The Texas Rangers have a long history in baseball cards dating back to their inception as theexpansion Washington Senators franchise in 1961. As the club moved to Arlington in 1972 and became known as the Texas Rangers, their players have been featured on hundreds of baseball cards over the past 60+ years. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most notable Rangers cards and sets they’ve appeared in.
One of the earliest and most iconic Rangers cards is pitcher Jim Bibby’s 1972 Topps card. As a rookie that season, Bibby went 13-9 with a 2.89 ERA to finish third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. His stern photo and eye-catching powder blue Rangers uniform made this a very recognizable and popular card among collectors. Bibby would go on to pitch six seasons for Texas before being traded. This remains one of the key early Rangers rookie cards sought after by enthusiasts.
In the 1970s, the Rangers’ stars like Jeff Burroughs, Fergie Jenkins, and Bert Blyleven appeared in the standard Topps and Kellogg’s sets yearly. But one of the most visually striking Rangers card sets was the 1975 Topps Traded. This marked the last year of the traded set before it went on hiatus. Texas players featured included Burroughs, Jenkins, Blyleven, and future star Bump Wills. The colorful design, action shots, and shorter print run make these highly coveted by collectors.
Jumping to the late 1970s, the 1977 and 1978 Topps sets gave Rangers fans cards of one of the best players in franchise history – shortstop Buddy Bell. As a three-time All-Star in the late 70s, Bell’s cards in these common sets are still popular pickups long after he retired. His 1978 issue also holds relevance as one of the final cards featuring the classic Rangers pullover jersey before they switched to a button-down look the next season.
An iconic Texas Rangers star of the 1980s was third baseman/DH George Wright. Wright smashed 190 career home runs as a Ranger and received several nice cards. But none are more impressive than his 1985 Donruss sticker. With its electric blue color, action photo, and “Chairman of the Boards” nickname, this remains perhaps the most visually captivating George Wright baseball card out there.
In the late 80s, the Rangers featured several budding young stars who received popular early career cards. Pitcher Bobby Witt’s 1988 Donruss Rookie debut card stands out with its photo of him windup. Shortstop Ruben Sierra also had memorable rookie issues in 1987 Donruss and 1988 Fleer. Of course, no discussion of quintessential late 80s Rangers cards is complete without mention of the Nolan Ryan offerings. As the legendary hurler wrapped up his career in Texas, his final seasons were documented in the likes of 1988 Score and 1989 Upper Deck.
The 1970s and 80s yielded some all-time classic Rangers cards, but the 1990s brought several new superstars to Texas as well. Outfielder Juan Gonzalez arrived in 1989 and quickly became one of the most feared power hitters in baseball. His early 90s Fleer and Topps Studio cards captured JGon during the heart of his Rangers tenure. Meanwhile, pitcher Kenny Rogers pitched Texas to two AL West titles in ’88-89 and received prominent rookie issue in the 1988 Score set.
As the franchise entered its third decade in Texas, shortstop/third baseman Dean Palmer emerged as an offensive force. His sharp 1993 Upper Deck and 1994 Fleer cards captured Palmer near the height of his Rangers career. And no discussion of notable 90s Texas Rangers is complete without multiple Ivan Rodriguez cards. Future Hall of Famer Pudge made his MLB debut in 1991 and dazzled in Rangers uniforms through the decade. His rookie offerings in the 1992 brands like Upper Deck, Score, and Topps are highly coveted.
The turn of the century 2000s Rangers squad featured two legendary Hispanic sluggers who both received fantastic baseball cards. First baseman/DH Rafael Palmeiro launched his pursuit of 500 career home runs as a Ranger and appeared in classic 2000 and 2001 Upper Deck Authentics issues. Meanwhile, outfielder Alexis “AA-Rod” Rodriguez smashed franchise records upon arriving in Texas and received epic rookies in 2001 issues of Fleer Authentics, Bowman’s Best, and Upper Deck.
In the 2010s, Texas featured several emerging pitching stars. Derek Holland exploded onto the scene in 2010 and received desirable issues like 2010 Bowman Sterling. Yu Darvish dominated American League hitters after coming over from Japan in 2012. Collectors chased cards like 2012 Panini Certified Red Refractor to commemorate Darvish’s early Texas peak. And in recent years, fireballer Joe Palumbo received shiny 2019 Topps Chrome Autograph and Topps Opening Day cards upon debuting with the Rangers.
From vintage Jim Bibby and Jeff Burroughs to modern standouts like Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus, and Joey Gallo – the Texas Rangers franchise history has been well documented in baseball cards for over 50 years. With new young talents like Leody Taveras and Cole Winn on the way, fans can look forward to many more iconic Texas Rangers cards being produced for years to come. Whether collecting vintage or modern issues, Rangers cards remain a staple for appreciating the rich history of baseball in North Texas.
