T.R.’s Memoirs: Michael Young became a Texas Rangers great, but his future wasn't a given early in his career
Manager Jerry Narron helped pave the way for Young to blossom into a seven-time All-Star and five-time Rangers Player of the Year.
Editor’s note: T.R. Sullivan covered the Texas Rangers over 32 years for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and MLB.com, and is sharing his “memoirs” with this newsletter.
In this installment, T.R. goes back to Michael Young’s first few years with the Rangers and how manager Jerry Narron’s faith in him proved pivotal to his career.
Michael Young is one of the best players in Rangers history, a seven-time All-Star and five-time club Player of the Year, and their all-time leader in just about every career offensive record not held by Juan Gonzalez.
Beyond the trophies and accolades, he earned the respect and admiration of both teammates and opponents for not only his talent and accomplishments but by the way he played the game and the way he carried himself on and off the field.
That he twice was selected for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award by the players association speaks to the level of respect Young earned from his peers.
Yet all those wonderful things, including the two trips to the World Series in 2010 and 2011, almost didn’t happen. Young’s journey to the Rangers Hall of Fame was almost derailed at the beginning and probably would have except for one person.
Manager Jerry Narron.
If there is anything that came out of the dreadful 2002 season for the Rangers, it was the manager showing faith in a player who would become an icon in Arlington.