Ivan
Rodriguez
#7
Texas Rangers
by John M Milner Jnr
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catcher for the Texas Rangers
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born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico on November 30, 1971
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resides in Rio Piedros, PR
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full name is Ivan (Torres) Rodriguez
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nickname is "Pudge"
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signed by the Rangers as a free agent on July 27, 1988 at age 16
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On June 21, 1991, married Maribel Rivera, the same day he was promoted
to the major leagues from AAA-Tulsa
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the couple have 2 children- Ivan Dereck (6/5/92) and Amanda Christin
(6/21/95)
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first appeared in the majors in 1991, at age 19, and made the starting
line-up 88 times that first season
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3rd youngest player in Texas Ranger history to be promoters to the
Major Leagues
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is a 6-time Gold Glove winner (consecutive seasons from 1992-1997),
ties former Ranger Jim Sundburg for most by an American League
catcher
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has spent his entire Major League career with the Texas Rangers
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awarded the Silver Slugger Award 1994-1997
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1995 Texas Ranger Player of the Year
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In 1995, he started the Ivan Rodriguez Charitable Fund to help
underprivileged youths, especially those suffering from cancer
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Over the past three seasons, (1995-1997) has hit .301 with 51 HR and
230 RBIs
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named to the American League All-Star team from 1992-1997
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first taste of the post-season was in 1996, when Texas won the
American League West
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holds the Texas Rangers record for All-Star appearances
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In 1997, he threw out 51.9% (40-77) of all potential base-stealers,
topping the major leagues for the 3rd straight year. He has also lead the
American League 5 time in the last 7 years
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missed only 12 games in 1997, mostly due to back stiffness in
September
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played in his 5th straight All-Star Game in 1997. It was his 6th
appearance, a record for Texas Rangers players
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In July 1997, signed a five year contract extension worth $42
million. Originally both sides were at odds over the deal,
and it appeared that Texas might be on the verge of trading Rodriguez, rather
than lose him to free agency. At his mother's urging, Rodriguez
met with team president Tom Schieffer and told him he had always
wanted to be a Texas Ranger, and wanted to finish his career with
the club. The deal was soon sealed.
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Part of the deal was that Ivan would donate $500 000 to the Texas
Rangers Foundation and the Ivan Rodriguez foundation while the
Rangers would match that total. Over the five years of the contract,
Rodriguez will donate $1 million of that contract to charity
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was named AL Player of the Month, April 1998
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Has only been on the Disabled List once: June 6-27, 1992
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Won the 1999 American League MVP award in one of the closest votings
ever, edging out Pedro Martinez. Rodriguez had 7 1st-place
votes and 252 points over-all while Martinez had 8 first-place
votes and 239 points over-all. Rodriguez is the fourth MVP to
win the award without getting the most
first-place votes.
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He became the 9th catcher in history to win the MVP award
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During the 1999 season, he hit .332 with 35 home runs and
113 RBI.
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His batting average was 7th best in the American League and
the highest since Bill Dickey, who hit .362 in 1936. It is also
the 5th straight year that "Pudge" has hit .300 or better
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Ivan started in his 7th straight All-Star game, thethird longest streak
of any catcher. Only Johnny Bench(9) and Yogi Berra (8) have started more
all-stargames behind the plate.
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Rodriguez also won his 8th consecutive Golden Glove,only Bench has more
as a catcher
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He became the first American League catcher to have 30home runs, 100
runs and 100 RBI in a season. He was also the first catcher in Major League
history to have 20-plus home runs and 20-plus stolen bases in
one season. Became the 9th catcher in major league catcher
in history to steal 20 or more bases.
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He stole 25 bases and only allowed 34. He gunned down 54.2%
of would-be base-stealers, the highest percentage since the statistic
was first followed in 1989.
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He allowed only one passed ball.
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He grounded into 31 doubleplays, the most in the American
League in 15 years.
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On April 19th, 2000, Rodriguez hit his first career pinch
hit home run against the Yankees with 2 out in the 9th inning.
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Appeared in 91 games during the 2000 season , hitting .347
with 27 home runs and 83 RBI
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On April 3rd, he hit 2 home runs and had 5 RBI against the
Red Sox.
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On April 30th, he hit 2 home runs and had 3 RBI vs. the
Orioles
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On May 16th, he scored 5 RBI against the Devil Rays and had
9 in a 3-game series
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On June 4th, he hit 2 home runs and scored 3 RBI against
the Diamondbacks
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On June 10th, he ht 2 home runs against the Rockies and scored
4 RBI
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On April 1st, he was hit on the right elbow by a pitch and
then on July 24th, his suffered a broken right thumb and was lost
for the season. Two days later, he had three pins inserted into
his fractured right thumb and was told that the injury would take
3-5 months to heal
JOHN M's
Opinion: Perhaps the last note is the most telling
about Rodriguez. While others seem to go on the DL several times
a year, "Pudge" is a fixture behind the plate with the Rangers.
Perhaps only Mike Piazza can challenge Rodriguez's claim to being
the best catcher in baseball. There are two kinds of catchers:
defensive catchers (the kind who can block wild pitches, cut down
on the passed balls, and throw out runners trying to steal) and
catchers who can hit. Rodriguez is one of those rarities who can do
both. If the Rangers are to become American League West Champions (as
they did in 1995), Rodriguez (as well as Juan Gonzales) will be a
big reason why. For all the money being tossed Rodriguez's way,
it is nice to see that he still has time for charities and still
knows the value of some motherly advice.
TYPO's
Opinion: I have to say that it is nice in
this day to see players spending their career with one team. It would
not be the Rangers without Pudge behind the plate. Personally I think
he covers both offense and defense, making him the best catcher on the present
MLB roster. What is it about these Latins? ;) He has it all,
defense, offense and speed too... I remember one of the MLB presenters once
commented on the resemblance between Mike Piazza and a pregnant woman when
running the bases!
Visit Pudge's Gallery
Ivan
Rodriguez Links
Ivan Rodriguez Ring member site
 |
[Roberto Alomar]
[Sandy Alomar Jnr] [Bartolo
Colon] [Chipper Jones]
[David Justice] [Javy Lopez]
[Greg Maddux] [Chad Ogea]
[Andy Pettitte] [Jorge Posada]
[Ivan Rodriguez] [Larry
Walker] [John Wetteland]
[Jaret Wright]
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Please note that I am not any of these players,
nor I am associated with any of them (I wish!!!). Just a fan like the
rest of you :) I would also like to thank everyone that has
emailed me regarding my pages, it is great hearing from other fans, and some
of you have been daft enough to stay in contact!
Of course the biggest thanks
for all goes to John for taking the time to
 research and write
these pages, and really do all the work for me! I just take all the
credit... well unless he does it wrong! THANX
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