THIS DAY IN BÉISBOL January 8: Juan Gonzalez returns to Rangers on 2-year, $24M deal

After two seasons away from Texas, outfielder Juan Gonzalez signs a two-year, $24 million contract to return to the Rangers on this day in béisbol, January 8, 2002.

Gonzalez, 33, had spent the first 11 seasons of his 17-year career with Texas, where he slammed 39 or more homers six times from 1991 to 1999. He was a two-time MVP and won five Silver Slugger awards (plus another in Cleveland).

He was the biggest bopper on powerhouse Rangers teams of the ‘90s that included Rafael Palmiero, Ivan Rodriguez, Jose Canseco, and Will Clark, and set the franchise record for homers, RBI, extra base hits and total bases.

Gonzalez, from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, wrapped his career in 2005 at age 35 after playing just one game with Cleveland after tearing a hamstring on his first at-bat of the season. He retired with 434 homers, a .295 average and .904 OPS.

Also on this day: Rod Carew is inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The Panamanian native and member of the 3,000 club was joined by pitchers Ferguson Jenkins and Gaylord Perry.