Texas Rangers (baseball) and Solifugae: Difference between pages

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{{Taxobox begin | color = pink | name = Solifugae}}

:''The '''Texas Rangers''' is also the name of a law enforcement agency in [[Texas]]. See [[Texas Ranger Division]].''

{{Taxobox image | image = [[Image:Wind_scorpion.JPG|250px|Wind Scorpion]] | caption = ''Wind scorpion''}}

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{{Taxobox begin placement | color = pink}}

{{MLB Rangers franchise}}

{{Taxobox regnum entry | taxon = [[Animal]]ia}}

{{Taxobox phylum entry | taxon = [[Arthropoda]]}}

{{Taxobox classis entry | taxon = [[Arachnid]]a}}

{{Taxobox ordo entry | taxon = '''Solifugae'''}}

{{Taxobox end placement}}

{{Taxobox section subdivision | color = pink | plural_taxon = Genera}}

''[[Eremobates]]''<br>

''[[Syndaesia]]''

{{Taxobox end}}

A '''Solifugid''' (plural form '''Solifugae''') is an [[arachnid]] belonging to the order '''Solifugae'''. The order is also known by the names '''Solpugida''', '''Solifugae''', '''Solpugides''', '''Solpugae''', '''Galeodea''', and '''Mycetophorae'''.

The '''Texas Rangers''' are a [[Major League Baseball]] team based in [[Arlington, Texas]], a suburb in the [[Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex]]. They are in the Western Division of the [[American League]].

The order includes 900 known species, whose nicknames include "'''wind scorpion'''", "'''sun spider'''", and "'''camel spider'''".

Most solifuges live in tropical or semitropical regions, where they inhabit warm and arid habitats. Some species however also live in grassland or forest habitats. The most distinctive features of solifuges is their large [[chelicera|chelicerae]]. Each of the two chelicerae are composed of two articles forming a powerful pincer; each article bears a variable number of teeth. Males in all families but Eremobatidae possess a [[flagellum]] on the basal article of the chelicera. Solifuges also have long [[pedipalp|pedipalps]], which function as sense organs similar to the insects [[antenna|antennae]]. Pedipalps terminate in eversible [[adhesive organ|adhesive organs]].

:'''Founded''': [[1961]] ([[American League]] expansion)

:'''Formerly known as''': the [[Washington Senators]], [[1961]]-[[1971]]. (Not to be confused with the team that was the Washington Senators prior to 1961, which became the [[Minnesota Twins]], or the Washington Senators that existed from 1891-1899 and were contracted.)

:'''Home ballpark''': [[Ameriquest Field in Arlington]] (known as The Ballpark in Arlington [[1994]]-[[2004]])

:'''Uniform colors''': Blue, White, and Scarlet red

:'''Logo design''': A "T" superimposed on a baseball, set inside a circle with "TEXAS" on the top half and "RANGERS" on the bottom

:'''Wild Card titles won''' (0): ''none''

:'''Division titles won''' (3): [[1996]], [[1998]], [[1999]]

:'''American League pennants won''' (0): ''none''

:'''[[World Series]] championships won''' (0): ''none''

Solifuges are carnivorous or omnivorous, with most species feeding on [[termite|termites]], [[darlikng beetle|darkling beetles]] and other small arthropods. Prey is located with the pedipalps and killed and cut into pieces by the chelicerae. The prey is then liquified and the liquid ingested through the pharynx. Reproduction can involve direct or indirect [[sperm]] transfer; when indirect, the male emits a [[spermatophore]] on the ground and then inserts it with his chelicerae in the female's genital pore.

== Franchise history ==

The name Solifugae comes from [[Latin]] and means (roughly) "flee from the sun", which they do. They are mostly [[nocturnal|active at night]] and seek shade during the day, a behavior which made coalition soldiers in the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 invasion]] of [[Iraq]] think these arachnids were attacking them. In reality, they were moving toward the newly available shade provided by the soldiers' presence. The absence of shade sends them away.

=== Washington Senators ===

<!-- more detail needed: sizes of different species, etc.

The leg span of Camel Spiders in the [[Middle East]] may reach 5 inches while in North America they are typically around 1-1/2 to 2 inches.

When the second Washington Senators (the original Senators existed in the 1890's) moved to [[Minnesota]] in [[1960]], Major League Baseball awarded a team to [[Washington, D.C.]], giving it the name of the old franchise.

-->

In eleven seasons, the Senators posted only one winning season ([[1969 in sports|1969]]). [[Frank Howard (baseball player)|Frank Howard]] was the team's most accomplished player. [[Ted Williams]] of [[Boston Red Sox]] fame managed the team from [[1969]] to [[1971 in sports|1971]], and moved with the franchise to Arlington, [[Texas]] in [[1972 in sports|1972]].

==Myths==

Solifugae are the subject of many [[myths]] and exaggerations about their size, speed, behavior, appetite, and lethality. They are not especially large or fast; the biggest have a legspan of perhaps 5 inches, and the fastest can run perhaps 10 miles per hour. They have no [[venom]] and do not spin [[Spiderweb|webs]]. In the [[Middle East]] it is commonly believed that Solifugae will feed on living human flesh. The story goes that the creature will inject an anesthetizing venom into the exposed skin of its sleeping victim, then feed voraciously, leaving the victim to awaken with a gaping wound. Solifugae, however, do not produce such an anesthetic and do not attack prey larger than themselves.

The team played its games at D.C. Stadium (renamed [[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium]] in [[1968]]) on East Capitol Street and the [[Anacostia River]].

=== Classification ===

Team uniform colors: Red, blue and white, with script "Washington" across the player's chest

[[Image:Wind_scorpion2.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Wind scorpion, Eastern Washington, USA]]

There are thirteen families belonging to the order Solifugae:

=== Efforts to bring baseball to the Metroplex ===

** [[Ammotrechidae]]

** [[Ceromidae]]

In [[1962]] the American League began to entertain the idea of bringing a professional baseball team to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. [[Charley Finley]], the owner of the [[Oakland Athletics|Kansas City Athletics]], sought to move his team to Dallas, but the idea was rebuffed by the other AL team owners.

** [[Daesiidae]]

** [[Eremobatidae]]

In [[1964]], the 10,000-seat Turnpike Stadium was constructed in Arlington for the [[minor league baseball|minor-league]] [[Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs]]. The stadium, later renamed [[Arlington Stadium]], would eventually serve as the Rangers' first home stadium.

** [[Galeodidae]]

** [[Gylippidae]]

Meanwhile, the Senators received new ownership in [[1968]] in the form of [[Bob Short]], the Treasurer of the [[Democratic National Committee]]. He sought to move the team from Washington. On [[September 20]], [[1971]], he got his wish, receiving approval from AL owners to move the franchise to Arlington for the 1972 season. Washington fans were outraged, and in the team's final game in RFK Stadium on [[September 30]] against the [[New York Yankees]], the Senators were forced to [[forfeit (baseball)|forfeit]] the game after angry fans stormed the field and damaged much of the stadium and playing surface.

** [[Hexisopodidae]]

** [[Karschiidae]]

=== First years in Texas ===

** [[Karschiidae]]

** [[Melanoblossidae]]

During the off-season, additions were made to Turnpike Stadium to increase its seating capacity, and it was officially renamed Arlington Stadium. Bob Short also announced that the franchise would be called the Texas Rangers. The team played its first game on [[April 15]], 1972, a 1-0 loss at the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California Angels]]. The next day, the Rangers defeated the Angels 5-1 for the team's first victory. The first home game was also against the Angels on [[April 21]]. After the season, Ted Williams retired as manager. [[Whitey Herzog]] was named the new manager, but he was replaced in the middle of the [[1973]] season by [[Billy Martin]].

** [[Mummuciidae]]

** [[Rhagodidae]]

In [[1974]], the Rangers began to come into their own as a team. They finished the season 84-76 and in second place behind the eventual [[World Series]] champion [[Oakland Athletics]]. [[Mike Hargrove]] was named AL Rookie of the Year, Billy Martin was named Manager of the Year, and [[Ferguson Jenkins]] was named the Comeback Player of the Year. However, the following season, after a 44-51 start, Martin was fired as the Rangers manager and was replaced by [[Frank Lucchesi]].

** [[Solpugidae]]

=== The 1980s and early 1990s ===

The Rangers continued to struggle for many years, going through cycles of mostly poor seasons with losing records highlighted by occasional flashes of talent. After the [[1977]] and [[1978]] seasons, the Rangers would not have another winning season until [[1986]] under manager [[Bobby Valentine]], when the team finished second in the AL West. During this time, the team had a host of talent, including [[Bert Blyleven]], [[Buddy Bell]], Fergie Jenkins, Mike Hargrove, [[Jim Sundberg]], [[Toby Harrah]] and [[Rick Honeycutt]].

Valentine, who would eventually become the Rangers' longest-serving manager at 1,186 games, became steward over an influx of talent in the team in the late 1980s and 1990s. The signing of 41-year-old star pitcher [[Nolan Ryan]] prior to the [[1989]] season allowed Ryan to reach his 5,000th [[strikeout]], 300th [[win]] and throw his sixth and seventh [[no-hitter]]s with the Rangers. Coupled with powerful batters like [[Juan González]], [[Rubén Sierra]], [[Julio Franco]], [[Harold Baines]], and [[Rafael Palmeiro]] and a pitching staff that also included [[Charlie Hough]], [[Bobby Witt]], [[Kevin Brown]], and [[Kenny Rogers (baseball player)|Kenny Rogers]], fans expected much from the team. However, the team never improved past being average, and Valentine was let go during the [[1992]] season.

Meanwhile, in April of 1989, the Rangers' owner, [[Eddie Chiles]], sold the team to an investment group headed by future [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]]. Bush would serve as the Rangers' managing partner until he was elected [[Governor of Texas]] in [[1994]]. During this time, the Rangers and the City of Arlington decided to construct a new stadium to replace the aging Arlington Stadium. Ground was broken on [[October 30]], [[1991]] on what would become The Ballpark in Arlington (later renamed [[Ameriquest Field in Arlington]]).

=== Success in the 1990s ===

In [[1993]], [[Kevin Kennedy]] took over managerial duties, helming the team for two seasons. He was let go in 1994 despite leading the AL West prior to the players' strike. The strike wiped out what could have been the Rangers' first division championship when commisioner [[Bud Selig]] canceled the remainder of the season.

The year [[1995]] saw the beginnings of the most promise for the Rangers. With a brand new ballpark that hosted its first [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], [[Johnny Oates]] was hired as the Rangers' manager and promptly led them to an AL West division title in [[1996]]. The first Rangers' playoff series in history, 24 years after the franchise came to Texas, saw the Rangers lose to the [[New York Yankees]]. But the team had finally made the playoffs. Oates was named AL Manager of the Year and Juan Gonzalez was named AL MVP. The team featured a powerful lineup of hitters with [[Ivan Rodriguez]], [[Will Clark]], [[Mark McLemore]], [[Dean Palmer]], [[Rusty Greer]], Juan Gonzalez, and [[Mickey Tettleton]] but continued to struggle with pitching - a reputation that dogs the Rangers to this day - despite having [[Darren Oliver]], [[Gil Heredia]] and later [[John Wetteland]] on their roster. Oates again led the team to AL West championships in [[1998]] and [[1999]], but en route to a second straight last place finish, Oates was let go mid-way through the [[2001]] season.

Meanwhile, Bush sold the team to an investment group led by Dallas businessman [[Tom Hicks]] in 1998. In 1999, Nolan Ryan became the first player ever elected to the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] to have a Ranger cap placed on his plaque.

=== The Alex Rodriguez experiment ===

Prior to the 2001 season, star free-agent shortstop [[Alex Rodriguez]], previously of the [[Seattle Mariners]], was signed by the Rangers in the most lucrative deal in baseball history: a 10-year, [[United States dollar|US]] $252 million contract. The move was considered controversial and was frequently maligned by the media who thought that Hicks was placing too much emphasis on one player instead of spreading out money among many players, especially for a team that lacked significant pitching talent. Although Rodriguez's individual performance was outstanding, the Rangers continued to struggle, and manager [[Jerry Narron]] was fired following the [[2002]] season. He was replaced by seasoned manager [[Buck Showalter]].

In the [[2003]] season, the Rangers finished in last place for the fourth straight year, and after a post-season fallout between Rodriguez and team management, Rodriguez was traded to the New York Yankees for [[Alfonso Soriano]] and a player to be named later.

=== The present and a very promising future ===

Prior to the [[2004]] season, little hope was held out for the Rangers to improve on their losing ways. However, behind a young team that gelled together well, the Rangers battled with the Anaheim Angels and Oakland Athletics for first place in the AL West for much of the season. [[Mark Teixeira]], Alfonso Soriano, [[Michael Young (baseball player)|Michael Young]], and [[Hank Blalock]] became one of the better tandems of batting infielders in the league, and Young, Blalock, and Soriano were named to the 2004 All-Star Game. Soriano was named the All-Star MVP after going 2 for 3 with a three-run [[home run]]. The Rangers remained in contention until the last week of the season, eventually finishing in third place behind the Angels and A's, but they finished the season only 3 games out of first place. (By comparison, the fourth-place team, the Seattle Mariners, were 29 games out of first.)

== Players of note ==

===[[Baseball Hall of Fame|Baseball Hall of Famers]]===

*[[Ferguson Jenkins]]

*[[Gaylord Perry]]

*[[Nolan Ryan]]

*[[Ted Williams]] (former manager; inducted for his playing career with the [[Boston Red Sox]])

===Current 25-man roster (as of [[June 8]], [[2005]])===

{|

|valign="top"|

'''Pitchers'''

*39 [[Image:Dominican_republic_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Pedro Astacio]]

*53 [[Image:Dominican_republic_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Joaquin Benoit]]

*46 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Doug Brocail]]

*31 [[Image:Dominican_republic_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Francisco Cordero]]

*43 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Kameron Loe]]

*61 [[Image:South_korea_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Chan Ho Park]]

*57 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Nick Regilio]]

*37 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Kenny Rogers (baseball player)|Kenny Rogers]]

*58 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Brian Shouse]]

*49 [[Image:Cuba_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Michael Tejera]]

*49 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Chris Young]]

'''Catchers'''

*15 [[Image:Puerto_rico_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Sandy Alomar, Jr.]]

*27 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Rod Barajas]]

|width="30"|&nbsp;

|valign="top"|

'''Infielders'''

*&nbsp; 9 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Hank Blalock]]

*&nbsp; 7 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Mark DeRosa]]

*44 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Marshall McDougall]]

*12 [[Image:Dominican_republic_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Alfonso Soriano]]

*23 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Mark Teixeira]]

*10 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Michael Young (baseball player)|Michael Young]]

'''Outfielders'''

*22 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[David Dellucci]]

*51 [[Image:Venezuela_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Richard Hidalgo]]

*14 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Gary Matthews, Jr.]]

*28 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Kevin Mench]]

*17 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Laynce Nix]]

*&nbsp; 2 [[Image:Puerto_rico_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Andres Torres]]

'''Disabled List'''

*40 [[Image:Dominican_republic_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Carlos Almanzar]] (P, 60-day, out for season)

*35 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Ryan Bukvich]] (P, 60-day, out for season)

*20 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Greg Colbrunn]] (IF, 15-day)

*45 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[R.A. Dickey]] (P, 15-day)

*50 [[Image:Dominican_republic_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Frank Francisco]] (P, 15-day, out for season)

*32 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Ron Mahay]] (P, 15-day)

*54 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Erasmo Ramirez]] (P, 15-day)

|}

'''Manager'''

*11 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Buck Showalter]]

'''Coaches'''

*55 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Orel Hershiser]] (pitching)

*&nbsp; 8 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Rudy Jaramillo]] (hitting)

*52 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Mark Connor]] (bullpen)

*18 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Don Wakamatsu]] (bench)

*16 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[DeMarlo Hale]] (first base)

*&nbsp; 1 [[Image:Us_flag_large.png|20px]] [[Steve Smith (baseball coach)|Steve Smith]] (third base)

===Not to be forgotten===

*[[Buddy Bell]] ([[Texas Rangers Hall of Fame]]r)

*[[Bert Blyleven]]

*[[Dick Bosman]]

*[[Jeff Burroughs]] (AL MVP, 1974)

*[[Will Clark]]

*[[Juan Gonzalez]] (AL MVP, 1996, 1998)

*[[Charlie Hough]] ([[Texas Rangers Hall of Fame]]r)

*[[Frank Howard (baseball player)|Frank Howard]]

*[[Ferguson Jenkins]] ([[Texas Rangers Hall of Fame]]r)

*[[Mark McLemore]]

*[[Johnny Oates]] (Manager 1995-2001, [[Texas Rangers Hall of Fame]]r)

*[[Al Oliver]]

*[[Rafael Palmeiro]]

*[[Mickey Rivers]]

*[[Alex Rodriguez]] (AL MVP, 2003)

*[[Ivan Rodriguez]] (AL MVP, 1999)

*[[Dave Stewart (baseball player)|Dave Stewart]]

*[[Jim Sundberg]] ([[Texas Rangers Hall of Fame]]r)

*[[Frank Tanana]]

*[[Mickey Tettleton]]

===Retired numbers===

*26 [[Johnny Oates]] (his number is scheduled to be retired during the [[2005]] season)

*34 [[Nolan Ryan]]

*42 [[Jackie Robinson]] (retired throughout baseball)

==Single season records==

*Home Runs: 52 (2001) [[Alex Rodriguez]]

*Runs Batted In: 157 (1998) [[Juan Gonzalez]]

*Batting Average: .341 (1991) [[Julio Franco]]

*Hits: 216 (2004) [[Michael Young]]

*Runs: 133 (2001) [[Alex Rodriguez]]

*Doubles: 50 (1998) [[Juan Gonzalez]]

*Triples: 10 (1986) [[Ruben Sierra]], (1993) [[David Hulse]]

*Stolen Bases: 52 (1978) [[Bump Wills]]

*Hitting Streak: 28 games (2000) [[Gabe Kapler]]

*Strikeouts: 185 (1986) [[Pete Incaviglia]]

*Pitching Wins: 25 (1974) [[Ferguson Jenkins]]

*Pitching Strikouts: 301 (1989) [[Nolan Ryan]]

==External links==

*[http://www.texasrangerssnopes.com/photos/bugs/camelspider.asp Snopes Texasarticle Rangerson officialcamel webspider sitemyths]

*[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0629_040629_camelspider.html National Geographic article on Camel Spiders]

*[http://www.rangerfans.com Rangerfans.com - A Fan Site]

*[http://www.chinapost1.org/guestbook.asp ''Camel Spider Blues''] (scroll down to the June 9, 2004 guestbook entry)

*[http://www.newbergreport.com The Newberg Report - A Fan Site]

*[http://www.camel-spiders.net Camel Spiders]

{{MLB}}

[[Category:MLB teams]]

[[Category:Texas Rangers| ]]

[[Category:Texas sports]]

[[Category:Arachnids]]

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