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Legendary Texas Rangers Catcher Pudge Rodriguez Joins Baseball Hall Of Fame

Keith Allison
/
Creative Commons Flickr
Catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez taking batting practice with the Washington Nationals in 2011.

It's a big weekend for the Texas Rangers. One of its former players is being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez will be only the second Ranger to achieve that honor, joining Nolan Ryan.

Listing all of Pudge Rodriguez's accomplishments would take a little while. The highlights? He's known as one of the best catchers of all-time. Pudge was a 14-time All-Star, 13-time Gold Glove award winner and American League MVP. And, he's played catcher in more games than anyone else in the sport.

In 1991, Pudge made his debut with the Rangers when he was just 19.

"It's great; it's a dream come true," Rodriguez told the MLB Network about what it was like being chosen for the Hall of Fame. "Especially myself — this young kid that came at the age of 15 from Puerto Rico and played in this beautiful game and beautiful country."

There is a bit of controversy surrounding his career, however. In 2005, a former teammate Jose Canseco wrote in his book that he injected Rodriguez with steroids — something Rodriguez has always denied. 

Pudge has played with many teams. He had stints in Miami, where he won a World Series, as well as Detroit, New York, Houston and Washington. In 2012, Pudge signed a one-day contract with Texas to retire with the team.

In the end, Pudge started his career as a Ranger, and this weekend, he'll enter the Hall of Fame as a Ranger. 

Gus Contreras is a digital producer and reporter at KERA News. Gus produces the local All Things Considered segment and reports on a variety of topics from, sports to immigration. He was an intern and production assistant for All Things Considered in Washington D.C.