On December 21, 2007 Rangers G.M. Jon Daniels made the most important move in the history of the Texas Rangers. He traded the promising, if inconsistent, Edinson Volquez and little reliever Danny Herrera to the Reds for one Josh Hamilton. Hamilton was the #1 overall pick of the 1999 amateur draft by Tampa Bay, as a rare, true 5-tool player. After a few years in the Tampa system, he was involved in an automobile accident that injured his back. During his down time he started hanging out at tattoo parlors, and in his boredom took up with drugs and alcohol. He was suspended by baseball and hit rock bottom, blowing all his bonus money and ending up on his grandmother's porch looking for help.

After his suspension and rehab from drugs, that lasted 3 years, Hamilton was left unprotected by Tampa in the Rule 5 draft. The Cubs selected him and sold him to the Reds on the same day. Per Rule 5 rules, Hamilton had to be on the Reds major league roster. In 90 games that year he slugged 19 homers along with an OPS of .922. He received rousing ovations as fans applauded his comeback story.

I can't explain why the Reds traded him that offseason, but whatever the reason it changed Rangers history. The long-suffering franchise had a grand total of one playoff win in its 35 year history. Not a series, one game. The new nucleus of the Rangers was starting to take form. Ian Kinsler was establishing himself as a top second baseman. Longtime IF Michael Young was still cranking out 200 hits a year. Ron Washington was brought on as manager, and soon they would be joined by the haul from the Mark Teixeira trade- notably SS Elvis Andrus and P's Neftali Feliz and Matt Harrison.

Hamilton's first year in Texas didn't disappoint, as he put up an OPS of .901 and led the league in RBIs. At the All-Star game he was the talk of the sports world as he put on an exhibition at Yankee Stadium, hitting 28 homers in Round 2 alone. The New York fans were abuzz, as was every player in attendance. With teammates Young, Kinsler, and mercurial DH Milton Bradley cheereing him on, Hamilton and the Rangers were on the map. He finished the year 7th in the MVP voting.

2009 was a disappointment, as Josh got injured and only played in 89 games, still making the All-Star team due to his popularity. The Rangers started showing they were a team on the horizon, finishing 87-75.

2010 was a magical year for Hamilton, the Rangers, and fans of the team. Building off the momentum of the previous year, the Rangers won the division. Hamilton led the league in hitting at .359, slugging at .633, and OPS at 1.044. He captured the MVP, his third straight All-Star start, and second Silver Slugger award. In a midseason game v. Boston he did everything a baseball player can do with his bat, spectacular fielding, and scoring the winning run from 2nd base...on an infield single. The Rangers, bolstered by the acquisition of ace pitcher Cliff Lee, won their first playoff series ever, knocking out Tampa. In the ALCS they faced the Evil Empire New York Yankees. Hamilton put up a line of .350/.536/1.536, slugging 4 homers with 5 intentional walks from the frightened Bombers. Josh won the ALCS MVP as the Rangers knocked out the Yanks in 6 games, bringing Texas its first ever pennant. The Rangers would go on to lose the World Series to the Giants, but it was a new era in Texas as the Rangers went into the next season as a favorite.

2011 saw Hamilton miss time due to injury again, yet he still hit 25 homers and OPS'd .882 in 121 games. Once again, Hamilton made the All-Star team, the Rangers won the division, and won the ALCS to advance to the World Series...One strike...The Rangers were one strike away from being world champions in the bottom of the 9th inning v. St. Louis...One strike...David Fuckin' Freese tied the game before that last strike or out would come. Never had elation become depression so quickly, it was a bad dream. The Rangers had blown their chance...One fuckin' strike...But in extra innings Josh Hamilton turned into the Natural. Playing on one leg, he deposited a pitch into the rightfield bleachers to recapture the lead for the Rangers. As he nonchalantly circled the bases, the dugout went crazy. The DFW Metroplex went crazy. I scared my dog. It was the happiest I've ever been....and then sports ended.

Josh returns to Arlington tomorrow as a member of the rival Angels. His last year with the Rangers brought back-to-back Player of the Month awards to start the year. One nite in Baltimore he tied the major league record with 4 homers. He also hit a double that nite for a record 18 total bases. He made the cover of Sports Illustrated where the accompanying article had less than cryptic words from his wife about where free agency would take them. He gave up Copenhagen and looked lost and unresponsive at the plate. His body language was frustrating, and on the last day of the regular season he dropped a routine pop-up that would repel the A's to the title. He'd finish the year 5th in MVP voting with a 3rd Silver Slugger award, and a large contingent of fans that were ready to see him leave.

No doubt Josh will get booed tomorrow. Many will remember that drop, the poor second half of 2012, the continuous God cards, the 2 relapses, the parting words, etc...My lasting memory of Josh will be that wondrous clout he hit right before sports ended.