mike Hargrove - baseball athlete of the year 1974
Mike Hargrove - Perryton and Texas Rangers
Why Honored: After a successful career at Perryton, the Texas Rangers drafted Hargrove in the 25th round in 1972; two years later, Hargrove was the team’s starting first baseman.
By the time his baseball playing career ended after 12 seasons, he’d earned the American League’s Rookie of the Year Award, collected more than 1,600 hits, and played in an All-Star game. He followed that with a Major League managing career that spanned 16 seasons with three teams.
He played in 1,666 big-league games with the Rangers, San Diego Padres, and Indians; he compiled a lifetime batting average of .290 and put together a winning record as a Major League manager.
He was involved in the first triple play in Texas Rangers history on August 8, 1977.
