1998 Texas Rangers season
Major League Baseball team season
The 1998 Texas Rangers season was the 38th of the Texas Rangers franchise overall, their 27th in Arlington as the Rangers, and their 5th season at The Ballpark in Arlington . The Rangers finished first in the American League West with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses. It was the team's second post-season appearance, the first having been in 1996 , but the team was eliminated in a three-game sweep by the New York Yankees in the Division Series .
Offseason
November 6, 1997: Jim Leyritz and Damon Buford were traded by the Rangers to the Boston Red Sox for Mark Brandenburg , Bill Haselman , and Aaron Sele .[ 1]
November 20, 1997: Scott Sheldon was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.[ 2]
December 7, 1997: Scott Bailes was signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers.[ 3]
December 8, 1997: Kevin Elster was signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers.[ 4]
December 9, 1997: Roberto Kelly was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.[ 5]
December 15, 1997: Scott Podsednik was drafted by the Rangers from the Florida Marlins in the 1997 rule 5 draft .[ 6]
December 23, 1997: Scott Cooper was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.[ 7]
March 14, 1998: Kevin Brown was traded by the Rangers to the Toronto Blue Jays for Tim Crabtree .[ 8]
Regular season
During the season, Rick Helling became the final pitcher to win at least 20 games in one season for the Rangers during the 1990s.[ 9]
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Team
ANA
BAL
BOS
CWS
CLE
DET
KC
MIN
NYY
OAK
SEA
TB
TEX
TOR
NL
Anaheim
—
5–6
6–5
5–6
4–7
8–3
6–5
6–5
6–5
5–7
9–3
6–5
5–7
4–7
10–6
Baltimore
6–5
—
6–6
2–9
5–6
10–1
5–6
7–3
3–9
8–3
6–5
5–7
6–5
5–7
5–11
Boston
5–6
6–6
—
5–6
8–3
5–5
8–3
5–6
5–7
9–2
7–4
9–3
6–5
5–7
9–7
Chicago
6–5
9–2
6–5
—
6–6
6–6
8–4
6–6
4–7
4–7
4–7
5–6
5–6
4–6–1
7–9
Cleveland
7–4
6–5
3–8
6–6
—
9–3
8–4
6–6
4–7
3–8
9–2
7–3
4–7
7–4
10–6
Detroit
3–8
1–10
5–5
6–6
3–9
—
6–6
8–4
3–8
7–4
3–8
5–6
3–8
5–6
7–9
Kansas City
5–6
6–5
3–8
4–8
4–8
6–6
—
7–5
0–10
7–4
4–6
8–3
3–8
6–5
9–7
Minnesota
5–6
3–7
6–5
6–6
6–6
4–8
5–7
—
4–7
4–7
2–9
7–4
7–4
4–7
7–9
New York
5–6
9–3
7–5
7–4
7–4
8–3
10–0
7–4
—
8–3
8–3
11–1
8–3
6–6
13–3
Oakland
7–5
3–8
2–9
7–4
8–3
4–7
4–7
7–4
3–8
—
5–7
5–6
6–6
5–6
8–8
Seattle
3–9
5–6
4–7
7–4
2–9
8–3
6–4
9–2
3–8
7–5
—
6–5
5–7
4–7
7–9
Tampa Bay
5–6
7–5
3–9
6–5
3–7
6–5
3–8
4–7
1–11
6–5
5–6
—
4–7
5–7
5–11
Texas
7–5
5–6
5–6
6–5
7–4
8–3
8–3
4–7
3–8
6–6
7–5
7–4
—
7–4
8–8
Toronto
7–4
7–5
7–5
6–4–1
4–7
6–5
5–6
7–4
6–6
6–5
7–4
7–5
4–7
—
9–7
Notable transactions
Roster
1998 Texas Rangers
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Other batters
Manager
Coaches
Game log
Regular season
1998 regular season game log: 88–74 (Home: 48–33; Away: 40–41)
March: 0–1 (Home: 0–1; Away: 0–0)
#
Date
Time (CT )
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Time of Game
Attendance
Record
Box/ Streak
1
March 31
1:35 p.m. CST
White Sox
L 2–9
Navarro (1–0)
Burkett (0–1)
–
2:46
45,909
0–1
L1
April: 18–7 (Home: 10–3; Away: 8–4)
#
Date
Time (CT )
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Time of Game
Attendance
Record
Box/ Streak
2
April 2
7:35 p.m. CST
White Sox
W 20–4
Sele (1–0)
Sirotka (0–1)
Pavlik (1)
3:23
32,663
1–1
W1
3
April 3
6:06 p.m. CST
@ Blue Jays
W 5–0
Helling (1–0)
Guzmán (0–1)
–
3:23
32,663
2–1
W2
4
April 4
12:05 p.m. CST
@ Blue Jays
L 2–9
Williams (1–0)
Oliver (0–1)
–
2:44
25,509
2–2
L1
5
April 5
12:05 p.m. CDT
@ Blue Jays
W 6–5
Burkett (1–1)
Risley (0–1)
Wetteland (1)
2:51
28,106
3–2
W1
6
April 6
1:05 p.m. CDT
@ White Sox
L 4–5
Foulke (1–0)
Pavlik (0–1)
Karchner (1)
3:08
25,358
3–3
L1
–
April 8
@ White Sox
Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: August 28)
7
April 9
3:16 p.m. CDT
@ White Sox
W 11–0
Sele (2–0)
Baldwin (1–1)
–
2:28
10,654
4–3
W1
8
April 10
7:35 p.m. CDT
Blue Jays
W 4–3
Helling (3–0)
Plesac (0–1)
Wetteland (2)
2:57
32,314
5–3
W2
9
April 11
9:00 p.m. CDT
Blue Jays
L 8–9
Almanzar (1–0)
Oliver (0–2)
Myers (3)
3:27
37,520
5–4
L1
10
April 12
2:05 p.m. CDT
Blue Jays
W 3–1
Wetteland (1–0)
Quantrill (0–1)
–
2:37
28,435
6–4
W1
14
April 17
Orioles
W 6–4
3:24
37,415
10–4
W5
15
April 18
Orioles
L 8–10
–
3:31
43,883
10–5
L1
16
April 19
Orioles
W 11–7
3:07
43,037
11–5
W1
May: 15–12 (Home: 10–6; Away: 5–6)
#
Date
Time (CT )
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Time of Game
Attendance
Record
Box/ Streak
27
May 1
6:07 p.m. CDT
@ Red Sox
L 3–5
Wasdin (3–0)
Sele (5–1)
Gordon (10)
2:37
24,169
18–9
L2
28
May 2
12:06 p.m. CDT
@ Red Sox
W 7–6
Helling (6–0)
Rose (1–2)
Wetteland (7)
2:53
25,827
19–9
W1
29
May 3
12:05 p.m. CDT
@ Red Sox
L 1–2
Martínez (3–0)
Oliver (1–4)
Gordon (11)
2:33
28,075
19–10
L1
30
8:05 p.m. CDT
Yankees
L 2–7
Cone (4–1)
Burkett (2–4)
—
3:26
31,693
19–11
L2
31
8:35 p.m. CDT
Yankees
L 13–15
Stanton (2–0)
Patterson (0–1)
Rivera (5)
4:06
33,274
19–12
L3
32
May 7
8:35 p.m. CDT
Indians
L 2–7
Colón (3–1)
Sele (5–2)
–
2:21
28,504
19–13
L4
33
May 8
7:35 p.m. CDT
Indians
W 6–3
Hernandez (1–0)
Mesa (3–1)
Wetteland (8)
3:05
38,067
20–13
W1
34
May 9
7:37 p.m. CDT
Indians
W 7–3
Oliver (2–4)
Nagy (3–2)
–
2:19
46,355
21–13
W2
35
May 10
7:07 p.m. CDT
Indians
W 5–3
Burkett (4–5)
Wright (3–4)
Wetteland (9)
2:45
31,232
22–13
W3
36
May 11
6:35 p.m. CDT
Red Sox
W 8–2
Witt (4–1)
Wasdin (3–1)
–
2:25
40,275
23–13
W4
37
May 12
1:35 p.m. CDT
Red Sox
W 6–3
Sele (6–2)
Rose (1–4)
Wetteland (10)
2:49
39,614
24–13
W5
38
6:38 p.m. CDT
@ Yankees
L 6–8
Cone (5–1)
Helling (6–1)
Rivera (7)
3:13
23,142
24–14
L1
39
6:36 p.m. CDT
@ Yankees
W 7–5 (13)
Patterson (1–1)
Banks (1–1)
Wetteland (11)
4:53
20,694
25–14
W1
40
May 15
6:06 p.m. CDT
@ Indians
L 2–3 (14)
Krivda (2–0)
Levine (0–1)
–
4:00
41,128
25–15
L1
41
May 16
12:06 p.m. CDT
@ Indians
L 3–10
Burba (4–4)
Witt (4–2)
–
2:43
40,925
25–16
L2
42
May 17
12:08 p.m. CDT
@ Indians
W 1–0
Sele (7–2)
Colón (3–2)
Wetteland (12)
2:26
42,247
26–16
W1
51
May 28
@ Orioles
L 2–5
2:49
42,294
31–20
L4
52
May 29
@ Orioles
L 3–6
2:59
47,091
31–21
L5
53
May 30
@ Orioles
W 10–8
3:44
47,866
32–21
W1
54
May 31
@ Orioles
W 9–5
3:23
47,437
33–21
W2
June: 13–15 (Home: 5–8; Away: 8–7)
#
Date
Time (CT )
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Time of Game
Attendance
Record
Box/ Streak
59
7:36 p.m. CDT
Padres
W 8–7
Crabtree (3–0)
Wall (2–2)
Wetteland (15)
3:02
37,903
36–23
W1
60
7:36 p.m. CDT
Padres
W 3–0
Burkett (4–5)
Hitchcock (3–1)
Wetteland (16)
2:36
46,022
37–23
W2
61
2:05 p.m. CDT
Padres
L 8–17
Miceli (5–2)
Patterson (1–2)
—
3:28
46,372
37–24
L1
62
June 8
@ Rockies
W 3–1
2:27
48,070
38–24
W1
63
June 9
@ Rockies
W 5–2
2:57
48,068
39–24
W2
64
June 10
@ Rockies
L 8–9 (10)
–
3:10
48,061
39–25
L1
65
June 12
7:35 p.m. CDT
Angels
L 1–5
Olivares (4–2)
Burkett (4–6)
Cadaret (1)
2:32
35,505
39–26
L2
66
June 13
7:36 p.m. CDT
Angels
L 6–18
Washburn (2–0)
Sele (10–4)
–
3:08
46,289
39–27
L3
67
June 14
7:05 p.m. CDT
Angels
W 4–2
Helling (9–3)
Finley (7–3)
Wetteland (19)
2:25
36,648
40–27
W!
68
June 15
7:36 p.m. CDT
Angels
L 5–8
Sparks (1–0)
Witt (5–4)
Percival (20)
3:02
43,380
40–28
L1
72
June 19
9:05 p.m. CDT
@ Angels
W 7–3
Helling (10–3)
Finley (7–4)
–
2:54
38,866
42–30
W2
73
June 20
3:08 p.m. CDT
@ Angels
L 3–8
Sparks (2–0)
Van Poppel (0–1)
–
3:20
31,671
42–31
L1
74
June 21
7:05 p.m. CDT
@ Angels
L 7–10
Dickson (8–4)
Perisho (0–2)
Percival (23)
2:54
38,866
42–32
L2
79
June 26
9:35 p.m. CDT
@ Giants
W 7–3
Oliver (4–5)
Hershiser (6–6)
Wetteland (22)
2:47
18,180
46–33
W4
80
June 27
3:06 p.m. CDT
@ Giants
L 5–6 (10)
Nen (5–1)
Patterson (1–3)
–
3:30
28,753
46–34
L1
81
June 28
3:05 p.m. CDT
@ Giants
L 0–7
Gardner (7–3)
Sele (11–5)
–
2:02
36,664
46–35
L2
82
June 30
7:37 p.m. CDT
Dodgers
L 1–4
Dreifort (5–6)
Helling (11–4)
Osuna (5)
2:34
37,837
46–36
L3
July: 11–15 (Home: 5–6; Away: 6–9)
August: 16–13 (Home: 11–5; Away: 5–8)
#
Date
Time (CT )
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Time of Game
Attendance
Record
Box/ Streak
109
August 1
7:36 p.m. CDT
White Sox
W 8–1
Helling (14–6)
Sirotka (10–10)
–
3:04
42,425
58–51
W1
110
August 2
7:06 p.m. CDT
White Sox
W 12–3
Sele (13–8)
Navarro (8–13)
–
2:39
28,175
59–51
W2
111
August 4
7:36 p.m. CDT
Blue Jays
W 11–9
Stottlemyre (10–9)
Carpenter (6–6)
Wetteland (29)
3:40
45,213
60–51
W3
112
August 5
7:38 p.m. CDT
Blue Jays
W 4–3
Wetteland (3–1)
Myers (3–4)
–
2:50
27,766
61–51
W4
113
August 6
7:36 p.m. CDT
Red Sox
W 7–4
Burkett (7–11)
Saberhagen (11–6)
Wetteland (30)
2:50
32,132
62–51
W5
114
August 7
7:35 p.m. CDT
Red Sox
W 4–3
Helling (15–6)
Martínez (15–4)
Wetteland (31)
2:57
34,906
63–51
W6
115
August 8
7:35 p.m. CDT
Red Sox
L 1–11
Wakefield (14–5)
Sele (13–9)
–
2:33
44,242
63–52
L1
116
August 9
7:06 p.m. CDT
Red Sox
L 8–14
Corsi (3–1)
Stottlemyre (10–10)
–
3:15
31,127
63–53
L2
117
August 11
6:06 p.m. CDT
@ Indians
W 2–1
Loaiza (7–7)
Karsay (0–2)
Wetteland (32)
2:30
42,992
64–53
W1
118
August 12
6:37 p.m. CDT
@ Indians
L 3–6
Colón (12–6)
Burkett (7–12)
Jackson (28)
3:07
43,247
64–54
L1
119
6:37 p.m. CDT
@ Yankees
L 0–2
Hernández (8–3)
Helling (15–7)
Rivera (31)
2:30
53,835
64–55
L2
120
6:36 p.m. CDT
@ Yankees
L 4–6
Pettitte (14–6)
Sele (13–10)
Rivera (32)
2:47
46,547
64–56
L3
121
12:18 p.m. CDT
@ Yankees
W 16–5
Stottlemyre (11–10)
Irabu (11–6)
—
3:48
53,117
65–56
W1
122
12:35 p.m. CDT
@ Yankees
L 5–6
Rivera (2–0)
Hernandez (5–2)
—
3:18
50,304
65–57
L1
–
August 17
@ Red Sox
Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: August 18)
123
August 18 (1)
12:06 p.m. CDT
@ Red Sox
L 1–4
Martínez (16–4)
Burkett (7–13)
Gordon (35)
2:34
33,201
65–58
L2
124
August 18 (2)
6:07 p.m. CDT
@ Red Sox
L 4–5
Lowe (3–7)
Patterson (1–5)
Gordon (36)
3:13
26,677
65–59
L3
125
August 19
7:36 p.m. CDT
Indians
W 3–1
Sele (14–10)
Nagy (10–9)
Wetteland (33)
2:27
26,146
66–59
W1
126
August 20
7:36 p.m. CDT
Indians
W 8–2
Stottlemyre (12–10)
Burba (10–9)
Patterson (2)
2:55
37,094
67–59
W2
127
7:35 p.m. CDT
Yankees
L 0–5
Wells (16–2)
Loaiza (7–8)
—
2:42
45,841
67–60
L1
128
7:37 p.m. CDT
Yankees
L 9–12
Bradley (1–0)
Hernandez (5–3)
Rivera (33)
3:57
46,483
67–61
L2
129
7:06 p.m. CDT
Yankees
W 12–10
Helling (16–7)
Hernández (8–4)
Wetteland (34)
3:40
37,284
68–61
W1
133
August 28 (1)
4:06 p.m. CDT
@ White Sox
W 6–5 (10)
Hernandez (6–3)
Howry (0–3)
Wetteland (37)
2:49
–
69–61
W2
134
August 28 (2)
7:27 p.m. CDT
@ White Sox
L 7–8
Ward (1–1)
Gunderson (0–2)
Howry (1)
3:21
14,280
69–62
L1
135
August 29
12:18 p.m. CDT
@ White Sox
W 5–3
Sele (16–10)
Sirotka (12–13)
Wetteland (38)
2:48
16,420
70–62
W1
136
August 30
1:07 p.m. CDT
@ White Sox
L 3–5
Castillo (6–4)
Stottlemyre (12–12)
Howry (2)
2:45
16,701
70–63
L1
September: 15–10 (Home: 7–4; Away: 8–6)
Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement Bold = Rangers team member
Postseason Game log
1998 Postseason game log: 0–3 (Home: 0–1; Away: 0–2)
Legend: = Win = Postponement Bold = Rangers team member
Starting Lineups
Regular season
Game
Date
Opponent
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
SP
30
NYY
31
NYY
38
@ NYY
39
@ NYY
59
SD
60
SD
61
SD
119
@ NYY
120
@ NYY
121
@ NYY
122
@ NYY
127
NYY
128
NYY
129
NYY
Playoffs
Detailed records
Month
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
March
1
0
1
0.000
2
9
April
25
18
7
0.720
180
114
May
28
15
13
0.536
161
161
June
28
13
15
0.464
146
164
July
26
11
15
0.423
127
154
August
29
16
13
0.552
177
155
September
25
15
10
0.600
147
114
Total
162
88
74
0.543
940
871
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
Home
81
48
33
0.593
502
468
Away
81
40
41
0.494
438
403
Total
162
88
74
0.543
940
871
Composite Box
Caption text
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
R
H
E
Opponents
114
97
109
88
145
89
81
82
63
2
0
0
2
0
871
Rangers
103
121
116
106
111
102
116
79
82
2
0
0
0
1
940
Game umpires
Regular season
Playoffs
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos= Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; Slg. = Slugging Average ; SB = Stolen bases
[ 12]
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
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers
Game 1
September 29 at Yankee Stadium (New York Yankees )
Game 2
September 30 at Yankee Stadium (New York Yankees )
Game 3
October 2 at The Ballpark in Arlington (Texas Rangers )
Awards and honors
All-Star Game
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Tulsa, GCL Rangers
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