Remembering Ellie Rodriguez
The first player to represent the Royals in the All-Star game, catcher Ellie Rodriguez, passed away last week at the age of 79. Rodríguez was born Eliseo Rodríguez Delgado, May 24 th , 1946, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. His family moved to New York City in 1953, settling just 10 blocks from Yankee Stadium, where young Ellie and his brother would often go.
His first major league idol was Yogi Berra, a player that inspired Rodriguez to become a catcher. Before he committed himself to baseball, Rodriguez trained as a boxer and participated in Golden Gloves tournaments. He gave up boxing after suffering a broken finger.
He caught the eye of a Kansas City Athletics scout during a high school tournament and signed with the Athletics shortly after graduation. He hit well enough in the Athletics minor league system to interest the Yankees, who selected him in the First Year Player draft. From 1965 to 1968, he made a steady climb through the Yankee system before getting his first call up.
He made his major league debut on May 26 th , 1968, against the Chicago White Sox in a game at Yankee Stadium which for a New York kid had to be a dream come true. His locker was next to Mickey Mantle, and Mantle and Bobby Mercer helped Rodriguez secure enough tickets to accommodate the 30 family members on hand to witness the occasion. Classy move by the veterans.
Rodriguez went hitless in three at bats that day but did pick up his first career hit in his next game with an 8 th inning single off Mickey Lolich in Tiger Stadium. Lolich was one of the best pitchers in baseball in those days, but Rodriguez seemed to have his number, tagging the hard throwing lefty for three of his 16 career home runs. The expansion Royals selected Rodriguez with the 13 th pick in the expansion draft, and he immediately became their starter.
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