Ellie Rodríguez
Encyclopedia
Eliseo Rodríguez Delgado (born May 24, 1946 in Fajardo, Puerto Rico
), is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
. He played from 1968-1976 for the New York Yankees
, Kansas City Royals
, Milwaukee Brewers
, California Angels, and Los Angeles Dodgers
.
His professional baseball career began in 1964 when he was signed by the Kansas City Athletics as an amateur free agent. He spent the 1964 in the rookie and A-class Minor league baseball
teams of the Athletics. at the end of the season, on November 30, 1964, he was drafted by the New York Yankees from the Athletics in the 1964 first-year player draft. Rodríguez spent the next few years moving up the Yankees farm system, eventually making it to the AAA-level Syracuse Chiefs in 1967. A year later, Rodríguez made his major league debut for the Yankees.
Rodríguez debuted for the Yankees on May 26, 1968 against the Chicago White Sox
. He played nine games over the course of the season while also spending time in Syracuse as well. On October 15, 1968, Rodríguez was drafted by the Kansas City Royals from the New York Yankees as the 13th pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft. In his first season with the expansion Royals, he made his first all-star appearance
, though he did not play in the game. He finished the season with a batting average of .236 in 95 games. The following season he split time at catcher with Ed Kirkpatrick
. At the end of the 1970 Kansas City Royals season
on February 2, 1971, the Royals traded Rodríguez to the Milwaukee Brewers for Carl Taylor.
He regained his starting role as the 1971 Milwaukee Brewers season
began. Rodríguez played 115 games in 1971, yet only had a batting average of .210. He played 116 games the following season en route to his second all-star game, which he also did not play in. He finished the season with a career high batting average of .285 and over 100 hits. After splittign time at catcher with Darrell Porter
the following season, Rodríguez was traded on October 22, 1973. He was traded to the California Angels with Ollie Brown, Joe Lahoud
, Skip Lockwood
, and Gary Ryerson for Clyde Wright
, Steve Barber
, Ken Berry
, Art Kusnyer
, and cash.
Rodríguez ended up having a breakout year in 1974. He had a fielding percentage
of .992, played a career high 140 games, and hit a career high seven home run
s. During the 1974 California Angels season
, Rodríguez tied an American League
record with 19 putout
s in a nine-inning game and set another with 21 in an extra-inning game. The following season, he played 90 games as catcher, and caught Nolan Ryan
's fourth no-hitter
. On March 31, 1976, he was traded by the California Angels to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Orlando Alvarez
and cash, and spent one season with the Dodgers before being released on May 2, 1977.
Rodríguez is now a player development consultant for The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
and is in charge of scouting Latin America for the league.
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Fajardo is a small city in Puerto Rico located in the east region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Ceiba and east of Luquillo.Fajardo is spread over 7 wards and Downtown Fajardo , which serves as the administrative center of the city...
), is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
. He played from 1968-1976 for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, California Angels, and Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.
His professional baseball career began in 1964 when he was signed by the Kansas City Athletics as an amateur free agent. He spent the 1964 in the rookie and A-class Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
teams of the Athletics. at the end of the season, on November 30, 1964, he was drafted by the New York Yankees from the Athletics in the 1964 first-year player draft. Rodríguez spent the next few years moving up the Yankees farm system, eventually making it to the AAA-level Syracuse Chiefs in 1967. A year later, Rodríguez made his major league debut for the Yankees.
Rodríguez debuted for the Yankees on May 26, 1968 against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. He played nine games over the course of the season while also spending time in Syracuse as well. On October 15, 1968, Rodríguez was drafted by the Kansas City Royals from the New York Yankees as the 13th pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft. In his first season with the expansion Royals, he made his first all-star appearance
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, though he did not play in the game. He finished the season with a batting average of .236 in 95 games. The following season he split time at catcher with Ed Kirkpatrick
Ed Kirkpatrick
Edgar Leon Kirkpatrick , nicknamed "Spanky", was a baseball utility player for the Los Angeles/California Angels , Kansas City Royals , Pittsburgh Pirates , Texas Rangers , and Milwaukee Brewers .He helped the Pirates win the National League Eastern Division in 1974 and 1975...
. At the end of the 1970 Kansas City Royals season
1970 Kansas City Royals season
The 1970 Kansas City Royals season involved the Royals finishing fourth in the American League West with a record of 65 wins and 97 losses.- Offseason :* December 3, 1969: Joe Foy was traded by the Royals to the New York Mets for Amos Otis and Bob Johnson....
on February 2, 1971, the Royals traded Rodríguez to the Milwaukee Brewers for Carl Taylor.
He regained his starting role as the 1971 Milwaukee Brewers season
1971 Milwaukee Brewers season
The Milwaukee Brewers season involved the Brewers' finishing sixth in the American League West with a record of 69 wins and 92 losses.- Offseason :...
began. Rodríguez played 115 games in 1971, yet only had a batting average of .210. He played 116 games the following season en route to his second all-star game, which he also did not play in. He finished the season with a career high batting average of .285 and over 100 hits. After splittign time at catcher with Darrell Porter
Darrell Porter
Darrell Ray Porter was a former American professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers. He was known for his excellent defensive skills and power hitting...
the following season, Rodríguez was traded on October 22, 1973. He was traded to the California Angels with Ollie Brown, Joe Lahoud
Joe Lahoud
Joseph Michael Lahoud is an American former professional baseball player. He played all or part of eleven seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily as an outfielder and designated hitter, for the Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Brewers , California Angels , Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals...
, Skip Lockwood
Skip Lockwood
Claude Edward Lockwood Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched for the Seattle Pilots , Milwaukee Brewers , California Angels , New York Mets and Boston Red Sox .-Third base:Lockwood attended Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, where...
, and Gary Ryerson for Clyde Wright
Clyde Wright
Clyde Wright , nicknamed "Skeeter", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched for the California Angels , Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers . He also pitched three seasons in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants...
, Steve Barber
Steve Barber
Stephen David Barber was an American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1960-1974 for seven different teams, but is noted primarily for his time with the Baltimore Orioles...
, Ken Berry
Ken Berry (baseball)
Allen Kent Berry is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1961 season. He played for the White Sox from 1962 until he was traded in 1970 to the California Angels. He also played for the Milwaukee Brewers and...
, Art Kusnyer
Art Kusnyer
Arthur William Kusnyer is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 37th round of the 1966 amateur draft...
, and cash.
Rodríguez ended up having a breakout year in 1974. He had a fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
of .992, played a career high 140 games, and hit a career high seven home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s. During the 1974 California Angels season
1974 California Angels season
The California Angels season involved the Angels finishing sixth in the American League West with a record of 68 wins and 94 losses.- Offseason :...
, Rodríguez tied an American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
record with 19 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s in a nine-inning game and set another with 21 in an extra-inning game. The following season, he played 90 games as catcher, and caught Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
's fourth no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
. On March 31, 1976, he was traded by the California Angels to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Orlando Alvarez
Orlando Alvarez
Jesús Manuel Orlando Álvarez Monge is a retired professional baseball player who played 4 seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers and California Angels of Major League Baseball.-Transactions:...
and cash, and spent one season with the Dodgers before being released on May 2, 1977.
Rodríguez is now a player development consultant for The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
and is in charge of scouting Latin America for the league.