After more than 30 years as a player, executive, broadcaster and minor league instructor for the Texas Rangers, Jim Sundberg, the club’s senior executive vice president since 2008, will retire at the end of the 2014 season. Sundberg announced his retirement July 2 and said he plans to continue to be involved in the organization’s community and foundation activities. “While I am stepping away from a full-time role, I look forward to continuing my long association with the Texas Rangers organization,” said Sundberg. “Being involved in the community has always held a special place for me, and I will remain involved in that capacity.”
Sundberg previously served as executive vice president, communications and public relations, executive director to the president, and director of business development after joining the Rangers front office in January 2004. A member of the inaugural class of the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2003, Sundberg returned to baseball in 2002, coordinating several community programs for the Frisco RoughRiders and serving as Texas’ minor league catching coordinator from 2002-2004. He had previously served as an analyst on Rangers’ television games from 1990-95. Sundberg retired at the end of the 1989 season after a 16-year major league career with the Rangers, Milwaukee, Kansas City and the Chicago Cubs. One of the top defensive catchers in Major League history, he won six Gold Glove awards, was a three-time American League All-Star, and ranks eighth all-time with 1,927 games caught. Sundberg spent 11 1/2 seasons with Texas and still ranks among the club’s all-time leaders. The Rangers placed Sundberg’s name on the club’s annual community service award beginning in 1989. -Betty Dillard bdillard@bizpress.net