
March 19, 2007: Club's home renamed Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
August 11, 2007: Rusty Greer is inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame prior to a 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay at Rangers Ballpark.
August 22, 2007: The Rangers establish several modern Major League records with a 30-3 win in the first game of a doubleheader in Baltimore.
2008
February 6, 2008: Nolan Ryan returns to the Rangers as club president, just the third Hall of Famer to hold that position in Major League history.
February 19, 2008: Ian Kinsler signs a five-year $22 million contract extension.
July 14, 2008: Josh Hamilton sets a record with 28 home runs in the first round of the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium.
Nov. 6, 2008: Michael Young wins his first Gold Glove for defensive excellence at shortstop.
2009
April 15, 2009: Ian Kinsler becomes the fourth Rangers player to hit for the cycle when he goes 6-for-6 in a 19-6 victory over the Orioles.
June 10, 2009: The Rangers exercise their 2010 option on manager Ron Washington.
July 14, 2009: Michael Young, selected to the American League All-Star team for the sixth consecutive year, makes his first start when he replaces Evan Longoria at third base in St. Louis.
August 18, 2009: Catcher Ivan Rodriguez is acquired from the Houston Astros and makes his first appearance with the Rangers since 2002.