Arthur Rhodes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arthur Rhodes |
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Rhodes with the Cincinnati Reds in 2009
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| Hagerstown Flying Boxcars | |||
| Pitcher / Coach | |||
| Born: October 24, 1969 Waco, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 21, 1991, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 2011, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 87–70 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.08 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,152 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
Arthur Lee Rhodes Jr., born on October 24, 1969, is an American former professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher who played for 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for many teams, including the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and St. Louis Cardinals. Today, he is a pitching coach for the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars.
Contents
- Arthur Rhodes: A Baseball Journey
- Coaching Career
- Personal Life
Arthur Rhodes: A Baseball Journey
Arthur Rhodes played high school baseball at La Vega High School in Waco, Texas. In his senior year, 1988, he had an amazing record of 17 wins and 0 losses.
Starting with the Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles picked Rhodes in the second round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft. In 1991, while playing for the Hagerstown Suns, he was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year. Rhodes made his MLB debut with the Orioles in 1991. For his first four years, he was a starting pitcher.
Moving to the Bullpen
In 1996, Rhodes moved to the Orioles' bullpen as a relief pitcher. He had a great year, winning 8 games and losing only 1. His ERA was 3.50 in 26 games. In 1997, he won 10 games even though he didn't start any. He became a free agent after the 1999 season.
Playing for the Seattle Mariners
Rhodes then joined the Seattle Mariners. He became a very important part of their bullpen. He helped the team reach the playoffs in 2000 and win 116 games in 2001. In 2001, he finished the season with 8 wins and no losses, and his ERA was an excellent 1.72.
A Memorable Moment
In 2001, Rhodes was involved in a famous incident during a game against the Cleveland Indians. Former Mariner Omar Vizquel complained that sunlight was reflecting off Rhodes' earrings. Rhodes refused to take them off, which led to a big argument between the teams.
Time with Other Teams
After the 2003 season, Rhodes signed with the Oakland Athletics. Their manager tried him as a closer, but it didn't work out as well. He was later traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies
The Pirates then traded Rhodes to the Cleveland Indians. Just like in Seattle, he became a top setup pitcher for the Indians. After one year in Cleveland, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006.
Returning to the Mariners
In 2007, Rhodes signed a minor league contract to return to the Mariners. However, he injured his pitching arm and had Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire 2007 season. He signed with the Mariners again in 2008 and joined the team's active roster in April.
Florida Marlins
In July 2008, the Mariners traded Rhodes to the Florida Marlins.
Joining the Cincinnati Reds
On December 12, 2008, Rhodes signed a two-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds. In 2010, he set a major league record by having 33 straight appearances without giving up a run. This streak was broken by Raúl Ibañez.
All-Star Season
In 2010, Rhodes was chosen for his first and only All-Star Game. This was special because it was his 20th season in the major leagues. He was one of only a few players to make their first All-Star team after turning 40 years old.
Playing for the Texas Rangers
In December 2010, Rhodes signed a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers. He played in 32 games for them before being released in August 2011.
World Series Champion with the St. Louis Cardinals
On August 11, 2011, Rhodes signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rangers had to pay most of his salary because of the timing of his release. This created a unique situation when the Cardinals and Rangers met in the 2011 World Series. Rhodes was playing for the Cardinals, trying to win against the team that was still paying him!
The Cardinals won the World Series in 7 games. Rhodes pitched in three games during the Series. He became one of the few players to win a World Series against a team he had played for earlier in the same season.
Retirement from Baseball
Arthur Rhodes officially announced his retirement from baseball on January 16, 2015. He held the MLB record for holds (a statistic for relief pitchers) with 231, a record that was later broken in 2021.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Arthur Rhodes became a pitching coach.
Cleburne Railroaders
On July 6, 2021, Rhodes was hired as the pitching coach for the Cleburne Railroaders. This team plays in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.
Lexington Legends
On February 21, 2024, Rhodes became the pitching coach for the Lexington Legends. They are part of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
Hagerstown Flying Boxcars
On October 30, 2024, Rhodes took on the role of pitching coach for the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. This team also plays in the Atlantic League.
Personal Life
Arthur Rhodes has faced personal challenges. His son, Jordan, passed away at five years old in December 2008. Rhodes would write his son's initials in the dirt on the pitcher's mound before every game for the rest of his career.
Rhodes' older brother, Ricky, also played baseball in the minor leagues. He later became a women's basketball coach.
Arthur Rhodes' daughter, Jade, played college softball at Auburn University. She even played in the championship series of the Women's College World Series in 2016. Jade also played professional softball and later became a college softball coach herself.
