Ivan Rodriguez #7

Ivan (Torres) Rodriguez...nicknames include Pudge and I-Rod...attended Lino Padron Rivera High School in Vega Baja (PR)...started the Ivan Rodriguez Foundation in 1993 to assist children with cancer and other diseases, both in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and his native Puerto Rico...donated $500,000 to the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation after signing a 5-year contract in July of '97...a portion of that amount was used to construct the Ivan Rodriguez Youth Ballpark in north Fort Worth in 1998...donated $25,000 to assist victims of Hurricane George in Puerto Rico in 1998 and $20,000 to the victims of the World Trade Center attacks in '01...selected the TEX recipient of the True Value/Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award in both 1998 and 2001...received the TEX Jim Sundberg Community Achievement Award in 2001...the Ivan Rodriguez Foundation donated $25,000 to the Children's Hospital of Michigan for the "Rodriguez Fund for Families" in 2005...in addition the foundation donated $48,000 to benefit 4 families that were relocated to Michigan following Hurricane Katrina...has a baseball school and sports complex in the planning stages to be built in Bayamon (PR)...on Aug. 27, at completion of Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA, hosted Puerto Rican Little League champs from Manati, PR to Nationals Park...Manati is located less than 10 miles from hometown of Vega Baja.

2011

Washington's Opening Day starting catcher embraced new role and battled injuries in '11, but maintained stature as one of MLB's best defenders behind the plate...gunned down 50% (12 of 24) of would-be basestealers...ended season 156 hits shy of the 3000-hit mark...missed significant action (47 games) in July and August with right oblique injury...on Opening Day, March 31 vs. ATL, played in 2500th game and made 20th consecutive Opening Day start behind the plate...sparked game-tying 2-run rally in the 8th with a leadoff double, then snapped a 3-3 deadlock in the 11th with a game-winning RBI single in 7-3 win at NYM on April 10...in a 5-2 win on May 1 vs. SFG, posted 2 hits, 2 RBI and while nursing a one-run lead, threw out the speedy Darren Ford attempting to swiped second base in the 8th inning.

2010

Appeared in 111 games during 20th big league season, first with Nationals...posted 106 hits in 2010 and remains just 183 shy of becoming first MLB catcher to reach 3,000-hit plateau...batted .413 (26-for-63) with 7 doubles, and 9 RBI in 18 games during April...batting average for April ranked 2nd in MLB behind only LAD's Manny Ramirez (.415)...batted .305 (61-for-200) with one home run and 26 RBI in first 56 games played thru July 6, then just .227 (45-for-198) with 3 homers and 23 RBI in 55 games beginning July 7...made 19th straight Opening Day start, April 3 vs. PHI, the longest active streak among all MLB position players...went perfect 4-for-4 with double and RBI, May 10 at NYM...belted 300th home run as catcher, Aug. 2 at ARI...became just 5th player to reach 300-plateau as catcher, joining Mike Piazza (396), Carlton Fisk (351), Johnny Bench (327) and Yogi Berra (306)...batted .321 (34-for-106) with runners in scoring position and .316 (6-for-19) with bags loaded...began DL stint on May 24 (retroactive May 23) and missed 14 games with back strain...grounded into 25 double plays...gunned down 19 of 61 (31.1%) of would-be basestealers with .995 fielding percentage in 102 games behind the plate.

2009

Began season with HOU then returned to his original organization, TEX, via a trade on August 18...overall, batted .249 (106-for-425) with 10 homers and 47 RBI in 121 games...produced a .992 (7 E/845 TC) fielding percentage in 115 games behind the plate...threw out 31.7% (19 of 60) of runners attempting to steal, the 4th-best percentage among MLB catchers (minimum 81 games)...became the all-time MLB leader in games caught with 2227th appearance behind the plate, surpassing Carlton Fisk, on June 17 with HOU at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington...made 18th consecutive Opening Day start, April 6 vs. CHI, the longest active streak among all MLB position players...connected for 300th home run off CHI's Rich Harden, May 17 at Wrigley Field...joined HOU teammates Lance Berkman (June 13 at ARI) and Carlos Lee (August 8 vs. MIL) as the first trio of teammates in MLB history to reach 300 career homers in the same season...participated with Puerto Rico in World Baseball Classic.

2008

Hit .276 with 20 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs and 35 RBI in 115 games with DET and NYY...threw out 23 of 75 (30.7%) would basestealers to rank 6th in MLB...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, with the acquisition of Rodriguez, the NYY became the first team in MLB history to boast 7 teammates (active or disabled) with at least 200 big league HR (Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi, Richie Sexson, Ivan Rodriguez, Bobby Abreu, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter).

2007

Selected to the American League's all-star squad for the 14th time in his career, he was voted by the fans as the starter behind the plate for the 12th time in his career -- first Tigers player to appear on the league's all-star squad in four straight seasons since Lou Whitaker did so in five straight seasons (1983-87)...Belted 11 home runs, marking his 15th consecutive season with 10-or-more home runs -- second-longest active streak in the majors behind 16 straight seasons by Jeff Kent (1992-2007)...Tabbed the best defensive catcher in the American League by Baseball America...Collected a season-best four hits on April 4 versus Toronto -- matched the high with four hits on June 2 at Cleveland and September 8 versus Seattle...Belted his sixth career grand slam on April 16 versus Kansas City, connecting off of Zack Greinke -- collected a season-best six RBI during the game...Moved into fourth place all-time in major league history with his 1,951st game behind the plate on April 22 versus the Chicago White Sox, passing Tony Pena...Batted .380 (38x100) over a 23-game stretch May 14-June 15, scoring 17 runs and collecting 12 doubles, four home runs and 24 RBI...Became the first catcher in major league history to record 12,000 putouts, doing so on June 12 versus Milwaukee...Caught the 2,000th game of his major league career on July 3 versus Cleveland -- fourth player in major league history to catch at least 2,000 games...Suspended for one game by Major League Baseball for his actions on July 12 at Seattle after being ejected by home plate umpire Mike Winters -- served the one-game suspension on July 31 at Oakland...Collected the 500th double of his major league career off Chicago's Boone Logan in the eighth inning on September 5 versus the White Sox -- became the 46th player in major league history to reach the plateau...Caught the 2,057th game of his major league career on September 22 versus Kansas City, passing Gary Carter to take sole possession of third place all-time in major league history...Hit .307 (23x75) with six doubles, a home run and 10 RBI in 20 games during September...Batted .302 (38x126) against lefthanded pitchers...hit .274 (103x376) with righties on the mound.

2006

Selected to the American League's all-star squad for the 13th time in his career, he was voted by the fans as the starter behind the plate for the 11th time in his career...Won his 12th Rawlings Gold Glove Award, furthering his record among catchers in major league history...Topped all major league catchers by throwing out 45.7 percent of baserunners attempting to steal (21x46)...Led all American League catchers with a .998 fielding percentage...his two errors were the fewest by any league catcher with a minimum of 100 games caught during the season...Named the best defensive catcher in the American League by Baseball America... Matched career highs with five hits and three doubles on April 5 at Kansas City...Managed a .330 batting average (29x88) in 21 games during April...scored 13 runs during the month, while he collected four doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI...Made his first career appearance at first base on May 9 at Baltimore -- marked first time in his major league career he played another defensive position besides catcher...did appear at second base as well during the season, doing so on August 15 at Boston...Registered a season-high 14-game hitting streak July 1-24, batting .400 (24x60) with eight runs scored, seven doubles, a home run and eight RBI...Combined to hit .327 (32x98) in 26 games during September and October -- raised his batting average to its season-ending .300 mark...it is the 10th time in his major league career he has hit .300-or-better in a season...Batted .340 (53x156) against lefthanded pitchers -- fifth-best batting average in the American League against lefties...hit .284 (111x391) with righties on the mound...Third in the league with a .362 batting average (92x254) when hitting with runners on base, while he was ninth with a .341 batting average (46x135) when hitting with runners in scoring position.

2005

In his second season with the Tigers, he was selected to the American League's all-star squad for the 12th time in his career...Named the second-best defensive catcher in the American League by Baseball America...Collected a season-best four hits April 7 vs. Kansas City -- matched the high with four hits at Dodger Stadium against Los Angeles on June 7...Hit safely in 16 of his 17 games April 7-29, batting .351 (26x74) with 12 runs scored, six doubles, two home runs and 12 RBI...Finished the month of April with a .333 batting average (28x84) in 20 games -- tied for 12th-best in the American League...tied for sixth in the league with seven doubles during the month...Tied for 15th in the league with seven doubles during May -- batted .240 (23x96) in 25 games during the month...Swiped the 100th base of his career on June 14 vs. San Diego...Batted .318 (28x88) in 21 games during June -- tied for 15th in the league with seven doubles during the month...Hit .357 (25x70) over a 19-game stretch July 6-30...Participated in the Century 21 Home Run Derby at Comerica Park on July 11, finishing second to Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu -- belted seven home runs in the first round, eight in the second round and five in the final...Committed an error in the first inning on July 19 at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox -- snapped a 57-game errorless streak dating back to May 1, a stretch of 378 total chances....Ejected in the fourth inning by home plate umpire Ted Barrett on July 30 at Oakland for arguing balls and strikes -- suspended four games for his actions by Major League Baseball, a suspension he served August 8-11 at Toronto...Moved into ninth place all-time in major league history with his 1,807th game behind the plate on September 21 at Kansas City, passing Rick Ferrell...Combined to hit .190 (15x79) in 23 games during September and October -- seventh-lowest in the league...Drew 11 walks during the season, second-fewest in a single season in Tigers history among players with a minimum of 500 plate appearances -- Charlie Carr drew 10 walks in 573 plate appearances in 1903...His .290 on-base percentage was lowest among all American League players...Averaged 3.33 pitches per plate appearance, sixth-lowest in the league...walked once every 47.73 plate appearances, fewest in the league...Hit .294 (32x109) against lefthanded pitchers...managed a .271 batting average (107x395) with righties on the mound...Batted .213 (26x122) with runners in scoring position, ninth-lowest in the league...Topped all league catchers by throwing out 44.1 percent of baserunners attempting to steal (26x59)...led all league catchers with six pick-offs...Sixth among all league catchers with a .995 fielding percentage...second among all league catchers with 60 assists, while he was eighth with 766 total chances and 702 putouts.

2004

Selected to the American League's all-star team for the 11th time in his career, starting for the 10th time in his first season with Detroit to join Johnny Bench and Mike Piazza as the only catchers elected to start 10 all-star games...First Tigers player elected to start the all-star game since Alan Trammell started at shortstop in 1988...Named the Tiger of the Year by Detroit's chapter of the BBWAA...Won his 11th Rawlings Gold Glove Award, the first Tigers player to win the award since Gary Pettis in 1989...the 11 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards are the most by a catcher in major league history...Tied with Cleveland's Victor Martinez for the American League's Silver Slugger Award at catcher -- seventh time he garnered the award in his career...Fourth in the American League with a .334 batting average -- highest batting average by a Tigers player since Alan Trammell batted .343 in 1987...His .334 batting average is fourth-highest among catchers in the league who primarily served as a catcher throughout their careers...Tied for seventh in the league with 57 multi-hit games -- fifth-highest total by a Tigers player since 1972...Selected to The Sporting News' American League allstar squad following the season...Named the best defensive catcher and second-best hitter in the American League by Baseball America...Ripped a solo home run April 5 at Toronto, his fourth career home run on Opening Day...Collected a season-best four hits April 21 at Minnesota -- matched the best with four hits June 5 at Minnesota, June 24 at Kansas City, August 21 versus Seattle and August 31 at Kansas City...his five four-hit games were the most by a Tigers player since Travis Fryman also had five in 1995...Scratched from the lineup April 28 versus Anaheim due to a bruise on his right hand from being spiked in the sixth inning by Anaheim's Adam Kennedy April 27 during a play at the plate -- precautionary X-rays were negative and he returned to the lineup April 29 against Anaheim...Hit safely in 19 of his 21 games during April, batting .356 (31x87) with 11 runs scored, seven doubles, a home run and 16 RBI -- fifth in the league with 31 hits, tied for ninth with seven doubles, 10th with a .356 batting average and tied for 14th with 16 RBI... Homered in three straight games May 1-4, fourth time in his career he homered in three-or-more straight games...Left the game on May 11 versus Oakland during his atbat in the 15th inning with a cramp in his left hamstring -- returned to the lineup the following night against Oakland... Ejected by home plate umpire Paul Schrieber May 28 versus Baltimore for arguing a called third strike...also ejected July 7 at Yankee Stadium against New York by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez for arguing a called third strike...Posted a season-best 14-game hitting streak May 29-June 17, batting .483 (28x58) with nine runs scored, five doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI...Tied for sixth in the league with 23 RBI during May and tied for seventh with six home runs...hit .305 (32x105) with 12 runs scored and four doubles in 25 games during the month... Scratched from the lineup both June 2 and 3 versus Kansas City with inflammation in his right wrist -- returned to the lineup June 4 against Kansas City after missing two games...Recorded an 11-game hitting streak June 18-July 1, batting .548 (23x42) with nine runs scored, eight doubles, a triple, home run and nine RBI... Doubled three times June 24 at Kansas City, matching a career best established July 13, 2003 at Montreal -- drove in a season-best four runs against the Royals...Collected the 400th double of his career on June 30 in the third inning versus Cleveland's Jason Davis...Selected as both the Tigers and American League Player of the Month for June -- led the league with a .500 batting average (43x86), 43 hits and a .542 on-base percentage during the month, while he was second with a .733 slugging percentage and tied for ninth with nine doubles...added three home runs and 17 RBI as he hit safely in 21 of his 22 games to become the first major leaguer to hit .500 in a month since Colorado's Todd Helton batted .512 (42x82) in May of 2002...Singled, tripled, drove in a run and scored a run during the 75th Major League All-Star Game at Houston's Minute Maid Park on July 13...Registered the 2,000th hit of his major league career on July 23 at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox, a single in the third inning off Esteban Loaiza...Left the game on July 29 against the Chicago White Sox in the second inning with upper back spasms -- missed one game before returning to the lineup on July 31 versus the White Sox...Connected for two home runs August 8 versus Boston, the 18th multi-home run game of his career...Scratched from the lineup on August 18 at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox due to tightness in his right hip flexor -- returned to the lineup the following night against Chicago...Committed two errors August 26 at Boston behind the plate -- fifth two-error game of his career...Missed three games August 27-29 at Boston with a virus -- returned to the lineup on August 30 at Kansas City...Scored the 1,000th run of his career in the third inning on August 30 at Kansas City... Left the game on September 11 versus Minnesota in the seventh inning with a right knee contusion suffered after a ball was fouled off the knee -- X-rays were negative and he pinch-hit the following day against the Twins before returning to the lineup on September 13 versus Minnesota... Left the game on September 28 versus the Chicago White Sox after the third inning with a tight right hamstring sustained in the third inning backing up first base on a double play ball hit by Carlos Lee -- missed one game before returning to the lineup on September 30 at Tampa Bay for the first game of a doubleheader...Drilled the 250th home run of his career in the third inning of the first game of a doubleheader on September 30 at Tampa Bay off Dewon Brazelton... Hit .324 (23x71) in 20 games during September, scoring 10 runs and recording three doubles, a triple, two home runs and 11 RBI...Recorded the 1,000th RBI of his career with a run-scoring double on October 1 versus Tampa Bay...Batted .361 (48x133) when hitting with runners in scoring position -- second-best in the league... Hit .343 (60x175) with five home runs against lefthanded pitchers -- fourth in the league with a .343 batting average and seventh with a .420 on-base percentage against lefties...batted .330 (116x352) with 14 home runs versus righthanded pitchers -- seventh in the league with a .330 batting average with righties on the mound...In 67 games at Comerica Park, he hit .354 (86x243) with seven home runs -- second in the league with his .354 batting average at home...batted .317 (90x284) with 12 home runs in 68 games on the road -- tied for eighth in the league with his .317 batting average on the road...Batted .340 (87x256) with runners on base, eighth-best in the league...Fourth in the league with a .356 batting average (52x146) during the day and eighth with a .325 batting average (124x381) at night...Tied for fourth in the league with 27 go-ahead RBI...Put 22.2 percent of the pitches he saw into play, ninthhighest in the league... Averaged 3.44 pitches per plate appearance and he took 46.0 percent of the pitches he saw, both were thirdfewest in the league...Second among league catchers by throwing out 28.6 percent of runners attempting to steal (16x54)...His .987 fielding percentage was second-lowest among league catchers...Sixth among league catchers with 0.45 assists per nine innings and tied for seventh with six double plays...Led all league catchers with 11 errors.

2003

Set Florida Marlins single-season records for a catcher with a .297 batting average and 85 RBI, leading the club to its second World Series Championship in 2003...Tied for fourth in the National League with a .375 batting average (54x144) with runners in scoring position...Threw out 32.2 percent of runners attempting to steal (19x59), third-best among league catchers...Named the third-best defensive catcher in the National League by Baseball America...Homered March 31 vs. Philadelphia, becoming the 10th Marlins player to homer in his first game with the club...Established a Marlins single-game record with five walks April 8 against the New York Mets...drew a walk in his first plate appearance the following day against the Mets, setting a club record with six consecutive walks...In 27 games during March and April, he batted .301 (28x93) with 15 runs scored, two doubles, a triple, four home runs and 17 RBI...Recorded a nine-game hitting streak June 24-July 2, hitting .500 (19x38) with 10 runs scored, seven doubles, a triple, two home runs and 14 RBI...Drove in a run in eight straight games June 24-July 1, totaling 14 RBI...the eight-game RBI streak established a career high and matched a Marlins record held by Gary Sheffield (1994), Moises Alou (1997) and Mike Lowell (2003)...Concluded the month of June with a .367 batting average (33x90) in 24 games, scoring 22 runs and collecting 10 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 19 RBI...his .367 batting average was eighth-best in the league during the month...Collected a season-best four hits against Atlanta on July 1...equaled the high on July 13 at Montreal, matching a Marlins single-game record with three doubles and driving in a season-best five runs...Recorded a second nine-game hitting streak July 13-26, batting .529 (18x34) with 13 runs scored, five doubles, a home run and 11 RBI...Ejected three times during the 2003 season, all three coming between July 29-August 12: July 29 vs. Arizona by Scott Nelson, August 3 against Houston by Justin Klemm and August 12 vs. Los Angeles by Hunter Wendelstedt...Sixth in the National League with a .376 batting average (32x85) in 23 games during July...scored 20 runs and finished with eight doubles, four home runs and 21 RBI during the month...Batted .324 (11x34) over the course of a nine-game hitting streak August 30-September 7...Fourth in the league with a .376 batting average (44x117) against lefthanded pitching...hit .274 (108x394) with righties on the mound...Batted .327 (33x101) during day games, eighth-best in the league...Combined to hit .313 (21x67) with 10 runs scored, five doubles, three home runs and 17 RBI in 17 games during the post-season for the Marlins...Named the Most Valuable Player of the National League Championship Series...in the seven-game series, he batted .321 (9x28) with two home runs and 10 RBI.

2002

Hit .314 with 32 doubles, two triples, 19 homers and 60 RBI in 108 games with the Rangers...his .314 average was seventh-best among AL players, with a minimum of 400 at-bats...marked his eighth consecutive season with a .300 or higher batting average, producing 389 or more plate appearances in each year...ranked second on the Rangers in doubles, was third in total bases (221) and fourth in runs (67), hits (128) and home runs (19)...started 97 games behind the plate and six as designated hitter...his 19 home runs were second-most among American League catchers, one behind the Yankees' Jorge Posada...was his seventh straight season with 19 or more homers...homered twice on July 3 vs. Tampa Bay, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth, and July 17 vs. Seattle...did not homer in his first 24 games before going deep on June 21 at Pittsburgh, his first homer since August 29, 2001...posted five homers over seven games, August 28-September 4, including four in a five-game span, August 28-September 1...hit homers in back-to-back games four times: June 26 and 27 vs. Anaheim, July 3 and 4 vs. Tampa Bay (three HR), August 28 and 29 vs. Baltimore and August 31 and September 1 vs. Tampa Bay...ranked third among AL catchers with 60 RBI, behind Posada (99) and Jason Varitek (61)...collected a season-high four RBI on August 29 vs. Baltimore...hit .222 (10x45) in his first 12 games when he was placed on the DL on April 23 (retroactive to April 15) with a herniated L 4/5 disc in his lower back...did not require surgery...played in three rehab games at Class A Charlotte (.333, 3x9) before being activated on June 7...hit .334 (118x353) in 96 games in the remainder of the season...went 4x4 in his first game back, June 7 vs. Atlanta, and hit .330 (34x103) in his first 26 games, improving his batting average from .222 to .297 on July 6...hit .182 (10x55) over his next 16 games, dropping his average to .266 through July 25...produced a .379 average (58x153) in his next 39 games, including hitting safely in each of the final 13 games over that span, August 27-September 10, at a .472 clip (25x53), his longest hitting streak of the season and the longest by a Rangers player on the year...went 4x20 in his next seven games before ending the year on an eight-game hitting streak (.344, 11x32)...had a .990 fielding percentage, 10th in the AL, in his 100 games behind the plate...gunned down only 13 of 39 runners attempting to steal (33%), the lowest percentage of his Major League career...picked off seven runners on the season...had six passed balls...leaves Texas as the Rangers' all-time leader in at-bats (5,656), hits (1,723) and doubles (344)...ranked second in games played (1,479), runs (852), total bases (2,768) and triples (28) while placing third in homers (215) and RBI (829).

2001

Ivan was 3rd on the club in homers (25) and total bases (239), ranked 4th in hits (136), and placed 5th in rbi (65). He started 101 games at catcher and 5 as the dh....Ivan won his 10th consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award and started his 9th consecutive Al-Star Game behind the plate, tying Johnny Bench for the all-time catchers' records in both categories...His .308 average was 3rd best among all players who appeared in a game with the Rangers in 2001...Was his 7th consecutive .300 season...Went 8-41 (.195) in 1st 10 games, then hit safely in a season best 11 straight contests at .426 (20-47) to rise to .318 on April 25...Sustained a bone bruise in his left heel in next game on April 27 in Cleveland and appeared in just one more game before going on d.l. on May 2...Was activated on May 17 and went 5-29 in 1st 7 games to drop from .309 to .278...Batted .350 (14-40) in next 10 games, rising to .295, then hit .264 (24-91) over 23 contests to put at .272 on July 1...Hit for a .341 (63-185) mark his final 48 games, including .400 (22-55) in 1st 13 games of that span...Left after 1st inning on Aug. 23 with soreness in right knee and did not play the next night...Returned to lineup but was scratched on Aug. 31 with left knee problems...Examination the next day revealed patella tendonitis in the knee...Was placed on disabled list and had season-ending left knee surgery on Sept. 8...Has spent the winter on a rehab program in Miami, FL and is expected to be ready for spring training...Hit .345 (20-58) with runners at 3rd base and was 5-12 with the bases loaded...Batted .350 (7-20) with a homer and 2 rbi as the dh and was 0-2 as a pinch-hitter...Stranded 9 runners on base, April 13 at Oakland...His 10 stolen bases were 2nd most of career (25 in 1999)...Was ejected by Laz Diaz on April 14 at Oakland.

2000

Appeared in just 91 games, fewest since his rookie season in 1991 (88), before being sidelined for the season on July 24 with a fractured right thumb...Sustained injury on July 24 vs. Anaheim when thumb made contact with Mo Vaughn's bat during his backswing on attempted throw to 2nd...Underwent surgery on July 25...Ranked 2nd on the club in homers (27), rbi (83), and total bases (242), placed 4th in runs (66) and doubles (27), and was 5th in hits (126). ..His .347 average was the highest in club history among players with at least 100 at bats...Ranked 4th best in the A.L. in 2000 among all players with 350 or more at bats...At time of his injury, ranked among the American League leaders in extra base hits (2nd, 58), slugging (2nd, .667), total bases (3rd), hits (T3rd), average (6th), homers (T6th), rbi (8th), and doubles (T8th)...Tied career high for triples (4)...Was named as 2nd team catcher on Baseball America's Major League All-Star Team...Selected as Rangers player of the month for April with .333 average, 9 homers, and 25 rbi...Tied for 2nd in the A.L. in pinch homers, the 1st Ranger with 2 in a season since Mike Simms in 1997.

1999

Was the American League's Most Valuable Playerb&Set an A.L. record for homers by a backstop and was the 1st catcher in league history with 30 homers, 100 rbi and 100 runs scored...Also became the 1st catcher in major league history with 20+ homers and 20+ stealsb&Led the Rangers in batting (.332), runs (116) and hits (199), was 2nd in steals (25) and finished 3rd in homers (35), rbi (113), total bases (335) and slugging (.558)...Ranked among the A.L. leaders in average (7th), multi-hit games (T6th, 57), runs (T7th), total bases (7th), hits (5th)...Posted the highest average for an A.L. catcher since the Yankees Bill Dickey in 1937 (.3321) and ranked 7th best all-time...Had a career high 20-game hitting streak, May 8-June 1...Tied own 1996 mark for 2nd most runs ever by a Ranger and 2nd most for a catcher in major league history...Joins Mickey Cochrane (4) as the only catchers to ever score 100 runs more than once...His 25 steals tied for 5th most ever by a major league catcher...With steal of 2nd base on Aug. 14 at Chicago, became the 1st catcher in history with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in one season...Led the majors with a club record 31 grounded into double plays.

Most Valuable Player/Other Honors: Was the 9th different catcher in major league history to eran MVP honors, the 1st since the Yankees' Thurman Munson in 1976...Was named on all 28 ballots, with 7 1st place votes, 6 2nd place votes, 7 3rd place votes, 5 5th place votes, 2 6th place and a 7th place vote for 252 points...Defeated Boston's Pedro Martinez, who was named on 26 of 28 ballots with 8 1st place votes and 239 total points...Was just the 4th time in history that a player who did not receive the most 1st place votes won the award, the others being Detroit's Hal Newhouser (1944), New York's Roger Maris (1960) and Pittsburgh's Roberto Clemente (1966)...Was the 6th native from Puerto Rico to win the award, the others being Clemente, St. Louis' Orlando Cepeda (1967), Detroit's Willie Hernandez (1984) and Texas' Juan Gonzalez (1996, '98)...Was the 4th overall MVP for a Ranger, joining Jeff Burroughs (1974) and Gonzalez...Was also selected as the Major League Player of the Year by Baseball Digest, only the 2nd catcher ever...Earned his 6th straight Silver Slugger Award, joining Mike Piazza (8) as the only catchers with at least 4 such honors...Has won both awards 6 times with Detroit's Lance Parrish (1983-84) the only other A.L. catcher to ever accomplish that feat...Was selected as catcher on major league all-star teams selected by the Associated Press and Baseball America and to The Sporting News A.L. all-star squad.

1998

Led the Rangers in average (.321), ranking 8th in A.L., and finished among league leaders in multi-hit games (7th, 55) and hits (9th, 186)...Was 2nd on the club in hits, triples (4-tied), total bases (297) and slugging (.513), was 3rd in doubles (40), homers (21) and stolen bases (9) and placed 4th in rbi (91)...Was selected as catcher on major league all-star teams selected by the Associated Press and Baseball America and to The Sporting News A.L. post-season all-star squadb&Hit .446 (41-92) in April, 3rd highest ever for a Ranger in one month and the best ever in April...Was selected as the American League Player of the Month, setting club record for hits in April...Shared Rangers Player of the Month honors with Juan Gonzalez...Was the A.L. Player of the Week, April 27-May 3...Was at .350 at the All-Star break, 3rd highest figure in club history behind Rafael Palmeiro (.355 in 1999) and Will Clark (.353 in 1994)...Topped the majors in batting for 41 consecutive days, May 21-July 1...Produced 1000th career hit, May 10 vs. Clevelandb&Became 1st major league catcher ever with 40+ doubles twice.

1997

Ranked among A.L. leaders in hits (5th, 187), singles (T5th, 129), multi-hit games (T8th, 53), and batting average (10th, .313)...Led Texas in singles, was 2nd in batting, runs (98), hits, doubles (34), and triples (4), and placed 3rd in rbi (77)...Topped A.L. catchers in batting, hits, and runs and was 2nd to Cleveland's Sandy Alomar in homers (20), rbi, and doubles...Was on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the week of Aug. 4, the 4th time a Ranger has been on the cover...Played for Caguas in the Puerto Rican winter league, batting .258 with 4 homers and 18 rbi in 32 games.

1996

Was among the league leaders in doubles (3rd, 47), at bats (4th, 639), hits (7th, 192), multi-hit games (T8th, 55), and runs (12th, 116), leading the team in each category (T1st in multi-hit games)...Was also 2nd on the squad in extra base hits (69) and ranked 3rd in batting (.300) and total bases (302)...Set the all-time major league record for doubles by a catcher in a season while serving primarily as backstops...Had 44 doubles while catching only (2 as dh), breaking previous mark of 42 set by Mickey Cochrane in 1930...Also set big league record for at bats by a catcher at 639, surpassing 621 by Johnny Bench in 1974...Was a member of the Major League Baseball All-Star Team that played series in Japan after the season and played for Caguas in Puerto Rico during the winter.

1995

Was the Rangers' Player of the Year...Led the club in batting (.303), total bases (221), and doubles (32), and ranked 2nd in at bats (492) and hits (149)...Had 1st career 2-homer game on July 13 at Boston with both blasts off Roger Clemens...Played for Caguas.

1994

Led A.L. catchers in hitting at .298, 2nd on the club...Tied for 3rd in doubles (19) and was 4th in hits (108), total bases (177), runs (56), games (99), at bats (363), walks (31), and homers (16), the latter a team record for a catcher at that time...Batted .311 (94-302) in last 82 contestsb&Played 1st part of the season for Caguas in Puerto Rico, before being sidelined with knee trouble.

1993

Ranked 4th among the regulars in batting (.273), was 5th in rbi (66), and tied for 5th in homers (10)...Hit .352 (25-71) in his 1st 22 games through May 2...Had 8 straight hits (one walk in streak) with career high 4 hits in consecutive games, July 26 (2nd game) and 28 at Kansas City, tying then team record for consecutive hits...Played final month of the regular season for Mayaguez in the Puerto Rico, batting .325 with 14 rbi in 21 regular season gamesb&Was mvp in the league all-star game.

1992

Started 112 games as the majors' youngest player for the 2nd straight year...His 116 total games behind the plate were 4th most in history for a catcher, 20 or younger...Is the only player in history to lead his team in games caught at both age 19 and 20...Ranked 3rd among A.L. backstops with .260 average...Played for Mayaguez in Puerto Rico, batting .262 in 17 games.

1991

Was purchased from Tulsa on June 20 and started 81 of the Rangers' final 102 games behind the plate...Was 19 years, 7 months when promoted, the 3rd youngest player in club history...His 88 total games caught were 2nd most ever by a teenager and became the 32nd teenager ever to play in at least 75 games...Became the youngest Ranger ever to homer at 19 years, 9 months, Aug. 30 off K.C.'s Storm Davis in Arlington...Was a unanimous selection as the Rangers Rookie of the Year and placed 4th in BBWAA's A.L. rookie voting...Named as catcher on Major League Rookie All-Star teams selected by both Topps and Baseball Digest...Played briefly for Bayamon in Puerto Rico...Was selected to Texas League post-season all-star team despite June promotion to Texas...Threw out a league best 48.6% of runners trying to steal.

1990

Selected as Florida State League's all-star catcher and as backstop on Baseball America's Class A all-star team...Finished 15th in FSL in batting (.287)...Led Charlotte in batting and RBIs (55)...Led league catchers in putouts (727) and chances (842)...Fielded .983 (14 e) and threw out a league best 39.1% (54 of 138) of runners attempting to steal...Was named as both the top overall prospect and best defensive catcher in the Florida State League by Baseball Americab&Played for Caguas in Puerto Rican winter league.

1989

Rated the No. 7 prospect in the South Atlantic League following professional debut by Baseball America.