1996 Texas Rangers season
Major League Baseball team season
The 1996 Texas Rangers season was the 36th of the Texas Rangers franchise overall, their 25th in Arlington as the Rangers, and their 3rd season at The Ballpark in Arlington . The Rangers finished first in the American League West with a record of 90 wins and 72 losses. It would be the first post-season appearance for the Senators/Rangers in franchise history, taking 36 seasons to finally accomplish the feat. This remains the longest amount of time it has ever taken any North American professional sports franchise to make their first playoff appearance.
The Rangers would win their first post-season game at Yankee Stadium against the New York Yankees , but would lose the last three games to lose the division series. The one post-season win would be the club's only post-season success until 2010 .
Offseason
October 8, 1995: Scott Podsednik was sent by the Rangers to the Florida Marlins to complete an earlier deal (the Rangers sent players to be named later to the Marlins for Bobby Witt , and sent Wilson Heredia to the Marlins on August 11) and made on August 8, 1995.[ 1]
December 21, 1995: Ken Hill was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.[ 2]
December 22, 1995: Mike Henneman was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.[ 3]
January 16, 1996: Kevin Elster was signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers.[ 4]
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Team
BAL
BOS
CAL
CWS
CLE
DET
KC
MIL
MIN
NYY
OAK
SEA
TEX
TOR
Baltimore
—
7–6
6–6
4–8
5–7
11–2
9–3
9–3
7–5
3–10
9–4
7–5
3–10–1
8–5
Boston
6–7
—
8–4
6–6
1–11
12–1
3–9
7–5
6–6
7–6
8–5
7–6
6–6
8–5
California
6–6
4–8
—
6–6
4–9
6–6
4–8
7–5
4–8
7–6
6–7
5–8
4–9
7–5
Chicago
8–4
6–6
6–6
—
5–8
10–3
7–6
6–7
6–7
6–7
5–7
5–7
8–4
7–5
Cleveland
7–5
11–1
9–4
8–5
—
12–0
7–6
7–6
10–3
3–9
6–6
8–4
4–8
7–5
Detroit
2–11
1–12
6–6
3–10
0–12
—
6–6
4–8
6–6
5–8
4–8
6–6
4–9
6–7
Kansas City
3–9
9–3
8–4
6–7
6–7
6–6
—
4–9
6–7
4–8
5–7
7–5
6–6
5–8
Milwaukee
3–9
5–7
5–7
7–6
6–7
8–4
9–4
—
9–4
6–6
7–5
4–9
6–7
5–7
Minnesota
5–7
6–6
8–4
7–6
3–10
6–6
7–6
4–9
—
5–7
6–7
6–6
7–5
8–5
New York
10–3
6–7
6–7
7–6
9–3
8–5
8–4
6–6
7–5
—
9–3
3–9
5–7
8–5
Oakland
4–9
5–8
7–6
7–5
6–6
8–4
7–5
5–7
7–6
3–9
—
8–5
7–6
4–8
Seattle
5–7
6–7
8–5
7–5
4–8
6–6
5–7
9–4
6–6
9–3
5–8
—
10–3
5–7
Texas
10–3–1
6–6
9–4
4–8
8–4
9–4
6–6
7–6
5–7
7–5
6–7
3–10
—
10–2
Toronto
5–8
5–8
5–7
5–7
5–7
7–6
8–5
7–5
5–8
5–8
8–4
7–5
2–10
—
Notable transactions
Roster
1996 Texas Rangers
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Other batters
Manager
Coaches
Game log
Regular season
Game log
1996 Game Log: 90–72 (Home: 50–31; Away: 40–41)
April: 16–10 (Home: 11–4; Away: 5–6)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
1
April 1
Red Sox
5–3
Hill (1–0)
Clemens
Vosberg (1)
40,484
1–0
2
April 3
Red Sox
7–2
Pavlik (1–0)
Gordon
—
24,483
2–0
3
April 4
Red Sox
13–2
Gross (1–0)
Wakefield
—
18,086
3–0
4
April 6
Yankees
4–2
Witt (1–0)
Key
Henneman (1)
35,510
4–0
5
April 7
Yankees
7–2
Hill (2–0)
Gooden
—
—
5–0
6
April 7
Yankees
4–1
Pavlik (2–0)
Howe
Vosberg (2)
36,248
6–0
7
April 9
@ White Sox
3–2
Gross (2–0)
Thomas
Henneman (2)
34,750
7–0
8
April 11
@ White Sox
5–8 (11)
Thomas
Henneman (0–1)
—
16,685
7–1
9
April 12
@ Yankees
3–4
Cone
Hill (2–1)
Wetteland
20,238
7–2
10
April 13
@ Yankees
10–6
Pavlik (3–0)
Gooden
Vosberg (3)
19,603
8–2
11
April 14
@ Yankees
3–12
Pettitte
Gross (2–1)
—
20,181
8–3
12
April 15
Athletics
3–8
Mohler
Heredia (0–1)
—
19,312
8–4
13
April 16
Athletics
5–3
Witt (2–0)
Johns
Henneman (3)
20,948
9–4
14
April 17
Athletics
12–1
Hill (3–1)
Reyes
—
24,120
10–4
15
April 19
Orioles
26–7
Cook (1–0)
Mercker
Vosberg (4)
41,184
11–4
16
April 20
Orioles
8–3
Gross (3–1)
Haynes
—
45,358
12–4
17
April 21
Orioles
9–6
Oliver (1–0)
Wells
—
39,456
13–4
18
April 22
White Sox
4–12
Fernandez
Witt (2–1)
Karchner
22,348
13–5
19
April 23
White Sox
5–6
Baldwin
Hill (3–2)
Hernandez
29,123
13–6
20
April 24
@ Red Sox
9–11
Stanton
Heredia (0–2)
Slocumb
19,217
13–7
21
April 25
@ Red Sox
3–8
Wakefield
Gross (3–2)
—
20,350
13–8
22
April 26
@ Orioles
5–4
Brandenburg (1–0)
Wells
Henneman (4)
44,022
14–8
23
April 27
@ Orioles
4–2
Witt (3–1)
Erickson
Vosberg (5)
47,311
15–8
24
April 28
@ Orioles
5–4 (10)
Heredia (1–2)
McDowell
Henneman (5)
47,327
16–8
25
April 29
@ Orioles
7–8
Haynes
Helling (0–1)
Myers
41,503
16–9
26
April 30
Mariners
0–8
Bosio
Gross (3–3)
—
27,272
16–10
May: 18–9 (Home: 11–3; Away: 7–6)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
27
May 1
Mariners
5–4
Russell (1–0)
Jackson
Henneman (6)
31,775
17–10
28
May 2
@ Tigers
2–5
Lira
Witt (3–2)
Williams
7,416
17–11
29
May 3
@ Tigers
11–0
Hill (4–2)
Keagle
—
9,079
18–11
30
May 4
@ Tigers
3–1
Pavlik (4–0)
Gohr
—
10,734
19–11
31
May 5
@ Tigers
3–2
Gross (4–3)
Lima
Henneman (7)
12,337
20–11
32
May 7
Blue Jays
5–1
Oliver (2–0)
Guzman
—
23,005
21–11
33
May 8
Blue Jays
4–2
Witt (4–2)
Hanson
Henneman (8)
20,694
22–11
34
May 9
Blue Jays
2–5
Quantrill
Hill (4–3)
Timlin
34,451
22–12
35
May 10
Tigers
6–2
Pavlik (5–0)
Lima
Henneman (9)
31,426
23–12
36
May 11
Tigers
11–7
Gross (5–3)
Aldred
—
42,732
24–12
37
May 12
Tigers
3–5
Lira
Oliver (2–1)
Myers
35,677
24–13
38
May 13
Royals
7–6
Cook (2–0)
Montgomery
Henneman (10)
22,981
25–13
39
May 14
Royals
10–0
Hill (5–3)
Gubicza
—
28,999
26–13
40
May 15
Royals
1–3
Haney
Pavlik (5–1)
Montgomery
26,881
26–14
41
May 17
@ Indians
10–12
Embree
Heredia (1–3)
Mesa
41,225
26–15
42
May 18
@ Indians
6–3
Oliver (3–1)
Anderson
Henneman (11)
40,973
27–15
43
May 19
@ Indians
5–8
Nagy
Witt (4–3)
Mesa
43,299
27–16
44
May 21
@ Twins
3–4
Milchin
Henneman (0–2)
—
12,323
27–17
45
May 22
@ Twins
6–5
Pavlik (6–1)
Parra
Henneman (12)
17,955
28–17
46
May 23
@ Royals
2–4
Appier
Oliver (3–2)
Montgomery
15,612
28–18
47
May 24
@ Royals
0–8
Gubicza
Witt (4–4)
—
13,696
28–19
48
May 25
@ Royals
2–1
Helling (1–1)
Haney
Henneman (13)
23,668
29–19
49
May 26
@ Royals
6–4
Hill (6–3)
Linton
Henneman (14)
22,665
30–19
50
May 27
Indians
3–2
Pavlik (7–1)
McDowell
—
46,521
31–19
51
May 28
Indians
11–3
Oliver (4–2)
Hershiser
—
35,727
32–19
52
May 29
Indians
5–4
Cook (3–0)
Tavarez
Henneman (15)
35,893
33–19
53
May 31
Twins
7–2
Hill (7–3)
Rodriguez
—
32,861
34–19
June: 14–13 (Home: 9–5; Away: 5–8)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
54
June 1
Twins
5–9
Milchin
Henneman (0–3)
—
43,413
34–20
55
June 2
Twins
5–6
Guardado
Russell (1–1)
—
33,809
34–21
56
June 3
@ Brewers
9–6
Witt (5–4)
Sparks
Henneman (16)
9,748
35–21
57
June 4
@ Brewers
2–6
Bones
Gross (5–4)
—
10,685
35–22
58
June 5
@ Brewers
4–6
McDonald
Hill (7–4)
Fetters
11,276
35–23
59
June 7
Blue Jays
10–7
Pavlik (8–1)
Janzen
Henneman (17)
40,046
36–23
60
June 8
Blue Jays
2–0
Oliver (5–2)
Guzman
—
43,439
37–23
61
June 9
Blue Jays
8–6
Witt (6–4)
Hanson
Henneman (18)
41,605
38–23
62
June 10
Brewers
8–3
Gross (6–4)
Givens
—
43,275
39–23
63
June 11
Brewers
4–14
McDonald
Hill (7–5)
Garcia
33,519
39–24
64
June 12
Brewers
13–6
Pavlik (9–1)
Miranda
—
34,842
40–24
65
June 13
@ Red Sox
7–8 (10)
Slocumb
Henneman (0–4)
—
32,645
40–25
66
June 14
@ Red Sox
3–4
Stanton
Witt (6–5)
—
29,689
40–26
67
June 15
@ Red Sox
13–3
Gross (7–4)
Wakefield
—
33,186
41–26
68
June 16
@ Red Sox
9–10
Hudson
Henneman (0–5)
—
30,461
41–27
69
June 17
@ Orioles
1–1 (6)
—
45,581
41–27
70
June 18
@ Orioles
7–0
Oliver (6–2)
Mercker
—
47,318
42–27
71
June 19
@ Orioles
3–2
Witt (7–5)
Mussina
Russell (1)
45,581
43–27
72
June 20
@ Orioles
2–3
Wells
Gross (7–5)
Myers
21,748
43–28
73
June 21
Red Sox
14–4
Hill (8–5)
Minchey
—
40,726
44–28
74
June 22
Red Sox
8–2
Pavlik (10–1)
Wakefield
—
46,444
45–28
75
June 23
Red Sox
4–6
Stanton
Cook (3–1)
Slocumb
39,399
45–29
76
June 24
Orioles
3–8
Mussina
Witt (7–6)
—
39,701
45–30
77
June 25
Orioles
5–2
Gross (8–5)
Wells
Henneman (19)
41,685
46–30
78
June 26
Orioles
6–5
Cook (4–1)
Orosco
Henneman (20)
38,984
47–30
79
June 28
@ Mariners
8–19
Carmona
Pavlik (10–2)
—
34,413
47–31
80
June 29
@ Mariners
9–5
Oliver (7–2)
Meacham
—
37,556
48–31
81
June 30
@ Mariners
3–4
Hitchcock
Witt (7–7)
Charlton
33,392
48–32
July: 13–14 (Home: 6–7; Away: 7–7)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
82
July 1
@ Angels
8–6
Gross (9–5)
Langston
Henneman (21)
19,754
49–32
83
July 2
@ Angels
5–6
James
Henneman (0–6)
—
19,055
49–33
84
July 3
@ Angels
8–1
Pavlik (11–2)
Finley
—
45,979
50–33
85
July 4
Mariners
5–9
Carmona
Henneman (0–7)
—
46,668
50–34
86
July 5
Mariners
3–6
Hitchcock
Witt (7–8)
—
46,397
50–35
87
July 6
Mariners
5–9
Wagner
Gross (9–6)
—
46,458
50–36
88
July 7
Mariners
8–3
Hill (9–5)
Wells
—
36,933
51–36
89
July 11
@ Athletics
3–8
Chouinard
Oliver (7–3)
—
13,437
51–37
90
July 12
@ Athletics
8–4 (10)
Russell (2–1)
Taylor
—
12,074
52–37
91
July 13
@ Athletics
8–1
Pavlik (12–2)
Wengert
—
16,792
53–37
92
July 14
@ Athletics
1–9
Johns
Gross (9–7)
—
20,704
53–38
93
July 15
Angels
7–10
Schmidt
Brandenburg (1–1)
Percival
45,655
53–39
94
July 16
Angels
6–2
Oliver (8–3)
Abbott
Russell (2)
34,680
54–39
95
July 17
Angels
7–3
Hill (10–5)
Finley
—
44,220
55–39
96
July 18
Athletics
4–5 (11)
Reyes
Brandenburg (1–2)
Van Poppel
28,585
55–40
97
July 19
Athletics
6–9
Reyes
Helling (1–2)
Taylor
37,455
55–41
98
July 20
Athletics
8–4
Witt (8–8)
Van Poppel
—
46,052
56–41
99
July 21
Athletics
8–11
Groom
Brandenburg (1–3)
Mohler
36,039
56–42
100
July 22
@ Yankees
6–1
Hill (11–5)
Rogers
—
30,767
57–42
101
July 23
@ Yankees
0–6
Gooden
Pavlik (12–3)
—
22,814
57–43
102
July 24
@ Yankees
2–4
Pettitte
Alberro (0–1)
Wetteland
35,308
57–44
103
July 25
@ White Sox
4–3 (12)
Russell (3–1)
Keyser
Henneman (22)
19,524
58–44
104
July 26
@ White Sox
2–6
Alvarez
Oliver (8–4)
—
21,398
58–45
105
July 27
@ White Sox
6–4 (10)
Heredia (2–3)
Simas
Vosberg (6)
22,629
59–45
106
July 28
@ White Sox
1–5
Fernandez
Pavlik (12–4)
—
20,902
59–46
107
July 30
Yankees
15–2
Witt (9–8)
Pettitte
—
39,637
60–46
108
July 31
Yankees
9–2
Oliver (9–4)
Key
—
30,645
61–46
August: 16–12 (Home: 8–5; Away: 8–7)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
109
August 1
Yankees
5–6
Rogers
Hill (11–6)
Wetteland
34,855
61–47
110
August 2
White Sox
0–9
Fernandez
Pavlik (12–5)
—
36,299
61–48
111
August 3
White Sox
9–11
Hernandez
Russell (3–2)
—
46,481
61–49
112
August 4
White Sox
9–5
Witt (10–8)
Baldwin
—
32,854
62–49
113
August 5
White Sox
5–15
Alvarez
Oliver (9–5)
—
29,973
62–50
114
August 6
@ Tigers
4–2
Hill (12–6)
Lira
Henneman (23)
10,931
63–50
115
August 7
@ Tigers
2–4
Cummings
Pavlik (12–6)
Myers
10,297
63–51
116
August 8
@ Tigers
2–3
Olivares
Heredia (2–4)
—
10,995
63–52
117
August 9
@ Blue Jays
5–4
Witt (11–8)
Quantrill
Henneman (24)
33,535
64–52
118
August 10
@ Blue Jays
12–1
Oliver (10–5)
Guzman
—
34,109
65–52
119
August 11
@ Blue Jays
6–0
Burkett (1–0)
Hanson
—
32,162
66–52
120
August 12
Tigers
7–0
Hill (13–6)
Williams
—
25,210
67–52
121
August 13
Tigers
6–2
Pavlik (13–6)
Olivares
—
31,331
68–52
122
August 14
Tigers
5–4
Witt (12–8)
Van Poppel
Henneman (25)
33,942
69–52
123
August 16
Royals
5–3
Burkett (2–0)
Haney
Henneman (26)
32,053
70–52
124
August 17
Royals
1–4
Belcher
Hill (13–7)
—
41,855
70–53
125
August 18
Royals
10–3
Gross (10–7)
Appier
—
30,480
71–53
126
August 19
@ Indians
10–3
Pavlik (14–6)
McDowell
—
42,393
72–53
127
August 20
@ Indians
4–10
Lopez
Witt (12–9)
—
42,370
72–54
128
August 21
@ Indians
10–8 (10)
Vosberg (1–0)
Tavarez
—
42,345
73–54
129
August 22
@ Twins
11–2
Hill (14–7)
Robertson
—
17,342
74–54
130
August 23
@ Twins
2–9
Aguilera
Oliver (10–6)
—
16,166
74–55
131
August 24
@ Twins
5–6
Rodriguez
Pavlik (14–7)
Trombley
16,648
74–56
132
August 25
@ Twins
13–2
Witt (13–9)
Miller
—
14,818
75–56
133
August 27
@ Royals
3–4 (10)
Montgomery
Russell (3–3)
—
12,907
75–57
134
August 28
@ Royals
3–4 (12)
Huisman
Gross (10–8)
—
12,695
75–58
135
August 30
Indians
5–3
Pavlik (15–7)
Ogea
Russell (3)
40,383
76–58
136
August 31
Indians
6–3
Oliver (11–6)
McDowell
Vosberg (7)
46,319
77–58
September: 13–14 (Home: 5–7; Away: 8–7)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
137
September 1
Indians
2–8
Nagy
Burkett (2–1)
—
46,084
77–59
138
September 2
Twins
4–6
Aguilera
Hill (14–8)
Guardado
24,786
77–60
139
September 3
Twins
9–7
Witt (14–9)
Rodriguez
Henneman (27)
28,401
78–60
140
September 4
Twins
6–7
Robertson
Heredia (2–5)
Trombley
29,744
78–61
141
September 6
@ Brewers
7–3
Burkett (3–1)
Eldred
—
16,714
79–61
142
September 7
@ Brewers
2–1
Hill (15–8)
McDonald
Henneman (28)
19,110
80–61
143
September 8
@ Brewers
7–1
Witt (15–9)
Florie
—
17,542
81–61
144
September 9
@ Blue Jays
4–3
Gross (11–8)
Hentgen
Henneman (29)
25,825
82–61
145
September 10
@ Blue Jays
11–8
Oliver (12–6)
Williams
Henneman (30)
26,286
83–61
146
September 11
@ Blue Jays
3–8
Andujar
Vosberg (1–1)
—
27,262
83–62
147
September 12
Brewers
4–15
McDonald
Hill (15–9)
—
41,303
83–63
148
September 13
Brewers
3–6
D'Amico
Witt (15–10)
Fetters
39,235
83–64
149
September 14
Brewers
6–8
Karl
Pavlik (15–8)
Fetters
45,901
83–65
150
September 15
Brewers
6–2
Oliver (13–6)
Garcia
Vosberg (8)
45,941
84–65
151
September 16
@ Mariners
0–6
Moyer
Burkett (3–2)
—
50,544
84–66
152
September 17
@ Mariners
2–5
Mulholland
Hill (15–10)
Ayala
32,279
84–67
153
September 18
@ Mariners
2–5
Hitchcock
Witt (15–11)
Charlton
35,162
84–68
154
September 19
@ Mariners
6–7
Davis
Cook (4–2)
Charlton
39,769
84–69
155
September 20
@ Angels
5–6 (10)
McElroy
Stanton (0–1)
—
18,860
84–70
156
September 21
@ Angels
7–1
Burkett (4–2)
Abbott
—
24,104
85–70
157
September 22
@ Angels
4–1
Hill (16–10)
Dickson
—
17,522
86–70
158
September 23
@ Athletics
3–5
Wasdin
Witt (15–12)
Taylor
10,164
86–71
159
September 24
@ Athletics
7–3
Cook (5–2)
Small
—
9,694
87–71
160
September 26
Angels
6–5
Burkett (5–2)
Abbott
Henneman (31)
33,895
88–71
161
September 27
Angels
3–4 (15)
Harris
Whiteside (0–1)
Gohr
46,764
88–72
162
September 28
Angels
4–3
Oliver (14–6)
Finley
Heredia (1)
45,651
89–72
163
September 29
Angels
4–3
Witt (16–12)
Springer
—
45,434
90–72
Legend: = Win = Loss = Tie Bold = Rangers team member
Postseason Game log
1996 Postseason game log: 1–3 (Home: 0–2; Away: 1–1)
AL Division Series vs. New York Yankees 1–3 (Home: 0–2; Away: 1–1)
Legend: = Win = Postponement Bold = Rangers team member
Detailed records
Month
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
April
26
16
10
0.615
169
135
May
27
18
9
0.667
139
103
June
27
14
13
0.519
175
155
July
27
13
14
0.481
153
139
August
28
16
12
0.571
165
130
September
27
13
14
0.481
127
137
Total
162
90
72
0.556
928
799
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
Home
81
50
31
0.617
508
407
Away
82
40
41
0.494
419
391
Total
162
90
72
0.556
928
799
Composite Box
Caption text
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
R
H
E
Opponents
108
94
85
82
95
99
86
60
73
10
4
1
0
0
2
799
1569
25
Rangers
131
102
124
96
119
104
103
98
30
16
0
1
0
0
1
928
1622
87
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
ALDS
Game 1, October 1
Yankee Stadium , The Bronx , New York
Game 2, October 2
Yankee Stadium , The Bronx , New York
Game 3, October 4
The Ballpark in Arlington , Arlington, Texas
Game 4, October 5
The Ballpark in Arlington , Arlington, Texas
Awards and honors
All-Star Game
Notes
Farm system
References
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
Franchise Ballparks
Culture and lore Rivalries Key personnel World Series Championships (1) American League championships (3) American League West Division titles (7) Wild card berths (2) Media Minor league affiliates
Seasons (65)
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s