Aurelio Rodríguez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aurelio Rodríguez |
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Rodríguez in 1975
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| Third baseman | |||
| Born: December 28, 1947 Cananea, Sonora, Mexico |
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| Died: September 23, 2000 (aged 52) Detroit, Michigan |
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| debut | |||
| September 1, 1967, for the California Angels | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 1983, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| Career statistics | |||
| Batting average | .237 | ||
| Home runs | 124 | ||
| Runs batted in | 648 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1995 | ||
Aurelio Rodríguez Ituarte, Jr. (December 28, 1947 – September 23, 2000) was a professional baseball player from Mexico. He spent most of his career in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers. People knew him for his incredibly strong throwing arm. He was one of the best defensive third basemen of his time.
Aurelio's career was impressive. He ranked second in major league history for how well he covered his position (called "range factor"). He also had the fifth-most assists ever by a third baseman when he retired.
He started playing baseball professionally in Mexico in 1965. He was named the Mexican League's Rookie of the Year in 1966. After that, he played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball. He played for teams like the California Angels, Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. In 1976, he won the Gold Glove Award. This was a big deal because it broke Brooks Robinson's 16-year winning streak for that award!
After his playing days, Aurelio managed baseball teams, mostly in the Mexican League. He led the Sultanes de Monterrey to a championship in 1991. In 1995, he was honored by being inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. He passed away in 2000 at age 52 after being hit by a car in Detroit.
Contents
Early Years and First Steps in Baseball
Aurelio Rodríguez was born in 1947 in Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. He grew up in a family with four sons and two daughters. His father, Aurelio Rodríguez Sr., also played baseball in the Mexican League. He even played for the Mexican team in a world amateur tournament in 1953.
Aurelio learned to play baseball from his father. His dad told him that if he could play well on the rocky fields of Cananea, he could play anywhere!
Aurelio started playing professional baseball in Mexico when he was just 16 years old. In 1966, he played shortstop for the Charros de Jalisco. He had a great season, hitting .302 and winning the Mexican League's Rookie of the Year award.
Professional Baseball Journey
Joining the California Angels
In August 1966, Aurelio signed with the California Angels. He first played for their minor league teams. He played mostly at third base and showed off his strong defense.
Aurelio made his big league debut with the Angels in September 1967 when he was 19. From 1967 to 1971, he played many games for the Angels as their starting third baseman. Even though his batting average was around .237, he quickly became known as one of the best defensive third basemen in the American League.
In 1969, Aurelio played 159 games at third base. He led the league's third basemen in turning double plays. He was also second in assists behind the famous Brooks Robinson. A funny mistake happened that year: his Topps baseball card showed a picture of the Angels' batboy instead of Aurelio!
When Aurelio first joined the Angels, he didn't speak English. He learned the language by watching TV and going to cowboy movies.
Moving to the Washington Senators
In April 1970, the Angels traded Aurelio to the Washington Senators. The Senators' manager, Ted Williams, specifically wanted Aurelio. Williams was a legendary hitter, and he helped Aurelio improve his batting. Aurelio learned to be more patient and swing at good pitches. He later said, "Ted Williams, all the time, he say to me 'no swing at bad balls ... always look, look ... wait ... wait ... I no forget what he tell me. Never."
In 1970, Aurelio hit 19 home runs, which was a record for a Mexican player in the major leagues at the time. He also continued to be an amazing defensive player. He led all major league third basemen in assists and double plays. Even though he was great, Brooks Robinson kept winning the Gold Glove Award every year.
Years with the Detroit Tigers
In October 1970, Aurelio was part of a big trade that sent him to the Detroit Tigers. He was seen as a very valuable player because of his quick reflexes, great glove, and powerful arm.
Aurelio quickly became popular with the Tigers because he was always smiling and happy. People around the team called him "the most pleasant guy I've ever seen."
In his first year with Detroit in 1971, Aurelio's batting average improved to .253. He led the Tigers in hits, doubles, and triples. He also hit 15 home runs.
In 1972, Aurelio had one of his best defensive seasons. He helped the Tigers win the American League East championship. He led the league's third basemen in games played, putouts, and assists. Even Brooks Robinson reportedly said Aurelio was his equal at third base!
Aurelio continued to be a strong defensive player for the Tigers throughout the 1970s. He often led the league in games played at third base and had a high fielding percentage.
In 1976, Aurelio finally won the Gold Glove Award. This was a huge achievement because he was the first American League third baseman since 1959 to win it over Brooks Robinson! He had a fantastic .978 fielding percentage that year.
Aurelio played his last season for the Tigers in 1979. He had more hits than any other Detroit player during the 1970s. After nine years with the Tigers, he was traded to the San Diego Padres.
Later Seasons (1980-1983)
After leaving the Tigers, Aurelio played for a few other teams. In 1980, he joined the New York Yankees. He became a starter in the 1981 World Series after another player got hurt. He hit very well in that series, batting .417!
He later played for the Chicago White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles. He played his final major league game on October 1, 1983, when he was 35 years old.
Career Highlights and Legacy
Aurelio Rodríguez played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball. He had a career batting average of .237 with 124 home runs and 648 RBIs. But it was his defense that truly made him stand out.
His "range factor" at third base (how much ground he covered) ranks second in major league history. He also had 4,150 assists at third base, which was fifth all-time when he retired.
People especially remember Aurelio for his incredibly powerful throwing arm.
- Sparky Anderson, his manager, said Aurelio "probably had as good a pair of hands on him as anybody, and a great arm."
- George Brett, another great third baseman, once said about Aurelio's arm, "He would toy with you and pound the ball in his glove and you were still out by 10 feet!"
- The famous Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto would often say, "There's that arm! If I had an arm like that...!" when Aurelio made a strong throw.
Baseball Coach and Manager
After his playing career, Aurelio became a baseball manager. He mostly managed teams in the Mexican League from 1987 to 1997. He also worked as an assistant coach for minor league teams in the United States.
In 1991, Aurelio managed the Sultanes de Monterrey and led them to win the Mexican League championship. He continued to manage different teams in Mexico, leading the Broncos de Reynosa to a North Zone title in 1995.
Personal Life and Passing
Aurelio Rodríguez married in December 1971 and had a son, also named Aurelio.
In September 2000, while visiting Detroit, Aurelio was tragically killed. He was hit by a car that went onto the sidewalk. He was taken to the hospital but passed away.
His funeral was held in a packed stadium in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico. He is buried in the Panteon Municipal de Los Mochis.
It's a sad coincidence that three different major league players named Aurelio (Aurelio Rodríguez, Aurelio López, and Aurelio Monteagudo) all died in car accidents between the ages of 44 and 52.
Images for kids
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Rodríguez in 1975
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Rodríguez in 1969
See Also
In Spanish: Aurelio Rodríguez para niños
