ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ivan Rodriguez is back in Texas again. This time, the 14-time All-Star catcher is retiring.
Rodriguez, who briefly returned to the Rangers three years ago, formally announced his retirement Monday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. It came nearly 21 years after the fan favorite known as Pudge made his major league debut as a 19-year-old with the Rangers.
Rodriguez played the first 12 of his 21 seasons with Texas. He played for five other teams and returned to Texas for the final few weeks of the 2009 season.
Rodriguez was part of the Rangers’ first three AL West titles in a four-year span in the late 1990s. He later appeared in two World Series, with the champion Florida Marlins in 2003 and Detroit in 2006.
