Former Texas Rangers third baseman and Hall of Famer Adrián Beltré joined The Dallas Morning News’ SportsDay Rangers podcast with longtime beat reporter Evan Grant and Rangers senior advisor and team historian John Blake.
They discussed Beltré’s upcoming statue reveal outside of Globe Life Field, his thoughts on the honor and what it was like to return to Cooperstown this year.
Here are some highlights of the conversation, edited lightly for clarity.
You can listen to the full conversation here.
What are your overall thoughts on receiving a statue outside Globe Life Field?
Adrián Beltré: The whole process has been really easy. Mike [Tabor, the statue artist] has done an unbelievable job making this pretty face. I was able just to see the clay part of it, obviously, the last result is going to be kind of secret, but the process been good. All the details that he asked for, the measurements, it came out on point. So far it’s been great, so I can’t wait to see it.
The statue had to be done by the end of December so it could go to the foundry, the fabricator and be done in time in seven months. When you came in in mid-December, it was pretty much done and you had a lot of input on that.
Beltré: Like you said, I think that people don’t understand how many details go into this, even myself, I had no idea. When we got in contact with Mike, which he was grateful to do a lot through Zoom. I didn’t have to fly to Dallas to do all the details. But it was crazy all the details that he need to know about, measurements on my body, angles, pictures of the actual event, batting gloves that I used that day, shoes, everything that was kind of complex to make it more realistic as possible. It was unbelievable. I didn’t have a high expectation. I know how difficult that could be to make, actually a picture, make it exactly how a person looks. But once I saw the clay part of it, when we flew out to Texas to see it, it was unbelievable the way he was able to kind of maneuver all the little details. It made it look actually like it is my face, including all the goatee and eyes and everything, it’s amazing the way he was able to do that. Obviously, he’s a pro doing that, but in that period of time that he did it is something that I had not expected to see. But, so far, it’s been really good, and I can’t wait to see.
What was your input on the statue?
Beltré: I was more involved in the sense of measurements that he needed. Obviously, I wanted it to look as close to my face as possible. I’ve seen different statues that don’t really look like that person. I got my family involved in it, especially my kids. My kids are really anal. They like to critique me a lot. I was able to show them and see the details of my face, especially in there. They really agreed and that means it’s a very good looking face. They like to make fun of me, and they like to make sure that whatever they’re doing, they’re doing a great job. So my whole family was really pleased with it. I’m more than pleased with it.
Nothing tops the Hall of Fame, but when you think about a statue of yourself being out in front of a ballpark for generations to see, how does that hit you? What does somebody thing about when they’re having themselves turned into a statue?
Beltré: That’s a great question. I think that a kid coming from the Dominican Republic, from humble beginnings and just being happy to play baseball. And baseball became your passion. And then you get to actually play professionally, then make that your career. And then be able to play in the best baseball in the world, best competition, and be able to be consistent for years. Then having a statue made up here, I can’t fathom it. I was talking to my family a couple of days ago about that. It’s just mind-boggling. I don’t know if I’m worthy of it, but I’m really appreciative of the organization for allowing me to do that. I never expected that. I didn’t even think about it ever in my career or my life, and being able to to see that every time I go to the ballpark and see my ugly face outside stadium, that’ll be something that will be really, really fulfilling for for what I did in my in my life.
Rangers legend Adrián Beltré poses for a photo in his Hall of Fame jersey and hat.
Bailey Orr
This year you got to go back to Cooperstown as an actual Hall of Famer. What was it like, especially with someone that you played with for several years in Ichiro Suzuki going in? How did this year differ from your induction from last year?
Beltré: It was way different. Last year was a lot of excitement, not knowing what to expect, being happy my family’s gonna be there with me, a lot of friends were coming over, so we had all that in mind about, make sure that people are comfortable, make sure they get a ticket and make sure they get to enjoy the moment that is the highest honor you can get in baseball. I was so happy to to be there. But at the same time I was worried. I was worried, I was nervous. I was not comfortable about the speech. But I was happy that everything went fine and after the speech was over, I didn’t screw it up too bad. So I was able to actually soak it all in and enjoy more with the family. That was great.
This year was more relaxed. It was not about me, it was about other great players. And like you said, a guy that I played with, an ex-teammate that deserved to be there, and I was just more laying back and actually supporting a little bit because we had a conversation the day before about his speech, and he was nervous, just like he expected, as our second language, English, and getting up and and speaking in public that way, it is not easy. Even in your own language, it’s not easy to speak in public. I was able to tell him what I went through the year before, and how once you get up there, you see the fans, and you see all the crowd and that kind of eases things out, because you just kind of just speak from the heart. He understood that. I’m telling you what man, Ichiro killed it. It was so, so, so funny, good, on point. He did a great job with his speech. I enjoyed the speech, even though we couldn’t hear everything perfect, because the echo is a little difficult to hear when we’re in the back. But what I heard was really, really good. I was glad that he was able to enjoy it, get his point across, and he did a great job.
It’s a very exclusive club, do you think you’ll be going back a lot of years? Do you enjoy the camaraderie with the other Hall of Famers?
Beltré: My idea right now is trying to go the most that I can. I’m trying to go every year, not only to support the inductees, but I mean that place just feels like a sacred place. It is just so inviting, it just feels different. The atmosphere is just different. And you walk around, you see guys that you idolized, some guys that you played with, and guys that you can’t believe you’re in the same circle. So definitely, if I can, I will do my best to be there.
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