Rusty Greer #29

Graduated from University of Montevallo in 1995...hobbies include hunting and fishing...the 2002 recipient of the Jim Sundberg Community Achievement and the Rangers Roberto Clemente Awards...Elected to Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003...has been active with the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth...hosted a celebrity sporting clays shoot for the benefit of the Natural Resource Foundation of Texas from 1999-2001...served as co-honorary chairman of the Rangers/Dallas Stars "Hope for the Holidays" program in 2000 and 2001 and has also been involved with the Rangers' Rookie League, Dr. Pepper Junior Rangers and Toys for Tots programs as well as the North Texas Food Bank and the Texas Special Olympics...favorite major league team as a youngster was the Boston Red Sox and favorite player was George Brett...voted the most popular Ranger in 1996, 1997 and 1998 polls of the Arlington Star-Telegram...Rusty and his wife, the former Lauri Fields, were married on Dec. 2, 1994 and have 3 children, Clayton Paul (11/11/99) and twins Mason and Taylor (5/23/00)...played 4 seasons at the University of Montevallo (AL)...a 2-time All-American selection and team MVP in 1990...lettered 4 times each in baseball and basketball at Albertville (AL) HS (graduated '87)...earned all-state honors in baseball in senior year...participated in Little League, Babe Ruth League, and Khoury League programs.

2003

Will miss the entire 2004 season due to several injuries...had left elbow surgery on July 23, 2003...underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery and an ulnar nerve transposition during the procedure...spent the remainder of 2003 undergoing rehab from the operation...had surgery to remove scar tissue in elbow on Feb. 11, 2004...missed the entire 2003 season due to injuries...had 2 surgical procedures performed in 2002 ...underwent surgery to fuse the C5/C6 vertabrae in his neck on August 22...had open surgery to repair rotator cuff tear in left shoulder on November 20...is also expected to need surgery on his right hip and right knee later in the year...expected to require a minimum of 8 months to recover from the elbow surgery...career average is .305 (1,166-3,829), sixth highest in club history...hit .300 in 4 consecutive seasons from 1996-99, one of 4 players in Rangers history (Ivan Rodriguez-5; Juan Gonzalez and Al Oliver-4) with 4 or more qualifying years at .300...has career .387 on base percentage (1,707 OB/4,414 PA)...career .317 (591-1863) average at The Ballpark in Arlington is second highest all-time among players with 500 or more at-bats behind Ivan Rodriguez at .331...has a career .418 (33-79) average with the bases loaded...6 career grand slams, one shy of most in Rangers' history (Juan Gonzalez/Rafael Palmeiro)...has a pair of 20-homer seasons including career best 26 in 1997, the most by a left-handed batter in club history other than Rafael Palmeiro...had 4 2-homer games that season, becoming the first Ranger ever with consecutive multi-homer games, August 22-23 vs. Chicago (Alex Rodriguez became the second, August 17-18, 2002)...has 9 career 2-homer games, last on April 27, 2001 at Cleveland...tied for second all-time in career home runs on Friday the 13th: 2 homers on June 13, 1997 vs. San Francisco; both games of DH on August 13, 1999 vs. Chicago; and April 13, 2001 at Oakland...one of only 5 players in Rangers history (Juan Gonzalez-3; Alex Rodriguez-3; Rafael Palmeiro-2; Ruben Sierra-2) to record 100 runs and 100 RBI in at least 2 seasons...joins Gonzalez and Rodriguez as only Rangers to reach the century mark in both runs and RBI in consecutive years, having earned 107 runs and 108 RBI in 1998 and 107 runs and 101 RBI in 1999...first Ranger to score 100 runs in 3 consecutive seasons (1997-99) until Alex Rodriguez tied the mark from 2001-03...on Texas' all-time lists, is fourth in runs (643), doubles (258), triples (25), and walks (519), ranks fifth in total bases (1,831), extra base hits (402), and RBI (614), is sixth in average (.30452) and hits (1,166), and seventh in games (1,027) and at-bats (3,829)...has 16 home runs and 57 RBI in career vs. the White Sox, both the best against any opponent...has batted .335 (65-194) against Boston since 1996 but last faced the Red Sox in 2000...highest career averages are .356 (41-115) against Tampa Bay, .350 (86-246) vs. Kansas City and .348 (112-322) against Seattle...had a .947 (2 E/38 TC) fielding percentage in 26 outfield games in 2002, the lowest figure of his major league career...was at .985 (3 E/200 TC) in 97 games in 2000, matching his fewest errors ever in a season (1998)...tied for ninth among AL outfielders in errors (5) and was 10th in total chances (294) and putouts (286) in 1999...ranked seventh among AL outfielders in fielding (.99041) in 1998, second among leftfielders...led AL outfielders in errors (12) in 1997, the most by a Ranger since Pete Incaviglia (13) in 1985...career best for assists is 9 in 1997 and 1995...had a string of 76 consecutive errorless games from July 28, 1996-May 11, 1997...in 1996 moved from right to left field in spring training and had a .984 (5 E/315 TC) percentage in 137 total games, tying for the team lead in assists (6)...tied for sixth in the AL in assists in 1995...has 40 career assists...is 4-36 (.111) in 10 games, all starts in left, over 3 Division Series in 1996, 1998, and 1999 against New York...went 1-9 with 3 walks in 1999...snapped an 0-17 postseason drought with ninth inning single in Game 3, his first hit since fourth inning single in Game 1 of 1998 DS...was 2 shy of Division Series record for consecutive hitless at-bats, set by Joey Cora, 1997-98...was 1-11 in 1998 and 2-16 in 1996.

2002

Appeared in just 51 games, the fewest of his major league career...made starts at DH (22), left (18), right (6), and first base (1)...went 5-20 in year's first 6 games, then hit safely in 19 of next 20 contests at .367 (33-90) to raise average to .345 through May 2...batted safely in first 11 games of that stretch, April 10-21...had a .195 (15-77) average in next 20 games before going 6-11in last 4 contests...hit .311 with both runners in scoring position (14-45)...Had a .247 (21-85) average with 5 RBI as the dh...became seventh Ranger to ever play in 1,000 games with the club on April 30 at Toronto...began to have pain in his lower back and hip area after making 2 diving catches on June 2 vs. Kansas City...placed on the DL on June 7 (retroactive to June 4) with a bone bruise and a hyperextension in his back...assigned to Tulsa (AA) on rehab on July 1 and was 7-17 in 6 games...activated on July 11 and appeared as a defensive replacement that night but experienced continued discomfort in his back and neck and did not play again...went back on the DL on July 16 (retroactive to July 12) for the remainder of the year.

2001

Started just 59 games in left before being sidelined for the season on June 12 with what was thought to be a pulled muscle in his left side...sent to Tulsa for rehab assignment on July 18 but played in just one game before aggravating injury and was removed from rehab on July 23...further testing diagnosed a pinched nerve which required surgery on August 3...also had surgery to remove bone chips from left elbow on August 20...batted .277 (67-242) in the leadoff spot with a .345 (95-275) on-base percentage, sixth best among AL leadoff hitters (150 or more plate appearances).

2000

Started 96 games in left field and 2 as the designated hitter...Led club in doubles (34), ranked 3rd in walks (51), and was 4th in rbi (65)...Strained left hamstring on April 12 at New York and was placed on 15-day disabled list on April 15...Also had bone spurs removed from his right ankle on April 16...Was activated on May 27...Sat out final 9 games of the season with plantar fascitis, a muscle inflammation on the bottom of both feet...Tied club record and career high with 5 hits, Aug. 31...Established a club record with 9 consecutive multi-hit games, June 17-27, the longest streak in the majors since Minnesota's Chuck Knoblauch had a 10-game streak in 1996...Tied team mark with 3 doubles, Aug. 17 at Boston...Recorded his 1000th career hit in 878th game on Aug. 7 at Cleveland, the fewest games ever for a Ranger to reach that milestone...Was the Rangers player of the month in August.

1999

Rusty started 145 games in left field and tied for the team lead with 41 doubles, which matched the 5th most in the A.L. and tied for 9th in team history. He was 2nd on the team with a career-best 96 walks, tied for 9th most in the American League. Rusty had the 2nd highest on-base percentage on the club (.405), scored the 3rd most runs (107) and ranked 4th in batting (.300) and rbi (101). He produced the Rangers' 9th season ever with at least 100 runs and 100 rbi...Hit .326 (30-92) in 1st 24 games through May 1 and was still as high as .314 (48-153) in 40 games on May 19...Had a season high 4 hits, April 13 at Seattle...Posted a 10-game hitting streak, April 21-May 1...Batted .225 (37-164) in 44 contests, May 21-July 11 and was at .268 (85-317) at the all-star break...Hit .343 (82-239) with 13 of 20 home runs in the 2nd half, reaching base in 57 of 63 games...Had a season high 11-game hitting streak, Aug. 17-28, batting .488 (21-43) with 12 rbi and 11 runs to rise from .287 to .302...Hit .310 (26-84) in final 21 games, Aug. 31-Oct. 1...Hit .318 (82-258) at home, .285 (85-74) on the road...Belted 17 of 20 homers and batted .306 (132-432) against righthanders...His 20 homers were the 2nd most of career to 1997 (26)...Did not go deep in the season's 1st 22 games then had 6 homers in next 16 contests, including 3 straight, May 11-14...Then went 33 more games without a homer...Had a pair of 2 homer contests, Aug. 15 at Chicago and Aug. 21 vs. Boston, giving him 8 multi-home run games in career...Had a game-winning grand slam in 9th inning, May 11 in Chicago, his 6th career grand slam, one shy of club record...Had a season high 4 rbi in consecutive games, May 11 and 13, and drove in 12 runs in 4 games, May 11-15...Recorded the game-winning rbi in the Rangers' last at bat twice in 1999 and has accomplished that 15 times since the beginning of 1995 (see below)...500th career rbi was the game-winner in the Rangers' Division-clinching victory, Sept. 26 against Oakland...Was hit in left eye by a thrown ball during batting practice, Sept. 13 in Kansas City...Sustained a bruised retina and broken nose and was bothered by blurred vision...After missing 6 games, returned to the lineup on Sept. 21 but left the game after 4 innings due to recurring vision trouble...After sitting out one more game, began playing again on Sept. 24.

1998

Led the Rangers in triples (5) and on-base percentage (.386), was 2nd in games (155), at bats (598), runs (107), rbi (career high 108) and walks (80) and placed 3rd in average (.306) and hits (183)...Started 151 games in left field...Hit .300 for the 3rd consecutive year and became the 6th player in Rangers' history to have at least 100 runs and 100 rbi...Hit a career high .337 (59-175) vs. lefthanders...16 homers were fewest since 1995 (13)...Was 7-16 with 17 rbi with the bases loaded...Grounded into 18 double plays, tied for 2nd most on the club and tied for 9th most in the league...Had 7 straight hits, one shy of the club record, May 9-11...Produced 6th 2 homer game, May 14 at New York and had 5th grand slam, Aug. 15 at the Yankees...Tied career high with 6 rbi on May 14 at New York...Missed final 5 games before the all-star break with a strained left oblique muscle...Was the Rangers' player of the month for July...Had a season-best 11-game hitting streak, July 15-26.

1997

Started 139 games in left, 12 in center, one in right, and 2 at dh...Finished 2nd in the American League in hits (193) and multi-hit games (59) and also ranked among the league leaders in runs (T5th, 112), total bases (5th, 319), doubles (T5th, 42), average (7th, .321), extra base hits (7th, 71), games (T8th, 157), on-base percentage (8th, .405), and singles (9th, 122)...Led the Rangers in average, games, at bats (601), runs, hits, total bases, doubles, walks (83), on-base percentage, and game-winning rbi (12), and was 2nd in homers (26), rbi (87), and slugging (.531) and established career highs for games, at bats, runs, hits, doubles, homers, walks, and steals (9-tied)...Tied for 3rd most homers ever by a Rangers lefthanded batter behind Rafael Palmeiro (47 in 1999; 37 in 1993; 26 in 1991)...Was the Rangers Player of the Month in June and the A.L. Player of the Week for June 9-15 (.600, 3 hr, 5 rbi)...Led A.L. with .370 (111-300) average at home, highest figure for a Ranger ever at The Ballpark in Arlington...Had 2 homers in a game 4 times, becoming the 1st Ranger ever with consecutive multi-homer games, Aug. 22-23 vs. Chicago...Tied club record with 4 total homers in back-to-back contests...Drove in career high 6 runs in each of those games, a club record for rbi in back-to-back contests.

1996

Led the team in batting at career high .332, 3rd best in club history and 5th highest in the American League, and on-base percentage at .397, was 2nd in doubles (41, tied for 8th in the league) and game-winning rbi (14), and placed 3rd in rbi (100), hits (180), and runs (96)...Started 135 games in left and one in center...Hit .347 (148-426) in his last 107 contests...Batted safely in 26 of the 1st 28 games of that stretch at .394 (41-104) with hitting streaks of 11 and career high 13 games...Had an extra base hit in 7 straight games, May 11-18, one shy of the club record...Tied club record with 5 hits on July 21 against Oakland...Sprained his left shoulder after hitting the outfield wall on May 18 in Cleveland and did not start the next 10 games...Was also out of the lineup for 15 straight games, Sept. 6-20 with fractured rib on right side...Was 2-16 in Division Series against New York.

1995

Finished 2nd on the club in game-winning rbi (11), tied for 3rd in doubles (21), was 4th in homers (13), and placed 5th in rbi (61)...Started 62 games in rightfield, 42 in left, 3 in center, and 3 at 1st base...Was 6-14 (.429) with 2 homers and 8 rbi as pinch-hitter, topping A.L. in pinch average (10 or more ab), tying for 1st in homers, and matching 3rd most rbi...Had 3rd pinch hit grand slam in club history on May 18 vs. Milwaukee.

1994

Was recalled from Oklahoma City on May 16 and went on to lead all major league rookies with a .314 batting average...Had the 3rd best average among Rangers' regulars and was 3rd on the club in walks (46)... Beginning May 21, was in the starting lineup for 73 of Texas' last 74 games...Was the Rangers Rookie of the Year, placed 3rd in BBWAA A.L. Rookie of the Year voting, 2 points out of 2nd, and earned a spot on Baseball Digest's Major League Rookie All-Star Team...Average was 2nd best ever for a Rangers rookie behind Mike Hargrove in 1974 (.323)...Also led A.L. 1st year players in on-base percentage (.410), was 2nd in hits (87) and walks, placed 3rd in total bases (135) and slugging (.487), and tied for 4th in homers (10) and rbi (46). Was 3-6 with a homer and 3 rbi in his major league debut on May 16 at Oakland...Homered for 1st hit in his 2nd big league at bat off the A's Carlos Reyes in the 2nd inning, the 1st Ranger to accomplish that feat since Ruben Sierra on June 1, 1986 at Kansas City...Made a diving catch of Rex Hudler's leadoff liner in the 9th inning to preserve Kenny Rogers' perfect game on July 28 against California...Also caught Gary DiSarcina's line drive for the final out of that contest...Had 2 homers on July 21 at Toronto, including the 16th inside-the-park homer in club history...Was the 5th Ranger to hit inside-the-park and over-the-fence homers in the same game (see chart on page 70)...At time of promotion to Texas, was 10th in the American Association in batting (.315).