Ivan 'Pudge' Rodriguez To Join Baseball Hall of Fame and Puerto Rico Equality Commission

On Sunday, July 30, catcher Ivan ‘Pudge’ Rodriguez will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rodriguez, who signed with the Texas Rangers at 16 and made his major league debut before turning 20, was selected for baseball’s highest honor his first year on the ballot, joining Johnny Bench as the only catchers in baseball history to be elected in their first year of eligibility.

“Ivan is a very deserving first ballot Hall of Famer,” Bench said. “He was the complete catcher, incredibly durable and intimidating behind the plate but also a very good hitter.”

When Rodriguez is inducted Sunday, he will become the ninth Latin American major leaguer to be honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame and the third in the last seven years. Rodriguez will join fellow Puerto Rican Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar (2011),Orlando Cepeda (1999) and Roberto Clemente (1973).

Rodriguez also has a second claim to fame — he has been named to the Puerto Rico Equality Commission. The Commission is part of Puerto Rico’s newest initiative to gain statehood.

Read more: http://www.puertoricoreport.com/ivan-pudge-rodriguez-join-baseball-hall-fame-puerto-rico-equality-commission/