Tx Rangers Welcome Beltre, Morgan To 2021 Baseball Hall of Fame

DALLAS, TX —Adrian Beltre, one of the top all-around third basemen in Major League history and public address announcer and in-game Arlington mainstay Chuck Morgan have been selected as the 23rdt and 24th members of the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame.

Beltre and Morgan will be inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame in a pre-game ceremony on Saturday, August 14 prior to the 6:05 p.m. game with the Oakland A’s at Globe Life Field.

Beltre announced his retirement as an active player on November 20, 2018 after a 21-year Major League career with the Dodgers (1998-2004), Mariners (2005-2009), Red Sox (2010), and Rangers (2011-18).

The baseman ranks among the all-time leaders in doubles (11th, 636), games (14th, 2933), total bases (14th, 5309), extra base hits (14th, 1151), hits (16th, 3166), RBI (25th, 1707) and home runs (31st, 477). He also has the second most career hits of any non-U.S. native in history behind Albert Pujols. The only other players ever with at least 3166 hits and 477 home runs are Hank Aaron, Pujols, Willie Mays, and Eddie Murray.

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The Rangers retired Beltre’s number 29 on June 8, 2019 during a pre-game ceremony at Globe Life Field, one of only six numbers retired by the Rangers franchise.

On April 4, 1983, a former Nashville DJ announced the starting lineups for the Texas Rangers season opener with the Chicago White Sox at Arlington Stadium in his debut as a Major League Baseball public address announcer.

Chuck Morgan has not missed a game behind the microphone since. Entering today, his consecutive regular season games streak stands at 3,038 games. Morgan called his 3000th consecutive game in the PA booth on September 26, 2020 with his microphone from that game donated to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Of his 39 years on the job, 38 have been working in three ballparks in Arlington. He spent the 2002 season as the in-park voice of the Kansas City Royals.

While official records are not kept, there is no doubt this is the longest consecutive games streak among current MLB public address announcers. Dan Baker, who is in his 50th year doing PA for the Philadelphia Phillies, has missed games along the way. All-time numbers are inconclusive, but it is believed that Chicago Cubs legendary Wrigley Field announcer Pat Pieper called every home game from 1924 until his death in 1974.

Morgan is currently the Rangers Executive Vice President, Ballpark Entertainment, Promotions, and Production and has also worked in marketing, broadcasting and sponsorships in his nearly four decades with the club. He was responsible for creating Texas Rangers Captain, the club’s annual Fan Feat event, and countless other promotions and on-field activities. Morgan is credited with the creation of the in-park Dot Race, an innovation that led to numerous other sports teams having regular mascot and other races.

The Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame was created in 2003 to honor those individuals who have excelled for the franchise both on and off the field. To be considered for Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame selection, former players must have spent a minimum of four seasons in a Texas uniform and be retired as an active player for a minimum of one year.

More details on the Hall of Fame pre-game ceremony on August 14 will be announced in the coming weeks.

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