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Miami Marlins Top 50 Of All-Time: 34. Ivan Rodriguez

Ivan Rodriguez has thrown out almost half of would-be base stealers throughout his 21 year Major League career. For one season, Rodriguez was the Florida Marlins backstop, and part of the murderer's row that brought home a second World Series title for the Marlins.

By Kevin Kraczkowski
Ivan Rodriguez, Florida Marlins, 2003
Ivan Rodriguez, Florida Marlins, 2003

Rodriguez, or "Pudge," has been a Major League catcher for 21 seasons. He is the Major League record holder for games caught, currently 2,427. His career 45.68 percent of runners caught stealing is first among active catchers.

The Texas Rangers signed him to an amateur free agent contract in 1988, when he was only 16 years old. His first Major League appearance was in 1991, and he stayed with the Rangers for the next 12 seasons, winning 10 Gold Gloves, six Silver Sluggers, 10 All-Star game invitations and one AL MVP award. Pudge was granted free agency after the 2002 season, and signed a one-year contract to play with Florida.

In 144 games as Florida's catcher, Pudge hit .297 with 16 home runs and 85 RBI. He was invaluable for the Marlins during the playoffs, as he hit .313 with three home runs and 17 RBI in 17 games, helping the team to their second World Series title.

He was again granted free agency after the season, and signed with the Detroit Tigers. He subsequently played for the New York Yankees, the Houston Astros, again with the Rangers, and is currently with the Washington Nationals.

Photographs by cstreet.us, thelastminute, turtlemom nancy , fesek, kthypryn, justinwright, sue_elias, pointnshoot, and scrapstothefuture used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.