Here are the non-players in the Rangers Hall of Fame

ARLINGTON -- The Texas Rangers Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to honor individuals who have impacted the organization both on and off the field.

Starting in 2009, the Rangers Hall of Fame began a new process required for induction in which a group comprised of all living members of the Hall of Fame, veteran members of the media and Rangers club officials meet to consider future inductees.

To be considered for 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. After Elvis Andrus’ induction in 2025, the Rangers have 18 players in the Hall and nine managers, executives and other club officials.

Let’s take a look at the non-player inductees into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame.

Johnny Oates | Manager
With Rangers: 1995-2001
Inducted: 2003

Oates is the only non-player to have his number (No. 26) retired by the Rangers after leading the club to its most successful years to that point.

He led the Rangers -- who relocated to Arlington in 1972 -- to their first playoff appearance in team history in 1996, as well as to American League West titles in both 1998-99. Texas won just one playoff game during Oates’ tenure (Game 1 of the 1996 ALDS), losing all series to the New York Yankees dynasty.

Oates managed a pair of MVP seasons from Juan Gonzalez and Pudge Rodriguez, as well as a group of Will Clark, Mark McLemore, Dean Palmer and Rusty Greer that powered the Rangers’ explosive offensives of the 90s.

Oates finished his Rangers managerial career with a 506-476 record.

Tom Vandergriff | Mayor of Arlington
Years: 1951-77
Inducted: 2004

Tom Vandergriff is the former mayor of Arlington who spent years working to bring Major League Baseball to the Metroplex. After coming up short almost a decade prior when American League owners shut down the relocation of the Kansas City Athletics, Washington Senators owner Bob Short and Vandergriff came to an agreement in 1971 that would move the organization to Arlington for the start of the ‘72 season.

He also pushed for the construction of Arlington Stadium, which was built in 1965 and housed the ballclub from 1972-1993.

Mark Holtz | Broadcaster
With Rangers: 1981-1997
Inducted: 2005

Holtz began as the Rangers’ cable TV broadcaster in 1981 before serving as the club’s radio play-by-play voice alongside color commentator Eric Nadel from 1982-1994. Holtz became known for his iconic opening line, “It’s baseball time in Texas," as well as closing with “Hello win column” after a Rangers win.

• Frick winner Nadel recalls late Holtz's impact

Tom Grieve
Playing Career: 1970-77
Executive: 1980-94
Broadcaster: 1995-2022
Inducted: 2010

This one is a trick question. Grieve was obviously a player. He was drafted by the Washington Senators in 1966 and was part of the inaugural Rangers team in 1972, spending seven of his nine big league seasons with the organization across the two cities.

But Grieve is more known for his time as an executive and broadcaster for the club. Mr. Ranger, as he was known during his 55 years in the organization in various roles, joined the Texas front office in ticket sales in 1980, while also filling in as a color commentator for television broadcasts when necessary. He soon earned a promotion to assistant farm director and then farm director.

When general manager Joe Klein resigned in September 1984, Grieve became the youngest GM in baseball at 36, and served in that role until 1995. He was relieved of his GM duties when the players went on strike in August 1994, and joined the broadcast team in ’95. He continued his work on TV until his retirement at the end of the '22 season.

Eric Nadel | Broadcaster
With Rangers: 1979-present
Inducted: 2012

Nadel has been synonymous with the Texas Rangers organization throughout his time with the club. He joined both the TV and radio broadcasts in 1979 before beginning a 13-year run with Mark Holtz on the radio from 1982-94. When Holtz returned to TV in ‘95, Nadel became the primary radio play-by-play voice.

In 2014, Nadel was selected as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, presented for excellence in broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Tom Schieffer | Team Executive
With Rangers: 1990-99
Inducted: 2014

Schieffer was part of the ownership group headed by future president George W. Bush and Rusty Rose that bought the Rangers back in April 1989. Shortly afterwards, on July 26, 1990, Schieffer was named by Bush and Rose to lead the Rangers' effort to secure a new ballpark to replace Arlington Stadium. The Ballpark in Arlington eventually opened in 1994.

In 1991, Schieffer replaced Mike Stone as club president and oversaw all of the franchise's operations while Bush focused on his gubernatorial and eventually presidential campaigns.

During his tenure as an executive, the Rangers reached the postseason for the first three times in franchise history (1996, 1998, 1999).

Richard Greene | Mayor of Arlington
Years: 1987-97
Inducted: 2019

Greene is credited with keeping the Rangers in Arlington in the late 1980s after former owner Eddie Chiles began struggling financially and Arlington Stadium became more and more run down. Many cities across the Metroplex -- including Dallas, Plano and Addison -- were gearing up for bids of their own.

Greene made sure that never came to fruition.

“Just a period of time that was a turning point in the whole history of the city,” Greene said at his induction ceremony. “If we lose our ballclub, then everything changes about the future of Arlington. Today, we are sitting looking at the result of hanging on to our team and assuring that they are going to stay here. We were going to go backward, or we were going to go boldly into the future -- and that sounded like what we ought to be doing.”

Chuck Morgan | Executive/P.A. Announcer
With Rangers: 1983-present
Inducted: 2021

Morgan, ironically, coordinated the very first Texas Rangers Hall of Fame ceremony in 2003. Then, in 2021, he was inducted himself.

Morgan has been the public address announcer for the Rangers since the 1983 campaign, holding down the mic in three separate stadiums, from Arlington Stadium to Globe Life Park to Globe Life Field, sans a one-year pit stop in Kansas City in 2002.

In addition to creating the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame, he is also credited with the creation of the “Dot Race” at Rangers home games.

John Blake | Communications Executive
With Rangers: 1984-2004, 2008-present
Inducted: 2022

Blake spent 46 years as an employee in professional baseball across three different organizations. Though he spent time with the Orioles (1979-1984) and Red Sox (2006-08) organizations, he spent the majority of his time deep in the heart of Texas.

In addition to his roles with the club, Blake has also served in a communications role at 30 World Series, 25 MLB All-Star Games and a pair of World Baseball Classics.

• John Blake's 3 favorite Rangers moments

After his retirement, Blake transitioned into a new part-time role of team historian in November 2024, overseeing alumni activities, archives, and publications with involvement in other club projects and events.