The Texas Rangers will honor former Ranger and Class of 2018 NationalBaseball Hall of Fame inductee Vladimir Guerrero on Friday and Saturday, August 3-4, when the club hosts the Baltimore Orioles.
Guerrero, who played for the Rangers in 2010, will join fellow BBWAA electees infielders Chipper Jones and Jim Thome and pitcher Trevor Hoffman and a pair of Modern Baseball Area Committee selections, pitcher Jack Morris and shortstop Alan Trammell as inductees in the Class of 2018 this Sunday, July 29 in Cooperstown, New York.
Guerrero will be the guest of honor at the Dr Pepper Hall of Fame Luncheon on Friday, August3 at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers today announced details of the luncheon program, which will include three roundtables:
The Legacy of Ted Williams--Moderated by Tom Grieve, who played for Williams in Washington and Texas from 1970-72
Eddie Robinson-former Major League 1B-OF from 1942-57 who played against Williams
Rich Billings-former Major League catcher who played for Williams in Washington and Texas from 1969-72
Bill Zeigler-former Washington Senators and Texas Rangers trainer who worked for Williams from 1970-72
Remembering Vladimir Guerrero as a Ranger--Moderated by FSSW's Emily Jones:
Elvis Andrus-Rangers shortstop and 2010 teammate
Josh Hamilton-Former Rangers outfielder and 2010 A.L. Most Valuable Player and teammate
Darren Oliver-Former Rangers pitcher and 2010 teammate
The Hall of Famers--Moderated by Eric Nadel, 2014 Ford C. Frick Award recipient and 40-year Rangers' broadcaster
Vladimir Guerrero-National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2018
Ivan Rodriguez--National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2017
The Rangers will feature bobblehead giveaways for both Guerrero and Williams during that weekend's series with the Orioles.
The Hall of Fame Luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at the All You Can Eat Porch at Globe Life Park. Tickets are priced at $75 each, and the net proceeds will benefit the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and Mission Arlington/Metroplex. Tickets can be purchased at texasrangers.com/halloffame or by calling 817-273-5222. Other luncheon sponsors include FOX Sports Southwest, 105.3 The FAN, TXA21, and CBS11.
A number of special events will take place during the Rangers-Orioles series that weekend:
Friday, August 3 vs. Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.
--Vladimir Guerrero will sign autographs in the New Era Alumni Alley, 6:00-6:45 p.m.
--Dr Pepper/Kroger Eric Nadel 40^th Anniversary Microphone giveaway to first 15,000 fans.
--T-Mobile Friday Fireworks.
Saturday, August 4 vs. Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.
--Pre-game on-field ceremony to honor Vladimir Guerrero
--Allstate Vladimir Guerrero Hall of Fame Bobblehead giveaway to first 15,000 fans.
Sunday, August 5 vs. Baltimore, 2:05 p.m.
--Sweet Baby Ray's Ted Williams 1^st Rangers Manager Bobblehead giveaway to first 15,000 fans.
--Lonestar Post-Game Concert presented by Budweiser.
--Blue Bell Ice Cream Sunday ($1, 13 & under).
Guerrero becomes the seventh player who wore a Texas Rangers uniform to be elected to the Hall of Fame, joining Ferguson Jenkins (1991), Gaylord Perry (1991), Nolan Ryan (1999), Rich Gossage (2008), Bert Blyleven (2011), and Ivan Rodriguez (2017). Ryan and Rodriguez are the Hall of Famers with Rangers caps adorning their plaques. Other Hall of Famers with Rangers connections are managers Ted Williams (1966) and Whitey Herzog (2010), and coach Nellie Fox (1987). Guerrero received 392 of the 422 votes submitted by qualifying BBWAA members for 92.9% as 75% (317 of 422) were needed for election. He had received 71.7% of the votes in 2017.
Signed as a free agent on January 11, 2010, Guerrero batted .300 with 29 home runs and a team high 115 RBI in 152 games for the 2010 American League champion Rangers. He ranked among the A.L. leaders in RBI (4^th), total bases (9^th, .294), home runs (T9th), hits (13^th, 178), and slugging (13^th, .496). Guerrero started 129 games as the designated hitter and 15 in right field. He was selected as the Edgar Martinez Designated Hitter of the Year with a .306 average, 25 homers, and 106 RBI in that role. Guerrero was also named the A.L. Comeback Player of the Year by The Sporting News. He became a free agent at the conclusion of that season and spent his final Major League campaign with Baltimore in 2011.
Guerrero had a .318 average with 449 homers and 1496 RBI in 2147 games with Montreal (1996-2003), The Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels (2004-09), Texas (2010), and Baltimore (2011). He was a 9-time All-Star and captured eight Silver Slugger Awards while winning the 2004 A.L. Most Valuable Player Award with the Angels.
Tickets for all 2018 Texas Rangers home games can be purchased at texasrangers.com, bycalling 972-RANGERS, or at the Globe Life Park in Arlington first base box office.