The Rangers enjoyed a dramatic turnaround in 2004 by winning 89 games and finishing just three games back in the American League West. Buck Showalter engineered the Texas renaissance and was named AL Manager of the Year. The Rangers had five All-Stars: shortstop Michael Young, third baseman Hank Blalock, second baseman Alfonso Soriano, starting pitcher Kenny Rogers and closer Francisco Cordero. First baseman Mark Teixeira and Soriano picked up Silver Slugger Awards and Rogers earned his third Gold Glove. The Rangers were in first place as late as Aug. 5, thanks largely to the dynamic offense provided by their infield and the solid work of the bullpen. Each member of the starting infield  -- Teixeira,  Soriano, Young and Blalock  -- went past the 20-homer plateau. Texas was only the second club in Major League history to have all four starting infielders record more than 20 homers.

Feb. 16, 2004: Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig approves the trade of Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees in exchange for Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later (minor league shortstop Joaquin Arias.)

Michael Young won the American League batting championship, first baseman Mark Teixeira won a Gold Glove and set a Major League record for RBI by a switch-hitter and the Rangers sent four players to the All-Star Game. But they still won ten less games than the year before and finished in third place in the American League West with a record of 79-83. The Rangers hit 260 home runs, the second most in Major League history, but their pitching staff had a 4.96 ERA, the third highest in the American League. The Rangers were 46-40 at the All-Star break, five games out of first place. But they fell out of contention with a 1-12 roadtrip in August. The season saw the Rangers boast seven players with at least 20 homers each en route to setting a club record for homers at home. Kenny Rogers led the team in wins (14) and ERA (3.46). Mark Teixeira paced Texas' red-hot offense with 43 home runs and 144 RBIs.

Sept. 18, 2005: The Rangers hit five homers, including blasts by David Dellucci, Alfonso Soriano, Rod Barajas and two by Teixeira -- one from each side of the plate -- to up the season total at home to a Major League-record 152 home runs and complete the four-game sweep.

Michael Young was the Most Valuable Player in the All-Star Game with a two-run triple in the top of the ninth that gave the American League a 3-2 victory. The Rangers still finished 80-82 and manager Buck Showalter was replaced at the end of the year by Oakland third base coach Ron Washington. Young set a new team record with 52 doubles and the team led the Majors with 357 doubles, another club record.