Texas Rangers slammed for honouring former star accused of child abuse

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Bringing back an all-star from the past for a pre-game ceremony usually will get fans up and applauding, but Texas Rangers fans only are up in arms.

Fans were not too happy about the team’s decision to honour Josh Hamilton, presenting the former star outfielder with his Rangers Hall of Fame jacket ahead of Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

While Hamilton was an on-field great for the Rangers, his off-field actions had many questioning the team’s decision.

Hamilton had been accused of assaulting his teenage daughter in 2019, allegedly throwing a chair and hitting her with a closer fist.

He was indicted by a grand jury over the incident in April 2020 and later pleaded guilty to unlawful restraint as part of a plea deal that dismissed the indictment.

Hamilton was sentenced to one-year of deferred probation, fined US$500, and was ordered to pay court costs and to attend parenting and anger management classes.

Hamilton was a five-time all-star with Rangers and won the AL MVP in 2010, but was dogged by off-field issues throughout his career, struggling with addiction and failing several drug tests.

He originally had been inducted into the team’s hall of fame in 2019 – before the alleged incident — but the Rangers didn’t begin handing out blazers until 2021, which is why he received his over the weekend.

According to a 2019 police affidavit, Hamilton’s daughter — who was 14 at the time — told cops in Keller, Tex., that he went on a rampage on Sept. 30.

She said she made a comment to Hamilton that upset him, so he threw a full water bottle at her, hitting her in the chest, before throwing her over his shoulder, dropping her on her bed, pressing her head against the mattress, and hitting her legs.

According to the arrest affidavit, the girl said Hamilton hit her with both an open hand and a closed fist.

Hamilton also has two other daughters with his former wife, Katie Chadwick Hamilton.