Offseason

• October 3, 1978: Len Barker
  Len Barker
  Leonard Harold Barker III , better known as Lenny Barker or Len Barker, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He pitched the tenth perfect game in baseball history. Barker pitched for the Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians , Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers...
  
   and Bobby Bonds
  Bobby Bonds
  Bobby Lee Bonds was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball from to , primarily with the San Francisco Giants...
  
   were traded by the Rangers to the Cleveland Indians
  Cleveland Indians
  The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
  
   for Larvell Blanks
  Larvell Blanks
  Larvell Blanks is a retired American Major League Baseball infielder.Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 3rd round of the 1969 MLB amateur draft, Blanks would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Atlanta Braves on July 19, 1972, and appeared in his final game on August 3, 1980.Blanks'...
  
   and Jim Kern
  Jim Kern
  James Lester Kern is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. Kern had a thirteen-year Major League career from 1974 to 1986 with the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies.Kern was elected to the American League All-Star...
  
  .
• October 24, 1978: Sandy Alomar
  Sandy Alomar, Sr.
  Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Sr., or in the Spanish naming system Santos Alomar Conde is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves , New York Mets , Chicago White Sox , California Angels , New York Yankees , and Texas Rangers . Alomar was a...
  
   was released by the Rangers.
• October 25, 1978: Mike Hargrove
  Mike Hargrove
  Dudley Michael Hargrove is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. He is currently employed as an advisor with the Cleveland Indians....
  
  , Kurt Bevacqua
  Kurt Bevacqua
  Kurt Bevacqua is a former Major League Baseball player. He was chosen in the 12th round of the 1967 draft by the Cincinnati Reds and debuted in the big leagues in 1971 with the Cleveland Indians, ultimately playing for six different teams during his career. His final appearance was in with the...
  
  , and Bill Fahey
  Bill Fahey
  William Roger Fahey is a former catcher in professional baseball who played for the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers , San Diego Padres and Detroit Tigers . Fahey batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
  
   were traded by the Rangers to the San Diego Padres
  San Diego Padres
  The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
  
   for Oscar Gamble
  Oscar Gamble
  Oscar Charles Gamble is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. He played for 17 seasons, from 1969 to 1985, on seven different teams: the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees on two separate occasions, as well as the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland...
  
  , Dave Roberts and $300,000.
• November 10, 1978: Dave Righetti
  Dave Righetti
  David Allan Righetti is a former left-handed pitcher for various Major League Baseball teams, primarily the New York Yankees. He is currently the pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants and was the first player in history to both pitch a no-hitter and also lead the league in saves in his career...
  
  , Juan Beníquez
  Juan Beníquez
  Juan José Beníquez Torres is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , Texas Rangers , New York Yankees , Seattle Mariners , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays...
  
  , Mike Griffin
  Mike Griffin (pitcher)
  Michael Leroy Griffin is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during six seasons at the major league level for the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, and Cincinnati Reds. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 3rd round of the amateur draft...
  
  , Paul Mirabella
  Paul Mirabella
  Paul Thomas Mirabella is a former professional baseball pitcher. Mirabella, who threw left-handed, played all or part of thirteen seasons in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers , New York Yankees , Toronto Blue Jays , Baltimore Orioles , Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers .Mirabella...
  
  , and Greg Jemison (minors) were traded by the Rangers to the New York Yankees
  New York Yankees
  The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
  
   for Domingo Ramos
  Domingo Ramos
  Domingo Antonio Ramos , is a former professional baseball player who was an infielder in the Major Leagues from 1978-1990.-External links:...
  
  , Mike Heath
  Mike Heath
  Michael Thomas Heath is a former catcher in Major League Baseball. Heath played fourteen seasons in the major leagues with the New York Yankees , Oakland Athletics , St...
  
  , Sparky Lyle
  Sparky Lyle
  Albert Walter "Sparky" Lyle is an American former left-handed relief pitcher who spent sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball . He was a closer from 1969 to 1977, first for the Boston Red Sox and then the New York Yankees. A three-time All-Star, he won the American League Cy Young Award in 1977...
  
  , Larry McCall
  Larry McCall
  Larry Stephen McCall was born in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played Major League Baseball with the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers professional baseball teams during his career...
  
  , Dave Rajsich
  Dave Rajsich
  David Christopher Rajsich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1978 to 1980 for the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. He also played one season in Japan for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 1984...
  
  , and cash.
• December 8, 1978: Jim Mason
  Jim Mason (baseball)
  James Percy Mason , is a former Major League Baseball shortstop, who played nine seasons in the major leagues, from 1971–1979, for the Washington Senators, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and Montreal Expos.Mason was a member of the Yankees during the 1976 World Series against...
  
   was traded by the Rangers to the Montreal Expos
  Washington Nationals
  The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
  
   for Mike Hart
  Mike Hart (switch hitter)
  James Michael Hart is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played five games for the Texas Rangers in , getting one hit in four at bats. Following his major league career, Hart has had a long career as a minor league manager and coach. His most recent managerial stint was in with the...
  
  .

Regular season

• June 24, 1979: Rickey Henderson
  Rickey Henderson
  Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
  
   made his major league debut for the Oakland Athletics
  Oakland Athletics
  The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
  
   in a game against the Rangers. Henderson had 4 at bat
  At bat
  In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
  
  s with 2 hit
  Hit (baseball)
  In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
  
  s, and 1 stolen base
  Stolen base
  In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
  
  .

Notable transactions

• May 4, 1979: Bert Campaneris
  Bert Campaneris
  Dagoberto Campaneris Blanco , nicknamed "Campy", is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams, primarily the Kansas City and Oakland Athletics...
  
   was traded by the Rangers to the California Angels
  Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
  
   for Dave Chalk
  Dave Chalk
  David Lee Chalk is a former Major League Baseball player. Third base and shortstop were his primary positions. He batted and threw right-handed....
  
  .
• June 15, 1979: Dock Ellis
  Dock Ellis
  Dock Phillip Ellis, Jr. was a professional baseball player who pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, among other teams in Major League Baseball. His best season was 1971, when he won 19 games for the World Series champion Pirates and was the starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star...
  
   was traded by the Rangers to the New York Mets
  New York Mets
  The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
  
   for Bob Myrick
  Bob Myrick
  Robert Howard Myrick is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of three seasons in the majors, from until , for the New York Mets.-External links:...
  
   and Mike Bruhert
  Mike Bruhert
  Michael Edwin Bruhert is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is the former son-in-law of former New York Mets manager Gil Hodges....
  
  .
• June 15, 1979: Eric Soderholm
  Eric Soderholm
  Eric Thane Soderholm is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who played for the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees from 1971 to 1980...
  
   was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Texas Rangers for Ed Farmer and Gary Holle.
• August 1, 1979: Oscar Gamble
  Oscar Gamble
  Oscar Charles Gamble is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. He played for 17 seasons, from 1969 to 1985, on seven different teams: the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees on two separate occasions, as well as the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland...
  
  , Amos Lewis (minors) and players to be named later were traded by the Rangers to the New York Yankees
  New York Yankees
  The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
  
   for Mickey Rivers
  Mickey Rivers
  John Milton "Mickey" Rivers is a former Major League Baseball player from 1970-1984 for the California Angels, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers...
  
   and players to be named later. The Rangers completed the deal by sending Ray Fontenot
  Ray Fontenot
  Silton Ray Fontenot is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for four seasons between 1983 and 1986...
  
   and Gene Nelson
  Gene Nelson (baseball)
  Wayland Eugene Nelson , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1981 to 1993. After beginning his career as a starting pitcher with the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners, Nelson gradually converted to a relief role starting in 1983...
  
   to the Yankees on October 8. The Yankees completed the deal by sending Bob Polinsky (minors), Neal Mersch (minors), and Mark Softy (minors) to the Rangers on October 8.

Roster

Starters by position

Other batters

Starting pitchers

Other pitchers

Relief pitchers

Awards and honors

• Jim Kern
  Jim Kern
  James Lester Kern is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. Kern had a thirteen-year Major League career from 1974 to 1986 with the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies.Kern was elected to the American League All-Star...
  
  , Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award
  Rolaids Relief Man Award
  The Rolaids Relief Man Award is an annual Major League Baseball award given since the 1976 MLB season to the top relief pitchers of the regular season, one in the American League and one in the National League . Relief pitchers are the pitchers who enter the game after the starting pitcher is...
  
  
• Buddy Bell
  Buddy Bell
  David Gus "Buddy" Bell is a former third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. After an 18-year career with four teams, most notably the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers, he managed the Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals for three seasons each...
  
  , 3B, Gold Glove
• Jim Sundberg
  Jim Sundberg
  James Howard Sundberg is a former professional baseball catcher known for being one of the best defensive catchers of his era. He played for a number of Major League teams, most significantly the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, with whom we won a World Championship...
  
  , C, Gold Glove

Farm system