39. Jeff Russell

When Jeff Russell arrived in North Texas midway through the 1985 season—as part of a significant trade that sent franchise legend Buddy Bell to Cincinnati—the player to be named later, he was a traditional, hard-throwing starting pitcher. He initially served exactly that role for the Rangers, pitching long innings with mixed results. Nevertheless, a strategic mid-career shift to the bullpen unlocked his full potential, turning him from a susceptible starter into a dominant late-inning reliever feared across the American League.

The transition started to take shape during the 1988 campaign. While dividing his time between rotation duties and high-leverage relief, Russell demonstrated remarkable adaptability for manager Bobby Valentine. He pitched 188 innings over 34 appearances and earned his first American League All-Star nod by delivering a powerful, biting fastball that was especially effective in short, intense outings.

That experimentation laid the groundwork for a historic, full-time closer role during a remarkable 1989 season. Positioned at the back of the Texas bullpen, Russell completely shut down opposing hitters. He pitched 71 times, posting a tiny 2.00 ERA and leading the league with a career-high 38 saves. His exceptional ninth-inning dominance earned him a second straight All-Star selection, a ninth-place finish in the AL Cy Young voting, and the prestigious AL Rolaids Relief Man Award—recognizing the league's most statistically impressive closer.

For three seasons, Russell was the top frontline protector of Texas leads, recording 28 saves in 1992 before being part of the blockbuster trade that acquired José Canseco for the Rangers. Although his career led him through Oakland, Boston, and Cleveland, his loyalty to Arlington remained strong. In a notable late-career turn, he returned to Texas for two more seasons in 1995 and 1996, where he served as a veteran mentor and added 23 saves, raising his franchise total to 134.

Russell made 445 appearances (65 starts) and compiled a 41–55 record, a 3.74 ERA, and a 1.34 WHIP. He compiled 712.1 innings, striking out 446 batters, and was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2015.