The Texas Rangers today announced that the club will honor this weekend's induction of Ivan Rodriguez into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by wearing a jersey patch and special game socks for all three games against the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
The Rangers and Orioles play at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 28-29 and at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday, July 30.
Rodriguez, who joins Johnny Bench as one of just two catchers ever elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, will join first baseman Jeff Bagwell, outfielder Tim Raines, former Royals and Braves General Manager John Schuerholz and former commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig as the inductees in the Class of 2017 thisSunday, July 30 in Cooperstown, New York. The ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. CT.
The Rangers will wear a special RODRIGUEZ 7 patch on the right sleeve of their jerseys during the Baltimore series. The club plans to wear white jerseys for all three games of the series. In addition, the club will wear special red Stance Socks that include PUDGE and 7 on the sides.
Both the jersey patches and the socks will be on sale at the Majestic Grand Slam Shop at Globe Life Park in Arlington beginning in early August.
Rodriguez, the 52nd player to be elected by the members of the Baseball Writers Association of America in his first year on the ballot, is the 18th catcher to join the Hall of Fame, the tenth selected in BBWAA voting. Born on November 27, 1971, he will become the youngest current Hall of Fame member. Pitcher Pedro Martinez, who was inducted in 2015, was born on October 25, 1971.
Rodriguez is the sixth player who wore a Texas Rangers uniform to be elected to the Hall of Fame, joining Ferguson Jenkins (1991), Gaylord Perry (1991), Ryan (1999), Rich Gossage (2008), and Bert Blyleven (2011). Ryan, who pitched for the Rangers from 1989-93, is the only previous Hall of Famer with a Rangers cap adorning in plaque. Other Hall of Famers with Rangers connections are managers Ted Williams (1966) and Whitey Herzog (2010), and coach Nellie Fox (1987),
Rodriguez will become the fourth native of Puerto Rico to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining Roberto Clemente (1973), Orlando Cepeda (1999), and Roberto Alomar (2011).
Rodriguez will become the third Ranger to have his uniform number retired by the club when #7 is added to the left field façade of Globe Life Park prior to Texas' game on Saturday, August 12. The on-field ceremony will begin at approximately 6:45 p.m., and first pitch of the Houston Astros-Rangers game has been moved back to 7:35 p.m.