Vladimir Guerrero elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame

Vladimir Guerrero has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his second year on the ballot, it was announced this evening.

January 24th, 2018

Arlington, Texas-Vladimir Guerrero has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his second year on the ballot, it was announced this evening.
Guerrero joins infielders Chipper Jones and Jim Thome and pitcher Trevor Hoffman as BBWAA selections in the Hall of Fame class of 2018. They will join a pair of Modern Baseball Area Committee selections, pitcher Jack Morris and shortstop Alan Trammell as inductees in the Class of 2018 on Sunday, July 29 in Cooperstown, New York.
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.
Guerrero, who played for the Rangers in 2010, 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),
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 (4th), total bases (9th, .294), home runs (T9th), hits (13th, 178), and slugging (13th, .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.
CURRENT AND FORMER RANGERS ON NEW HALL OF FAMER VLADIMIR GUERRERO:
President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jon Daniels:
"Vlad was a great teammate and leader for us in 2010. His bat in the middle of the order was a huge reason our lineup produced, and his leadership really helped a number of our younger guys. Congratulations on an amazing honor to a really genuine guy."
Shortstop Elvis Andrus:
"I think Vlad deserves it. He deserves to be there. He had an amazing career. He played the game the right way. And I'm really glad and blessed to be able to play with him in 2010, our first World Series for the organization. So, I'm really glad for him. I was pulling (for him) actually last year. But everything happens for a reason."
Pitcher Colby Lewis:
"Vladdy was a veteran guy who knew how to play the game and played hard every time he took the field for us. He always brought a huge smile to the clubhouse that relaxed everyone. He was a great teammate."
Outfielder David Murphy:
"Vladdy was the perfect example of a baseball player. I remember loving him from the time he broke into the majors when I was in high school, so having a front row seat to watch him for an entire season was a treat. He was the piece that we needed to solidify our lineup and become a playoff team.
My favorite thing about him was the way he had so much fun playing the game, like a kid in a sandlot would. I see a lot of similarities between him and Adrian (Beltre). He will always stand out as one of my favorite players and teammates."
2017 National Baseball Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez:
"He was a very natural player who could just go out and play the game. Vlad was the best bad ball hitter I have ever seen and his ability to put those kind of pitches in play was amazing. He is very humble but played the game was a lot of charisma and a real enjoyment. Vlad is a great human being and I am thrilled to welcome him to Cooperstown. It is very much deserved."
Rangers Hall of Famer Michael Young:
"Vladdy was a huge part of an incredible time for our organization and our fans. He was a clear Hall of Fame talent, and left a division rival to come our way. He fit in perfectly from Day 1. We were all amazed at his competitiveness. He's a proud man, expected a lot of himself, and was a fantastic teammate. He was only here a year, but left a huge footprint on our organization."