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Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez

Legendary Hall of Fame Catcher, World Series Champion, Entrepreneur and Author

IvĆ”n RodrĆ­guez, widely regarded as one of the greatest catchers in MLB history, boasts a staggering 14 All-Star GameĀ selections and 13 Gold Glove Awards, both records for any catcher. But perhaps the most telling statistic of his greatness is his 2,427 games behind the plateā€”the most by any catcher in major league history, and few have done it with such excellence.

Born on November 27, 1971, in ManatĆ­, Puerto Rico, RodrĆ­guez honed his skills in the baseball-obsessed culture of his homeland before signing with the Texas RangersĀ as a free agent at just 16. By 1991, he was already considered one of the top catching prospects in the game, known for his legendary arm. He made his MLB debut with the Rangers on June 20, 1991, finishing fourth in the Rookie of the YearĀ voting and quickly solidifying his reputation as an elite defensive catcher.

In 1992, RodrĆ­guez won his first Gold Glove AwardĀ and made his first All-Star GameĀ appearance, beginning a dominant career behind the plate. Offensively, he soon blossomed as well, achieving eight consecutive seasons batting over .300Ā starting in 1995, while also adding power to his game. In 1999, RodrĆ­guez won the American League MVPĀ after a career yearā€”hitting .332 with 35 homers, 113 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. He became just the eighth catcher in history to record 100 runs and 100 RBIs in a season.

RodrĆ­guez's career took another turn in 2003, when he joined the Florida MarlinsĀ for a one-year stint, hitting .297 with 16 home runs and 85 RBIs, leading the Marlins to the postseason. He was named NLCS MVPĀ and helped propel the team to a World Series title. Afterward, he signed with the Detroit Tigers, bringing veteran leadership to a rebuilding team, and in 2004, he led them to a 29-game improvement, winning his seventh and final Silver Slugger Award.

In 2006, RodrĆ­guez led the Tigers to the World Series. He spent his final seasons with the Yankees, Rangers, Astros,Ā and Nationals, retiring after the 2011 seasonĀ with 2,844 hitsā€”the most by any player with at least 50% of their games played as a catcher. Over his 21-season career, he finished with a .296 batting average, 311 home runs, 572 doubles, and 1,354 runs (the most ever by a catcher), along with 1,332 RBIs.

In 2017, RodrĆ­guez was elected to the Hall of Fame, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest players in baseball history.
BOOKS

They Call Me Pudge: My Life Playing the Game I LoveĀ 
Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez
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