Roberto Rodriguez--1971
Nestled comfortably in my seat the
other day prior to a Twins spring
training game, a boy probably, seven
years old, with his younger sister in
tow holding balls zipped by my seat in
search of autographs. Moments later,
with smiles on their faces and ink on
their baseballs, the two youngsters
cruised by me as they returned to
their family.
So, I asked, “Who did you get?”
The little boy answered that he didn’t
know, showing me the ball with a
scribble and the number 11. It was
Jason Pridie who sent the pair to
their seats smiling.
Sitting back I remembered my first
autograph. I was nine years old
during the summer of 1970 and my
father let me go down along the third
base line wall of Wrigley Field.
Scurrying along the brick barrier that
kept me at arms length from my
dreams; I reached out my scorecard
to number 43, who signed his name
in pencil. I returned to my seat
successful in my pursuit with an
authentic Roberto Rodriguez
autograph.
I really didn't know who Rodriguez
was at the time, though I knew he
was with the Cubs and that was good
enough for me.
The right-hander struggled
throughout the ’70 campaign that
started in Oakland, saw him sold to
San Diego before picked off the
bargain rack by the Cubs in mid-
June. Rodriguez’ tenure with the
Cubs was short; 26 games in all. He
went 3-2, 5.82 with 2 saves, however,
the native Venezuelan enjoyed an
impressive September with the Cubs
going 1-1, 1.80 in six outings, in what
would be the last days in a major
league uniform.
Rodriguez did however land on a
1971 card. Gazing off into an
uncertain future, Rodriguez appears
to be looking for the next youngster
who he can thrill with an autograph…
just like he did for me.
(3/28/09)
other day prior to a Twins spring
training game, a boy probably, seven
years old, with his younger sister in
tow holding balls zipped by my seat in
search of autographs. Moments later,
with smiles on their faces and ink on
their baseballs, the two youngsters
cruised by me as they returned to
their family.
So, I asked, “Who did you get?”
The little boy answered that he didn’t
know, showing me the ball with a
scribble and the number 11. It was
Jason Pridie who sent the pair to
their seats smiling.
Sitting back I remembered my first
autograph. I was nine years old
during the summer of 1970 and my
father let me go down along the third
base line wall of Wrigley Field.
Scurrying along the brick barrier that
kept me at arms length from my
dreams; I reached out my scorecard
to number 43, who signed his name
in pencil. I returned to my seat
successful in my pursuit with an
authentic Roberto Rodriguez
autograph.
I really didn't know who Rodriguez
was at the time, though I knew he
was with the Cubs and that was good
enough for me.
The right-hander struggled
throughout the ’70 campaign that
started in Oakland, saw him sold to
San Diego before picked off the
bargain rack by the Cubs in mid-
June. Rodriguez’ tenure with the
Cubs was short; 26 games in all. He
went 3-2, 5.82 with 2 saves, however,
the native Venezuelan enjoyed an
impressive September with the Cubs
going 1-1, 1.80 in six outings, in what
would be the last days in a major
league uniform.
Rodriguez did however land on a
1971 card. Gazing off into an
uncertain future, Rodriguez appears
to be looking for the next youngster
who he can thrill with an autograph…
just like he did for me.
(3/28/09)
Rodriguez went just 4-3, 4.81 in 57 big league games
during two summers in the bigs.
during two summers in the bigs.