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Rusty Greer
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Thurman Clyde "Rusty" Greer III (born January 21, 1969) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers from 1994 to 2002. He is currently the Head Baseball Coach for Fort Worth Christian School.
Key Information
Biography
[edit]Greer attended high school in Albertville, Alabama before playing college baseball at the University of Montevallo. (Montevallo was the only college interested in Greer prior to a senior-year all-star game where he finally drew attention from larger schools; however, he chose to remain at Montevallo since they initially offered him a scholarship.) While at Montevallo, Greer was a Resident Assistant in Napier Hall. The Rangers made him their tenth-round pick (279th overall) in the 1990 amateur draft, and he spent the rest of the season playing for their rookie-level minor league club in Butte, Montana. He would spend all 15 years of his professional baseball career in the Rangers organization, a feat that had become a rarity among professional ballplayers thanks to free agency.
At Butte, he batted .345 with an OPS of 1.032, which earned him a promotion to the Class A Florida State League the following season. He finished 1991 with the Class AA Tulsa Drillers in the Texas League; he stayed with Tulsa through 1992 and most of 1993, before being called up to the Class AAA Oklahoma City 89ers for eight games. He also started the 1994 season with the 89ers, batting .315 in 31 games, when he earned a call-up to the Rangers.
Major league career
[edit]Greer continued his successful run at Oklahoma when he was called up to Texas, where he batted .314 with ten home runs in 80 games, including one in his second major-league at bat,[1] thus becoming the second Ranger to accomplish this feat.[2] (Rubén Sierra was the first on June 1, 1986, at Kansas City) He also played an integral part in baseball history against the Anaheim Angels on July 28, 1994, when he made a diving catch of Rex Hudler's fly ball to protect a perfect game by Kenny Rogers. Although that was one of the most significant catches he made in his career, he made many others like it, and his all-out style of play made him a fan favorite throughout his major-league career. Greer also caught Gary DiSarcina's fly ball for the game's final out.
Greer cooled off slightly in his second season, batting .271. However, in 1996, he had one of the best seasons of his career, batting .332 (fifth in the American League) and having his first of three 100-RBI seasons.
The 1997 season also proved successful for Greer, as he finished seventh in the AL with a .321 batting average, played in a career-high 157 games, and he hit a career-high 26 home runs. In 1998, he had a career-high 108 RBI and a .306 batting average. The Rangers honored him for his contributions by granting him a new contract that paid him $3.3 million in 1999, up from $1.025 million the previous season. In 1999, he batted an even .300 with 20 home runs, 101 RBI, and a career-high 96 walks (to go with 67 strikeouts). In the 2000 season, he was limited to 105 games due to injuries and posted a batting average of .297, with eight home runs.
In 2001, Greer was limited to 62 games because of injuries, but he still hit seven home runs. Still a fan favorite, he was honored with a three-year, $21 million contract before the 2002 season. However, due to injuries he would only play 51 games with the Rangers in 2002.
Injuries and attempted comeback
[edit]Greer's aggressive style of play took a severe toll on his body, and he spent the remainder of his baseball career undergoing and recovering from surgeries. After first coming off of the disabled list in 2002, he was only able to play one more game, on July 11 of that year, before going back on the disabled list. On August 22, he had surgery to fuse the C5 and C6 vertebrae in his neck; and in the offseason, he had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder. He was then expected to miss the entire 2003 season. While rehabilitating from the rotator cuff surgery, he had to undergo Tommy John surgery and an ulnar nerve transposition in July 2003. He actually was also supposed to receive operations on his right hip and right knee, but he decided against those. He also had surgery in the following offseason to remove scar tissue that had built up in his elbow, and early in the 2004 season he had additional surgery to remove scar tissue from his shoulder.
Nevertheless, he was still determined to come back; and he and the Rangers expected to see him back on the field as a designated hitter during the last month of their season. He worked out at the Rangers' spring training facility in Surprise, Arizona, with the intention of doing a rehabilitation assignment in the minor leagues shortly thereafter. However, his workout was cut short; he returned to Texas, where he had surgery to remove scar tissue on his forearm and was declared out for the season. The Rangers, not surprisingly, decided to buy out the option year on his contract; he actually made almost as much money during the two lost seasons as he did in the rest of his career combined.
Greer received invitations from the Rangers and the Minnesota Twins to go to spring training as a non-roster invitee, but he decided that he would rather retire than move his family to another state. Thus, on February 20, 2005, he announced his retirement, officially ending his comeback attempt.[3]
On August 11, 2007, the Rangers inducted Greer into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame.[4]
Career statistics
[edit]| Seasons | Games | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | HBP | AVG | OBP | SLG | FLD% |
| 9 | 1027 | 4420 | 3829 | 643 | 1166 | 258 | 25 | 119 | 614 | 31 | 519 | 555 | 22 | .305 | .387 | .478 | .978 |
In the 1996, '98 and '99 American League Division Series, Greer batted only .111 (4-for-36). He played all three outfield positions and first base in his career. His fielding percentage was .980 at left field, .970 at right field, .981 at center field and .960 at first base. At 9 years, Greer had the longest tenure of any player to only play for the Rangers during his career.[5]
Life after playing career
[edit]Today, Greer resides in Colleyville, Texas and has three children.[6] For several years he ran a baseball training facility, the Rusty Greer Baseball School, in Euless, Texas.[7] Greer announced in 2022 that he would be closing the school to take an assignment with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks as the Graduate Baseball Manager. [8]
On July 12, 2023, Greer was named Head Baseball Coach at Fort Worth Christian School located in North Richland Hills, Texas. [9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics Box Score, May 16, 1994".
- ^ "Rusty Greer: Biography and Career Highlights". Archived from the original on December 16, 2019.
- ^ ESPN: Rusty Greer opts to retire
- ^ "Rusty Greer selected as 2007 inductee to Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
- ^ "Rusty Greer Career Stats at Baseball Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ "Greer hasn't played in 3 years due to injury". ESPN. February 20, 2005. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
- ^ "Instructional Sessions Colleyville | Baseball School". rustygreerbaseballschool.com. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Rusty Greer - Baseball Coach".
- ^ "Former Rangers star Rusty Greer named baseball coach at Fort Worth Christian". Dallas News. July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac
Rusty Greer
View on GrokipediaEarly life and education
Upbringing and family
Thurman Clyde "Rusty" Greer III was born on January 21, 1969, in Fort Rucker, Alabama, to parents T.C. Greer and Marty Greer.[1] His father, a Vietnam War veteran who served as a helicopter medevac pilot from 1969 to 1970, provided the family with strong military ties that influenced their early mobility and lifestyle.[1] Although T.C. Greer considered a long-term military career, he transitioned to the sawmill and lumber business after his service, first in Georgia and later in Alabama, which shaped the family's relocations.[1] The Greer family, including Rusty's younger sister Anna, moved to Albertville, Alabama, in 1976, where Rusty spent much of his childhood in the small town known for its manufacturing industry.[8] This relocation from Georgia to Albertville offered a stable environment amid his father's post-military pursuits, fostering Rusty's early interest in sports as a way to build discipline and community connections influenced by his family's resilient background.[1] At Albertville High School, Greer developed as a multi-sport athlete, earning four-year varsity letters in both baseball and basketball.[9] As a senior in 1987, he received All-State honors in baseball, highlighting his emerging talent as an outfielder while also excelling as a point guard in basketball, which was initially his preferred sport.[8][10] Following graduation, Greer pursued college baseball at the University of Montevallo.[9]College baseball career
Rusty Greer enrolled at the University of Montevallo in 1988 and played college baseball for the Falcons, the school's NAIA program, through the 1990 season. As a business administration major, he quickly established himself as a standout outfielder, contributing to the team's success over three seasons. His college career built on his high school achievements, including All-State honors at Albertville High School, which provided a solid foundation for his collegiate performance.[5] Over his tenure at Montevallo, Greer amassed 216 hits, 158 runs, 54 doubles, 25 home runs, and 133 RBIs, while posting a .394 batting average and stealing 53 bases. In his freshman year of 1988, he hit .451 with 54 RBIs and 7 home runs, earning NAIA Honorable Mention All-American honors, along with All-District 27 and All-Area 5 selections. Greer set school records with 88 hits and 20 doubles in a single season, and he also holds the program mark for four stolen bases in a game. His junior year in 1990 marked his peak, as he was named NAIA First-Team All-American and team MVP.[4][9] Greer's exceptional college production culminated in his selection by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round, 271st overall, of the 1990 MLB Draft. In recognition of his contributions to Montevallo baseball, he was inducted into the University of Montevallo Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.[5][4]Professional career
Minor league progression
Following his selection as a NAIA First Team All-American at the University of Montevallo, Rusty Greer was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round of the 1990 MLB Draft and assigned to their rookie-level affiliate, the Butte Copper Kings of the Pioneer League.[11] In 62 games that season, Greer batted .345 with 10 home runs, showcasing strong contact skills and power potential early in his professional career.[11] Greer advanced to High-A Port Charlotte (later known as the Charlotte Rangers) in the Florida State League for the 1991 season, where he played 111 games and hit .294 with 5 home runs, earning selection to the Florida State League All-Star team.[11][12] Late in the year, he received a promotion to Double-A Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League, appearing in 20 games with a .297 average and 3 home runs, demonstrating his readiness for higher competition.[11] In 1992, Greer spent the full season with Tulsa, but faced adjustment challenges at the Double-A level, batting .267 with 5 home runs over 106 games as he refined his approach against more advanced pitching.[11] He rebounded strongly in 1993, posting a .291 average and 15 home runs in 129 games with Tulsa before a brief late-season call-up to Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers of the American Association, where he hit .222 in 8 games.[11] Greer began 1994 with Oklahoma City, excelling in 31 games with a .315 batting average and 3 home runs, which led to his promotion to the major leagues on May 16.[11][2] Across his minor league progression from 1990 to 1994, he appeared in 467 games, compiling a .292 batting average and 42 home runs while steadily climbing the Rangers' system.[11]Major League Baseball tenure
Greer made his Major League Baseball debut on May 16, 1994, with the Texas Rangers in a game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, where he started in right field and batted second in the lineup. In his second at-bat of the game, he hit a two-run home run off Athletics pitcher Carlos Reyes, marking his first career hit and making him the first Rangers player to homer for his debut hit.[5][1] In his rookie season, Greer appeared in 80 games for the Rangers, primarily in the outfield, and batted .314 with 10 home runs, 16 doubles, and 46 RBIs while drawing 46 walks for a .410 on-base percentage. One of the season's highlights occurred on July 28, 1994, when Greer, playing center field, made a spectacular diving catch of a line drive by Rex Hudler in the ninth inning, helping preserve teammate Kenny Rogers' perfect game against the California Angels at Arlington Stadium—the 12th perfect game in MLB history and the first for the Rangers franchise.[2][13] Greer's performance elevated during his peak years from 1996 to 1999, when he became a cornerstone of the Rangers' lineup during their first three American League West division titles. In 1996, he played 139 games, batting .332 to finish fifth in the AL, while leading the team with 41 doubles, scoring 96 runs, and driving in 100 runs to help secure the franchise's inaugural playoff berth. The following year, 1997, Greer hit .321 with a career-high 26 home runs and 87 RBIs over 153 games, finishing seventh in the AL in batting average and contributing to a 102-win season. In 1998, he maintained consistency with a .306 average, 16 home runs, a team-high 108 RBIs, and 107 runs scored in 151 games, powering the Rangers to their second straight division crown. Greer's 1999 campaign saw him bat .300 with 20 home runs, 101 RBIs, and another 41 doubles in 145 games, anchoring the lineup for the team's third consecutive title.[2][14][1] Over his nine-season MLB tenure, which spanned 1994 to 2002 and was spent entirely with the Texas Rangers, Greer appeared in 1,027 games, establishing himself as the primary left fielder while demonstrating versatility across all three outfield spots and occasionally at first base. Renowned for his gritty, blue-collar approach—characterized by relentless hustle, wall-crashing pursuits, and diving defensive plays—he embodied team loyalty and became a fan favorite in Texas for his all-out effort in a star-studded lineup alongside players like Juan González and Iván Rodríguez. The Rangers qualified for the postseason in 1996, 1998, and 1999, each time reaching the American League Division Series, where Greer went 4-for-36 (.111 batting average) with two runs scored over 10 games.[2][1][15]Injuries and retirement
Key injuries sustained
Rusty Greer's aggressive playing style, characterized by diving catches and collisions with outfield walls, contributed significantly to his injury history throughout his Major League Baseball career. This approach, exemplified by his iconic diving catch to preserve Kenny Rogers' perfect game in 1994, often resulted in physical tolls that accumulated over time.[1] In 1999, Greer sustained a broken nose and bruised retina after being struck in the face by a thrown ball during batting practice on September 13, causing blurred vision that sidelined him for six games. He returned briefly but was further hampered when hit on the left elbow by a pitch on October 1, limiting his postseason contribution to a 1-for-9 performance. Despite these setbacks, he appeared in 147 games that season.[1][5][2] The 2000 season brought additional lower-body challenges, including a strained left hamstring on April 15 and a hyperextended right knee, which placed him on the disabled list. Complicating recovery, he underwent surgery on April 16 to remove bone spurs from his right ankle—an issue stemming from a 1994 minor league injury—keeping him out until late May; he also missed the final nine games due to plantar fasciitis. These injuries reduced his playing time to 105 games.[16][17][2] By 2001, back issues dominated, as a pinched nerve in his lower back required surgery in August, ending his season prematurely and limiting him to 62 games overall. This marked a sharp decline from his prior full-season participation, with ongoing pain affecting his mobility and performance.[18][19][2] In 2002, Greer's injuries escalated with multiple procedures: he was placed on the disabled list on June 4 for a strained muscle in his left side (later identified as back and neck problems), returning on July 11; neck fusion surgery on the C5-C6 vertebrae on August 22 to address disc issues; and offseason repair of a torn left rotator cuff on November 20. In November 2002, Greer was scheduled for surgery to clean torn cartilage from his right knee, though it is unclear if the procedure was performed. These limited him to just 51 games, during which his batting average dropped to .217 amid diminished power and speed from the cumulative physical wear. Frequent injured list placements reflected the organization's response to his mounting health concerns.[5][20][21][22][2]Comeback efforts and final retirement
Following his 2002 surgeries on his neck and shoulder, which prompted initial comeback aspirations, Greer underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow along with an ulnar nerve transposition in July 2003.[1] He spent the remainder of that year in rehabilitation, appearing in four games for the Gulf Coast League Rangers, where he batted .250.[5] These efforts were part of a broader recovery process that kept him off the major league roster for the entire 2003 season. In 2004, Greer signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers and reported to spring training in hopes of reviving his career.[23] He progressed to play 13 games at the High-A level with the Bakersfield Blaze, batting .286 during that stint. However, persistent shoulder issues forced him to be shut down, ending his on-field attempts for the year.[5] Despite the setback, Greer continued consultations with medical experts and the Rangers organization throughout the offseason. On February 20, 2005, Greer officially announced his retirement at age 36, citing repeated failed physicals and the cumulative toll of his injuries as insurmountable barriers to returning to the majors.[23] He attributed the end of his career primarily to the physical demands and multiple surgeries that had eroded his body, while expressing deep gratitude to the Rangers for their support during his tenure and recovery.[1] In the immediate aftermath, Greer shifted his focus to family life in Texas, prioritizing time with his wife and children over further professional pursuits.[23]Career statistics and honors
Professional statistics
Rusty Greer accumulated impressive offensive statistics during his nine-year Major League Baseball career, primarily as a left fielder for the Texas Rangers, demonstrating consistent contact hitting and plate discipline. Over 1,027 games, he posted a .305 batting average, .387 on-base percentage, and .478 slugging percentage, along with 119 home runs, 614 runs batted in, and 218 doubles. His career fielding percentage in the outfield stood at .979, highlighting reliable defensive play.[2] The following table summarizes Greer's year-by-year MLB batting performance:| Year | Age | Team | G | BA | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | 2B | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 25 | TEX | 80 | .314 | .410 | .487 | 10 | 46 | 16 | 1.5 |
| 1995 | 26 | TEX | 131 | .271 | .355 | .424 | 13 | 61 | 21 | 1.5 |
| 1996 | 27 | TEX | 139 | .332 | .397 | .530 | 18 | 100 | 41 | 5.4 |
| 1997 | 28 | TEX | 157 | .321 | .405 | .531 | 26 | 87 | 42 | 4.6 |
| 1998 | 29 | TEX | 155 | .306 | .386 | .455 | 16 | 108 | 31 | 3.8 |
| 1999 | 30 | TEX | 147 | .300 | .405 | .493 | 20 | 101 | 41 | 3.3 |
| 2000 | 31 | TEX | 105 | .297 | .377 | .459 | 8 | 65 | 34 | 2.1 |
| 2001 | 32 | TEX | 62 | .273 | .342 | .453 | 7 | 29 | 23 | 0.3 |
| 2002 | 33 | TEX | 51 | .296 | .356 | .377 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 0.0 |
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