8 Baseball Players who Played for Cubs and Rangers
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found players who played for both the Cubs and the Rangers.
Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Soriano had a distinguished career from 1999 to 2014, playing for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, and Chicago Cubs.
He amassed 2095 hits, 412 home runs, and 1159 RBIs over his career while maintaining a .270 batting average. Soriano was known for his speed and power, becoming the 4th player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club (40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season) in 2006.
Soriano was a 7-time All-Star and won 4 Silver Slugger Awards.
Soriano Key Stats
- All-Star (Yankees, Rangers, Nationals, Cubs)
- Silver Slugger (Yankees, Rangers, Nationals)
- 40+ Home Run Season (Nationals)
- 100+ RBI Season (Yankees, Rangers, Cubs)
- 200+ Hit Season (Yankees)
- 30+ Stolen Base Season (Yankees, Rangers, Nationals)
Aroldis Chapman
Aroldis Chapman, nicknamed “The Cuban Missile,” is a pitcher known for his blazing fastball, which has been clocked as high as 105 miles per hour. Chapman made his debut with Cincinnati and was an integral part of the Reds’ bullpen, earning multiple All-Star selections during his tenure with the team.
In late 2015, he was traded to the New York Yankees, but his time in New York was initially short-lived. In mid-2016, Chapman was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he played a key role in helping the Cubs win the World Series, their first in over 100 years.
After that season, Chapman went back to the Yankees where he continued to have major success, including three additional All-Star selections.
Chapman Key Stats
- All-Star (Reds, Yankees)
- World Series Champ (Cubs)
Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro began his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs in 1986. He also had stints with the Rangers and Orioles. Throughout his career, he was a model of consistent production, hitting 30 or more home runs in ten seasons and driving in 100 or more runs in ten seasons as well.
One of the most significant milestones of Palmeiro’s career was joining the 3,000-hit club, a feat achieved by only a select group of players in MLB history. Additionally, he surpassed 500 home runs, making him one of the few players with both 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.
However, Palmeiro’s illustrious career was not without controversy. In 2005, he tested positive for an anabolic steroid, which led to a 10-game suspension. The incident, especially given Palmeiro’s prior testimony before Congress where he denied using steroids, sparked significant debate and arguably impacted his legacy in the game.
Palmeiro Key Stats
- All-Star (Cubs, Rangers, Orioles)
- Gold Glove (Orioles, Rangers)
- Silver Slugger (Orioles, Rangers)
- 3000+ Career Hits (Cubs, Rangers, Orioles)
- 500+ Career Home Runs (Cubs, Rangers, Orioles)
- 200+ Hit Season (Rangers)
- 40+ Home Run Season (Orioles, Rangers)
- 100+ RBI Season (Rangers, Orioles)
Yu Darvish
Yu Darvish is in his 11th year in the majors. He has played for 4 different clubs during that span including the Rangers, Padres, Cubs and Dodgers.
Darvish has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the game since entering the league in 2012. He’s been a 5x All-Star (Rangers, Padres) and has been the Cy Young runner-up twice (’13 & ’20).
Darvish’s dominance combined with how recently he’s played for multiple teams will make him a popular pick for a few grid squares.
Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa, a power-hitting outfielder from the Dominican Republic, played in the Major Leagues from 1989 to 2007, most famously for the Chicago Cubs.
Sosa hit over 600 home runs in his career, making him one of only nine players to achieve this feat. He was named an All-Star seven times (Cubs), won the National League MVP (Cubs) in 1998, and was renowned for his homerun race with Mark McGwire that same year.
Despite some controversy surrounding performance-enhancing drugs later in his career, Sosa’s exuberant personality and remarkable power at the plate left a significant impact on the sport.
*Sosa was the most popular player for this square in a previous grid (Grid 145)
Gary Matthews jr
Gary Matthews Jr., the son of former Major League player Gary Matthews, was an outfielder with a career spanning from 1999 to 2010. Known for his agility and speed, he played for seven teams during his career including the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels.
A standout year for Matthews Jr. was 2006 with the Rangers, where he hit .313 with 19 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 102 runs, leading to his only All-Star selection. His career totals include a .257 batting average, 108 home runs, and 484 RBIs.
Matthews Jr. is perhaps best remembered for an incredible over-the-wall catch in 2006 while with the Rangers, a highlight that still plays in baseball reels today.
Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer was a steady pitcher in baseball for an impressive stretch from 1986 to 2012. He made a name for himself with teams like the Mariners and Phillies, but also had stops with the Cubs, Orioles, Rangers, Rockies, Cardinals and Red Sox.
Over his career, he snagged over 260 wins, proving that you don’t need a blazing fastball to get the job done. Moyer was an All-Star once and was also a big part of the Phillies’ World Series win in 2008.
What’s really cool about him is that he pitched in the majors until he was 49, which is just amazing.
Matt Stairs
Matt Stairs had a lengthy Major League career that spanned from 1992 to 2011, during which he played for 12 different teams, essentially making him an Immaculate Grid Hall-of-Famer.
Known for his power-hitting abilities, primarily as a pinch-hitter, he hit 265 home runs over his career and holds the record for the most pinch-hit home runs in MLB history with 23. Stairs had a career batting average of .262 with an OPS of .832, and recorded 899 RBIs.
Notably, in the 2008 postseason with the Philadelphia Phillies, he hit one of the most famous home runs in Phillies history, helping the team move onto the World Series that year.
