Remembering the Rangers' First MVP
The first Ranger to win the MVP Award may be one of the most obscure MVPs in MLB history. His award came early in Rangers history, when they were new to the league and not considered a top team. However, by winning the MVP and leading the Rangers to an alarming turnaround season in 1974, Jeff Burroughs was one of the key men who helped put the franchise on the map. Burroughs made his MLB debut with the Washington Senators in 1969. He moved to Texas with the club in 1972 and established himself in 1973, when he clubbed 30 homers for a team that lost 105 games. In 1974, Burroughs captured the league MVP Award with a .301 average, 25 homers, and a league-leading 118 RBI's, helping the Rangers improve to 84-76 and climb to second place in the division. Over his career, Burroughs spent sixteen seasons in the Major Leagues, including seven with the Rangers. His career high in homers was 41, achieved in 1977 as a member of the Atlanta Braves, and he led MLB in walks (117) and OBP (...