All Rise...

Judge David Johnson is essential.

The Charge

Don't mess with Texas.

The Case

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.

The Verdict

Cling to this fleeting joy, Rangers fans.

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