Rangers Legend Earns Selection to MLB Insider’s All-Quarter Century Team

Oct 28, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Former Texas Rangers player Adrian Beltre walks to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks in game two of the 2023 World Series at Globe Life Field.
Oct 28, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Former Texas Rangers player Adrian Beltre walks to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks in game two of the 2023 World Series at Globe Life Field. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Competitive breeds greatness. It also makes it hard to select just one player to be considered the best at one position.

That’s the task The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (subscription required) recently undertook. The long-time baseball writer put together an all-quarter century team. The goal — the best player at each position from 2000-25.

Third base was a difficult one for him, he admitted. In fact, his first choice was Atlanta’s Chipper Jones. Other Hall of Famers were involved too, including Scott Rolen. There are even current players like Manny Machado, Nolan Arenado and José Ramírez who aren’t done with their careers. Alex Rodriguez was even in the mix.

But, in the end, Stark selected the Texas Rangers’ newly-minted Baseball Hall of Fame third baseman Adrián Beltré.

Stark admits it was a tough internal debate. He eliminated A-Rod due to PED scandals. The choice was Beltré, Jones and Rolen, he wrote.

“So in the end, how could this not be Beltré, who fell just short of 3,000 hits and 500 homers on this side of the Y2K line, while redefining what elite third-base leatherwork looked like?” he wrote.

Rangers fans would find it hard to argue with that assessment. Beltré played for other teams, but he wears a Rangers cap on his hat on his plaque in Cooperstown and one could argue he made his biggest impact in Arlington.

He played 21 seasons, made his debut at 19 years old with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played his final eight seasons with the Rangers before he retired in 2018. He joined Texas in 2011, with the franchise coming off its first World Series appearance and he helped them push for another in his first season.

He made three of his four All-Star Game appearances with Texas. He won three of his five Gold Gloves with Texas. He won two of his four Silver Sluggers with Texas. He finished in the Top 25 in MVP voting six times with Texas.

By the end of his eight seasons, he slashed .304/.357/.509 with 199 home runs and 699 RBI.

And, as Passan noted, he did most of his damage in the 21st century. He only played 239 of his 2,933 career games in the 1990s.

Beltré’s No. 19 is retired by the Rangers, and he was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame shortly after his retirement. He is a member of the 3,000-hit club, as he finished his career with 3,166 hits. He is No. 18 all-time and one of 33 players with 3,000 hits.

So, yes, he’s most assuredly all-quarter century team material.

Related Posts

Aѕtroѕ Acquіre $40 Mіllіon Pіtcher іn Trаde Proрoѕаl Wіth Orіoleѕ

An Astros-Orioles trade idea sends a veteran right-hander to Houston to help the Astros chase their third World Series title since 2017.

Cubѕ’ѕ Juѕtіn Turner bаѕkeѕ іn glory аfter home run derby іdeа becomeѕ reаlіty

After the All-Star Game ended in a home run derby style, Cubs’ Justin Turner had remind everyone he came up with that idea.

JJ Wetherholt іѕ the Begіnnіng of а New Erа for the Cаrdіnаlѕ

With Paul Goldschmidt leaving and Nolan Arenado getting older, is JJ Wetherholt the beginning of a new era in St. Louis?

Heаlthy Jаcob DeGrom Hаррy To Pаy Dіvіdendѕ On Rаngerѕ’ Inveѕtment

Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom has recaptured his All-Star form following four injury-marred seasons.

Gіаntѕ Sіgn Kent Stаte Stаr, MAC Plаyer of Yeаr аѕ Undrаfted MLB Free Agent

The work doesn’t end for teams like the San Francisco Giants when the MLB draft ends. Golden Flashed th

Red Sox Pіtcher Hаѕ Plаyed Hіmѕelf Out of the Bullрen Aheаd of the Trаde Deаdlіne

With the All-Star Break and the trade deadline approaching, the Red Sox need to make some decisions. Per Jeff Passan, he and many others believe that the Red So