Texas Rangers top five catchers of all time

Texas Rangers catcher number two — Jim Sundberg

For years, the gold standard for Rangers backstops was Jim Sundberg. In 12 seasons, he played 1,495 games at catcher: more than anyone in team history. The team inducted him into the inaugural class of the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2003.

He represented the Rangers twice in the All-Star Game, including his rookie year in 1974. At the end of that season, he finished fourth in voting for the American League Rookie of the Year.

He had a consistent and decent offensive game and batted .252 in his Texas career with 1,180 hits and exactly 200 doubles. But forget offense. That was not his specialty.

From 1976 to 1981, Sundberg took home six consecutive Gold Glove Awards.

From 1976 to 1981, Sundberg took home six consecutive Gold Glove Awards. In 1977, 56% of opposing base runners failed to safely steal against him. That same year, he caught the second no-hitter in team history, thrown by baseball Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven.

He ranks sixth all-time (second among catchers) in career Wins Above Replacement for Texas with 34.7 and he’s number two all-time (and among catchers) in defensive WAR with 20.5. With 543 career Runs Created, he ranks 12th all-time (again, second among catchers).

After retiring from baseball, he spent ten seasons in the Rangers front office and had a community service award named after him in 1989 because of his charity work during his playing days.