ARLINGTON — Long before the black cloth was pulled back to reveal the the 1,200-pound bronze statue of Adrián Beltré outside Globe Life Field on Friday, there were two aspects that were not shrouded in mystery:
The only rightful pose was of Beltré swinging from one knee.
And, if at all possible, Elvis Andrus would show up to rub bronze Beltré’s head.
Baseball may be unpredictable, but this wasn’t.
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On the plaza approaching the northeast entrance to Globe Life Field and in front of a sweltering crowd that included the entire front office and the current Rangers roster, club management once again toasted Beltré for his “leadership, humility and pure joy playing the game,” before the big reveal.
Related:Hall of Famer Adrián Beltré opens up on Rangers honoring him with ‘mind-boggling’ statue
“I think everybody knew what the pose was going to be before we ever started the project,” said Granbury-based sculptor Mike Tabor.
The statue, which was commissioned last year, was based on a composite of Beltré one-knee swings, a position in which he ended up often against breaking balls. Among the images used was one of Beltré hitting a home run in Game 5 of the 2011 World Series. The statue is positioned so Beltré is facing Choctaw Stadium, formerly Globe Life Park and the Rangers’ home part during Beltré’s eight seasons with the team.
Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre’s full-size bronze statue shows him going to his knee, hitting one of his patented home runs outside Globe Life Field in Arlington on Aug. 22, 2025. Beltre unveiled the statue with Granbury artist Mike Tabor.
Tom Fox / Staff Photographer
“I’m not sure I’m worthy of it,” Beltré said during remarks after the unveiling. “But I’m very thankful for it.”
“I’m so thankful to God for this beautiful life,” he added. “I’m just a kid from the Dominican Republic who loved baseball.”
The clay model for the statue took Tabor 75 days to complete last fall. Beltré was intricately involved in the process. It is now one of four statues outside Globe Life Field that also includes Nolan Ryan; former Arlington Mayor Tom Vandergriff, Bengie Molina and Neftalí Feliz embracing after the final out of the 2010 ALCS; and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez.
Exquisite as the Beltré statue was in detail, the 6-foot high sculpture seemed to be lacking something when it was revealed. But then the final touch was added: Andrus, Beltré’s longtime friend and infield mate, jumped atop the platform to rub the helmeted figure.
And there was nothing Beltré could do to stop him.
Seems like it might be something fans will be doing for years to come.
Immortalized! See photos from the Rangers’ unveiling of Adrian Beltre’s statue outside Globe Life Field
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