January 11th, 2020

WACO, Texas(Jan. 30, 2020) — Former Texas Rangers and four-time all-star baseman Adrian Beltre will be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco on March 28. 

​Adrian Beltre grew up in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and while in high school, he worked for the Campo Las Palmas, a Los Angeles Dodgers facility where he ultimately made his Major League Baseball debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the age of 19.

​On Jul. 24, 1998, Beltre made his first major league start at third base against the Anaheim Angels. Six days later, Beltre hit his first home run against the Texas Rangers. 

​In 2005, Beltre signed a five-year $64 million deal with the Seattle Mariners. On Jul. 23, 2006, Beltre hit the first-ever inside-the-park home run in Safeco Field history against the Boston Red Sox. 

On Jan. 7, 2010, Beltre signed a one-year $9 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. He finished off the season with a .321 batting average,102 RBIs and 28 home runs.

On Jan. 5, 2011, Beltre signed a five-year $80 million deal with the Texas Rangers. That season, he helped the Rangers advance to the World Series versus the St. Louis Cardinals. Although Beltre went 9 for 30 at the plate for a .300 average in the Fall Classic, the Rangers lost the series 4 games to 3. At 2 different times during Game 6, the Rangers were one strike away from winning the title. In 2017, he set one of baseball’s milestones by joining the 3,000 hit club. One of the most popular players in Texas Rangers history, he was admired by his teammates who enjoyed his infectious personality. Beltre became the 4th Texas Ranger to have his jersey (29) retired on June 8, 2019. In a tribute to Beltre, the new Texas Rangers ballpark’s left field wall will be placed 329 feet from home plate. 

Beltre will be one of the seven inductees honored at the Texas Sports Hall of fame on Mar. 28. He will be joined by Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Robert Griffin III, former Houston Texan punter Shane Lechler, Olympic medalist Michelle Carter, International soccer star Clint Dempsey, former New York Liberty point guard Teresa Weatherspoon and five time US Olympian runner Francie Larrieu Smith.

  The class of 2020 Inductees will be honored on Saturday, March 28 at 6 p.m. at the Waco Convention Center. Before the banquet, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame will host a reception at 4 p.m. Combination Reception and Banquet tickets can be purchased for $200 each or $1,400 for a reserved table of eight. Tickets for the banquet only can be purchased for $75 each or $600 for a reserved table of eight. To purchase tickets or for more information, please call 800-567-9561.

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About the Texas Sports Hall of Fame:

​ The Texas Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Waco, Texas, chronicles the heroes and legends of the Lone Star State sports at all levels, including high school standouts, Olympians and professionals. Established in 1993, the organization’s mission is to preserve the legacies of all inductees and the history of sports in Texas to educate and inspire guests of all ages. Home to nearly 400 Texas Legends, the museum houses Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame and Texas High School Football Hall of Fame. For more information, please visit http://www.tshof.org/.

Photo Courtesy of Kelly Gavin/Texas Rangers.