1996 Texas Rangers 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 postseason 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 ALDS. The one postseason 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.Scott Podsednik at Baseball Reference December 21, 1995: Ken Hill was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.Ken Hill at Baseball Reference December 22, 1995: Mike Henneman was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.Mike Henneman at Baseball Reference January 16, 1996: Kevin Elster was signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions April 13, 1996: Jack Voigt was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.Jack Voigt at Baseball Reference June 4, 1996: Travis Hafner was drafted by the Rangers in the 31st round of the 1996 Major League Baseball draft. Player signed June 2, 1997.Travis Hafner at Baseball Reference July 31, 1996: Mark Brandenburg and Kerry Lacy were traded by the Rangers to the Boston Red Sox for Mike Stanton and a player to be named later. The Red Sox completed the deal by sending Dwayne Hosey to the Rangers on November 4.Mike Stanton at Baseball Reference

Roster 1996 Texas Rangers Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders

Other batters Manager

Coaches (pitching) (bench) (bullpen) (hitting) (first base) (third base)

Game log Regular season Game log Legend Rangers Win Rangers Loss Game postponed Clinched playoff spot Clinched Division Bold denotes an Rangers pitcher

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 1 || || Red Sox || 5–3 || Hill (1–0) || Clemens || Vosberg (1) || || 40,484 || 1–0 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 3 || || Red Sox || 7–2 || Pavlik (1–0) || Gordon || — || || 24,483 || 2–0 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 4 || || Red Sox || 13–2 || Gross (1–0) || Wakefield || — || || 18,086 || 3–0 || |- style="background:#bbb;" | style=";" |— || || style=";" |7:05 p.m. CST || style=";" |Yankees || colspan=8 style=";" |Postponed (rain); Makeup: April 7 |- style="background:#bfb;" | style=";" |4 || April 6 || style=";" |7:37 p.m. CST || style=";" |Yankees || style=";" |W 4–2 || style=";" |Witt (1–0) || style=";" |Key (0–1) || style=";" |Henneman (1) || style=";" |2:48 || style=";" |35,510 || style=";" |4–0 || style=";" |W4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | style=";" |5 || April 7 || style=";" |3:05 p.m. CDT || style=";" |Yankees || style=";" |W 7–2 || style=";" |Hill (2–0) || style=";" |Gooden (0–1) || style=";" |— || style=";" |2:57 || style=";" |— || style=";" |5–0 || style=";" |W5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | style=";" |6 || April 7 || style=";" |7:05 p.m. CDT || style=";" |Yankees || style=";" |W 4–1 || style=";" |Pavlik (2–0) || style=";" |Howe (0–1) || style=";" |Vosberg (2) || style=";" |2:52 || style=";" |36,248 || style=";" |6–0 || style=";" |W6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 9 || || @ White Sox || 3–2 || Gross (2–0) || Thomas || Henneman (2) || || 34,750 || 7–0 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 11 || || @ White Sox || 5–8 (11) || Thomas || Henneman (0–1) || || — || 16,685 || 7–1 || |- style="background:#fbb;" | style=";" |9 || April 12 || style=";" |6:35 p.m. CDT || style=";" |@ Yankees || style=";" |L 3–4 || style=";" |Cone (2–0) || style=";" |Hill (2–1) || style=";" |Wetteland (1) || style=";" |2:51 || style=";" |20,238 || style=";" |7–2 || style=";" |L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | style=";" |10 || April 13 || style=";" |12:35 p.m. CDT || style=";" |@ Yankees || style=";" |W10–6 || style=";" |Pavlik (3–0) || style=";" |Gooden (0–2) || style=";" |Vosberg (3) || style=";" |3:32 || style=";" |19,603 || style=";" |8–2 || style=";" |W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | style=";" |11 || April 14 || style=";" |12:35 p.m. CDT || style=";" |@ Yankees || style=";" |L 3–12 || style=";" |Pettitte (3–0) || style=";" |Gross (2–1) || style=";" |— || style=";" |3:00 || style=";" |20,181 || style=";" |8–3 || style=";" |L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 15 || || Athletics || 3–8 || Mohler || Heredia (0–1) || — || || 19,312 || 8–4 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 16 || || Athletics || 5–3 || Witt (2–0) || Johns || Henneman (3) || || 20,948 || 9–4 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 17 || || Athletics || 12–1 || Hill (3–1) || Reyes || — || || 24,120 || 10–4 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 19 || || style=";" |Orioles || 26–7 || Cook (1–0) || Mercker || Vosberg (4) || || style=";" |41,184 || 11–4 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 20 || || style=";" |Orioles || 8–3 || Gross (3–1) || Haynes || — || || style=";" |45,358 || 12–4 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || April 21 || || style=";" |Orioles || 9–6 || Oliver (1–0) || Wells || — || || style=";" |39,456 || 13–4 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 22 || || White Sox || 4–12 || Fernandez || Witt (2–1) || Karchner || || 22,348 || 13–5 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 23 || || White Sox || 5–6 || Baldwin || Hill (3–2) || Hernandez || || 29,123 || 13–6 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 24 || || @ Red Sox || 9–11 || Stanton || Heredia (0–2) || Slocumb || || 19,217 || 13–7 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 25 || || @ Red Sox || 3–8 || Wakefield || Gross (3–2) || — || || 20,350 || 13–8 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || April 26 || || style=";" |@ Orioles || 5–4 || Brandenburg (1–0) || Wells || Henneman (4) || || style=";" |44,022 || 14–8 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || April 27 || || style=";" |@ Orioles || 4–2 || Witt (3–1) || Erickson || Vosberg (5) || || style=";" |47,311 || 15–8 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || April 28 || || style=";" |@ Orioles || 5–4 (10) || Heredia (1–2) || McDowell || Henneman (5) || || style=";" |47,327 || 16–8 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || April 29 || || style=";" |@ Orioles || 7–8 || Haynes || Helling (0–1) || Myers || || style=";" |41,503 || 16–9 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || April 30 || || Mariners || 0–8 || Bosio || Gross (3–3) || — || || 27,272 || 16–10 ||

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 1 || || Mariners || 5–4 || Russell (1–0) || Jackson || Henneman (6) || || 31,775 || 17–10 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 2 || || @ Tigers || 2–5 || Lira || Witt (3–2) || Williams || || 7,416 || 17–11 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 3 || || @ Tigers || 11–0 || Hill (4–2) || Keagle || — || || 9,079 || 18–11 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 4 || || @ Tigers || 3–1 || Pavlik (4–0) || Gohr || — || || 10,734 || 19–11 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 5 || || @ Tigers || 3–2 || Gross (4–3) || Lima || Henneman (7) || || 12,337 || 20–11 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 7 || || Blue Jays || 5–1 || Oliver (2–0) || Guzman || — || || 23,005 || 21–11 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 8 || || Blue Jays || 4–2 || Witt (4–2) || Hanson || Henneman (8) || || 20,694 || 22–11 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 9 || || Blue Jays || 2–5 || Quantrill || Hill (4–3) || Timlin || || 34,451 || 22–12 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 10 || || Tigers || 6–2 || Pavlik (5–0) || Lima || Henneman (9) || || 31,426 || 23–12 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 11 || || Tigers || 11–7 || Gross (5–3) || Aldred || — || || 42,732 || 24–12 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 12 || || Tigers || 3–5 || Lira || Oliver (2–1) || Myers || || 35,677 || 24–13 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 13 || || Royals || 7–6 || Cook (2–0) || Montgomery || Henneman (10) || || 22,981 || 25–13 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 14 || || Royals || 10–0 || Hill (5–3) || Gubicza || — || || 28,999 || 26–13 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 15 || || Royals || 1–3 || Haney || Pavlik (5–1) || Montgomery || || 26,881 || 26–14 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 17 || || @ Indians || 10–12 || Embree || Heredia (1–3) || Mesa || || 41,225 || 26–15 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 18 || || @ Indians || 6–3 || Oliver (3–1) || Anderson || Henneman (11) || || 40,973 || 27–15 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 19 || || @ Indians || 5–8 || Nagy || Witt (4–3) || Mesa || || 43,299 || 27–16 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 21 || || @ Twins || 3–4 || Milchin || Henneman (0–2) || — || || 12,323 || 27–17 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || May 22 || || @ Twins || 6–5 || Pavlik (6–1) || Parra || Henneman (12) || || 17,955 || 28–17 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 23 || || @ Royals || 2–4 || Appier || Oliver (3–2) || Montgomery || || 15,612 || 28–18 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || May 24 || || @ Royals || 0–8 || Gubicza || Witt (4–4) || — || || 13,696 || 28–19 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || May 25 || || @ Royals || 2–1 || Helling (1–1) || Haney || Henneman (13) || || 23,668 || 29–19 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 49 || May 26 || || @ Royals || 6–4 || Hill (6–3) || Linton || Henneman (14) || || 22,665 || 30–19 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || May 27 || || Indians || 3–2 || Pavlik (7–1) || McDowell || — || || 46,521 || 31–19 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || May 28 || || Indians || 11–3 || Oliver (4–2) || Hershiser || — || || 35,727 || 32–19 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || May 29 || || Indians || 5–4 || Cook (3–0) || Tavarez || Henneman (15) || || 35,893 || 33–19 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || May 31 || || Twins || 7–2 || Hill (7–3) || Rodriguez || — || || 32,861 || 34–19 ||

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 1 || || Twins || 5–9 || Milchin || Henneman (0–3) || — || || 43,413 || 34–20 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 2 || || Twins || 5–6 || Guardado || Russell (1–1) || — || || 33,809 || 34–21 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 3 || || @ Brewers || 9–6 || Witt (5–4) || Sparks || Henneman (16) || || 9,748 || 35–21 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 4 || || @ Brewers || 2–6 || Bones || Gross (5–4) || — || || 10,685 || 35–22 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 5 || || @ Brewers || 4–6 || McDonald || Hill (7–4) || Fetters || || 11,276 || 35–23 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 7 || || Blue Jays || 10–7 || Pavlik (8–1) || Janzen || Henneman (17) || || 40,046 || 36–23 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 8 || || Blue Jays || 2–0 || Oliver (5–2) || Guzman || — || || 43,439 || 37–23 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 9 || || Blue Jays || 8–6 || Witt (6–4) || Hanson || Henneman (18) || || 41,605 || 38–23 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 10 || || Brewers || 8–3 || Gross (6–4) || Givens || — || || 43,275 || 39–23 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 11 || || Brewers || 4–14 || McDonald || Hill (7–5) || Garcia || || 33,519 || 39–24 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 12 || || Brewers || 13–6 || Pavlik (9–1) || Miranda || — || || 34,842 || 40–24 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 13 || || @ Red Sox || 7–8 (10) || Slocumb || Henneman (0–4) || — || || 32,645 || 40–25 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 14 || || @ Red Sox || 3–4 || Stanton || Witt (6–5) || — || || 29,689 || 40–26 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || June 15 || || @ Red Sox || 13–3 || Gross (7–4) || Wakefield || — || || 33,186 || 41–26 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || June 16 || || @ Red Sox || 9–10 || Hudson || Henneman (0–5) || — || || 30,461 || 41–27 || |- bgcolor="ffffff" | 69 || June 17 || || style=";" |@ Orioles || 1–1 (6) || || || || — || style=";" |45,581 || 41–27 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 18 || || style=";" |@ Orioles || 7–0 || Oliver (6–2) || Mercker || — || || style=";" |47,318 || 42–27 || |- bgcolor="ccffcc"