[Nick Soulis]

Series #201



1920 New York Giants
Record: 86-68
Finish: 2nd in NL
Manager: John McGraw
Ball Park: Polo Grounds
WAR Leader: Ross Youngs (6.5)
Franchise Record: 8-9
1920 Season Record: 1-1
Hall of Famers: (2)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYG/1920.shtml

1992 Texas Rangers
Record: 77-85
Finish: 4th in AL West
Manager: Bobby Valentine
Ball Park: Arlington Stadium
WAR Leader: Kevin Brown (4.8)
Franchise Record: 3-3
1992 Season Record:2-3
Hall of Famers: (2)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TEX/1992.shtml
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Texas Heat Scorches Giants
Rangers With Upset Exposes McGraw Side



Game 1
At Polo Gtounds
1992 Texas Rangers 4
1920 New York Giants 2
WP: N. Ryan (1-0) LP: A. Nehf (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Nolan Ryan (9 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 102 P)
1992 Rangers Lead Series 1-0

The 1992 Texas Rangers opened the Field of Dreams best-of-seven series with a clutch 4-2 victory over the 1920 New York Giants, thanks to a vintage performance from 45-year-old fireballer Nolan Ryan. Pitching under the crisp fall skies at the Polo Grounds before a packed crowd of 63,336, Ryan silenced the skeptics and the Giants’ bats alike, going the distance with a 7-hit, 7-strikeout complete game. The Rangers fell behind 2-1 in the fifth after back-to-back extra-base hits by catcher Frank Snyder and pitcher Art Nehf, but Texas rallied in the eighth with a game-breaking three-run surge. Key pinch-hit contributions—including a two-run double by Kevin Reimer—turned the tide and proved decisive. Nehf, solid for much of the afternoon, faltered late and took the loss despite also going the full nine innings. With timely hitting and a masterclass from their ageless ace, the Rangers seized the early momentum and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 returns to the Polo Grounds tomorrow as the Giants seek redemption.

Game 2
At Polo Gtounds
1992 Texas Rangers 0
1920 New York Giants 2
WP: P. Douglas (1-0) LP: K. Brown (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Phil Douglas (9 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 120 P)
Series Tied 1-1

In front of a roaring Polo Grounds crowd of 62,960, the 1920 New York Giants delivered a vintage shutout performance to even the Field of Dreams best-of-seven series at one game apiece, blanking the 1992 Texas Rangers 2–0. Giants ace Phil Douglas turned in a masterclass, scattering seven hits and two walks across nine dominant innings while fanning three, earning Player of the Game honors. The Rangers, who racked up 10 runs in Game 1, were stymied by Douglas’s pinpoint command and ability to induce weak contact. Giants left fielder George Burns drove in the first run in the second inning, while first baseman George Kelly added an insurance RBI with a two-out single in the fifth. Texas righty Kevin Brown was tough in his own right, yielding just one earned run over eight innings, but his offense couldn’t solve Douglas. The shutout was punctuated by smart defense and classic small ball, with New York stranding seven Texas runners. The series now shifts to Arlington Stadium for Game 3 on Monday, with momentum swinging firmly toward the Giants.

Game 3
At Arlington Stadium
1920 New York Giants 3
1992 Texas Rangers 4
WP: J. Guzman (1-0) LP: F. Toney (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Jose Guzman (9 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 140 P)
1992 Rangers Lead Series 2-1

On a cloudy Monday afternoon at Arlington Stadium, the 1992 Texas Rangers edged the 1920 New York Giants 4-3 in a tightly contested Game 3 of their Field of Dreams best-of-seven series, seizing a 2-1 series lead. Jose Guzman was the star of the show, delivering a complete-game effort, scattering eight hits and allowing three earned runs while striking out four across 140 pitches. The Rangers struck early with three runs in the first inning, powered by timely hits from Juan Gonzalez and Brian Downing. The Giants chipped away with a run in the fourth and two in the sixth, including a booming triple by Benny Kauff, but couldn’t overcome a critical miscue in the seventh inning. With the score tied 3-3, Rafael Palmeiro’s grounder led to an error by the Giants outfield, allowing the go-ahead run to score. Despite a pair of outfield assists that cut down Rangers runners at the plate, the Giants couldn’t mount a final rally. With the series now tilted in Texas’s favor, the Giants will look to regroup quickly before Game 4, set to be played again at Arlington.

Game 3
At Arlington Stadium
1920 New York Giants 3
1992 Texas Rangers 4
WP: T. Burns (1-0) LP: R. Benton (0-1)
HR: R. Palmeiro (1)
POG: Todd Burns (9 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 110 P)
1992 Rangers Lead Series 3-1

In Game 4 of the Field of Dreams Series #201 at Arlington Stadium on October 5, 1920, the 1992 Texas Rangers edged the 1920 New York Giants 4-3 with a dramatic ninth-inning walk-off, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series under clear 67-degree skies with an 11 mph breeze. Todd Burns delivered a gritty complete game for Texas, allowing 3 runs on 10 hits, while Rafael Palmeiro’s two-run homer in the eighth tied the game, setting the stage for Julio Franco’s pinch-hit, game-winning single in the ninth. Ross Youngs went 3-for-4 for the Giants, and Larry Doyle’s sixth-inning double drove in a run, but Rube Benton’s 8.1 innings faltered late despite holding Texas to one earned run until the eighth, leaving the Giants on the brink of elimination in this playoff thriller.

Game 5
At Arlington Stadium
1920 New York Giants 5
1992 Texas Rangers 6
WP: N. Ryan (2-0) LP: A. Nehf (0-2) S: J. Russell (1)
HR: None
POG: Larry Doyle (3-4, 2 2B, RBI, R)

The 1992 Texas Rangers captured their Field of Dreams win in thrilling fashion, edging the 1920 New York Giants 6-5 in a tightly contested Game 5 at Arlington Stadium. It was a battle of eras and grit, with the Rangers using a steady offensive push and the veteran presence of Nolan Ryan to hold off a resilient Giants squad. Despite being outhit 11-9, Texas capitalized on key moments — including a two-run double by Ruben Sierra in the 7th that proved to be the game-winner. Larry Doyle, the Giants' second baseman, went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in a valiant losing effort that earned him Player of the Game honors. Ryan labored through eight innings on 137 pitches to earn his second win of the series, and Jeff Russell sealed the deal with a perfect ninth for the save. The Giants’ Art Nehf gave up six runs (five earned) over 6.1 innings and took the loss. Texas manager Bobby Valentine praised his club’s perseverance, saying, “We never backed down, and today, history belongs to Texas.” With the 4-1 series victory, the Rangers celebrated in front of a euphoric crowd under the autumn sun, as the echoes of legends danced in the cornfields.

1992 Texas Rangers Win Series 4 Games To 1

Series MVP:

(2-0, 17 IP, 3.71 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 9 K, 4 BB, 0 HR)