A&E // 1991 // 546 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge David Johnson // October 28th, 2012
Don't mess with Texas.
A+E is out with yet another Major League Baseball release, this time showing some love to the Texas Rangers, last year's World Series also-rans, and shockingly this year left outside-the-playoffs-looking-in. The Essential Games of the Texas Rangers collects four original broadcasts of big-time Rangers games throughout the years, delivering them on individual discs for loyal Rangers' fans who travel to Arlington to watch these guys play in a climate that's a few degrees warmer than the surface of the sun.
You guys deserve this.
* "Nolan Ryan's Seventh No-Hitter"
Ah, Nolan Ryan, the intimidating
fireballer whose limited control and monster arm sent batters scurrying for
cover. In his career, the man registered an astonishing seven no-hitters. Here
is his seventh, coming against the Blue Jays on May 1, 1991.
* "1996 ALDS Game 1"
This game comes against the New York Yankees and
deserves mention because it represents the team's first ever postseason game.
The Rangers took the game 6 to 2, thanks to a five-run fourth inning. Of course,
they would go on to lose the series and watch the Yanks win the title, but
whatever.
* "2010 ALCS Game 6"
Another first: The Rangers' first American League
pennant. The Yankees came in as defending champs, but once again -- thanks to a
big inning (the fifth this time) -- the Rangers sapped drama from the outcome,
taking the game 6 to 1.
* "2011 ALCS Game 6"
Following up their 2012 run, the Rangers rocked
it in 2011 and squared off with the Tigers in the ALCS. This one was laugher.
Stop me if you've heard this. They blow it open with a big inning. This time
it's the third, where the Rangers scored nine runs on their way to another
Series appearance. We won't get into what happened after that.
This is an interesting set. The games themselves are fine (though lopsided), but aside from the Nolan Ryan outing aren't all these memories sort of loaded for Rangers fans? The 1996 win is great, but what came of it? And 2010 and 2011 -- can you really enjoy reliving those accomplishments, knowing the heartbreak that would come? But you gotta fill a set I suppose.
The Ryan game and the 1996 ALDS game are transferred in full frame and the 2010 and 2011 games get 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfers. As is the case with these releases, there are no fills: just the uninterrupted games.
Cling to this fleeting joy, Rangers fans.
Review content copyright © 2012 David Johnson; Site layout and review format copyright © 1998 - 2013 HipClick Designs LLC
Scales of Justice
Judgment: 80
Perp Profile
Studio: A&E
Video Formats:
* 1.78:1 Anamorphic
* Full Frame
Audio Formats:
* Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (English)
Subtitles:
* None
Running Time: 546 Minutes
Release Year: 1991
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distinguishing Marks
* None
Accomplices
* Texas Rangers
http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=tex&sv=1