Washington Nationals: Who Wears The “Curly W” First In HOF?
By Ron Juckett
IVAN “PUDGE” RODRIGUEZ
There is no question Ivan Rodriguez will have his Cooperstown moment soon. Also, he will go in the Hall wearing the hat of a Washington-based team. For him though, it will probably be the Texas Rangers.
Although Rodriguez ended his career in Washington, spending two seasons with the Nationals, his catching accomplishments with the Rangers are what he is best known for. In 13 seasons in Arlington, he earned 10 Gold Gloves and All-Star appearances, finished fourth in the 1991 American League Rookie of the Year voting and won the MVP in 1999.
From 1995 to 2002, he hit over .300. An incredible number for a catcher. With an absolute cannon of an arm, Rodriguez threw out 46 percent of would be base stealers in his career, including a whopping 60 percent for the Rangers in 2001.
Coming to Washington in 2010, Rodriguez played in 155 games for the Nats before retiring after the 2011 season. Not the offensive powerhouse he was earlier, he hit .266 in 2010 while catching in 102 games, finishing 96.
In 21 remarkable seasons, he squatted behind the plate 2427 games or 20,348 innings.
One of the best to don a catcher’s mask.