Without doubt the greatest catcher ever to play as a Major Leaguer for a Texas team, Ivan Rodriguez gains entrance into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame tonight, but Cooperstown is surely in his future as well.

His combination of a cannon-like arm on defense, coupled with offensive skills very rare out of the catching position, rank him in the minds of many as second only to Johnny Bench in the history of the game. While not the power hitter of Bench, Pudge has hit for a lifetime average of over .300 while hitting over 250 homers and driving in over 1000 runs.

Signed at 17 by the Texas Rangers out of Puerto Rico (1988), he was in the Major Leagues by 1991. The next year he began his run of Gold Gloves, winning the award every year he played a full season for the Rangers. He was a key member of three Ranger postseason teams in 1996, 1998, and 1999.

In 1999 with the Rangers he was named the American League Most Valuable Player after he hit .332 with a career high 35 home runs and 113 RBI. He also was able to steal 25 bases and, of course, win the Gold Glove.

Signing as a free agent by Florida for 2003, Pudge was part of a World Championship with the Marlins. He hit .353 in the NLDS, .321 in the NLCS, and .273 in the World Series. His string of Gold Glove wins was snapped in his one National League season. Moving to Detroit in 2004, Rodriguez won his eleventh gold glove, besting Bench’s record of ten.

* Silver Slugger (A.L.) Catcher: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004 (Tie)

* Gold Glove (A.L.) Catcher: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004

* MVP Award (A.L.): 1999

* NLCS MVP: 2003