Chico Rodríguez
From BR Bullpen
Francisco Rodríguez Ituarte (Chico)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9", Weight 160 lb.
- Born October 4, 1943 in Cananea, Sonora Mexico
The older brother of Aurelio Rodríguez and uncle of Aurelio Rodríguez Jr., shortstop Chico Rodríguez broke into baseball with the 1964 Salamanca Tigres of the Mexican Center League, batting .335. In 1965 he went 7 for 11 in his Mexican League debut with the Mexico City Tigers but mostly played for the Tabasco Plataneros of the Mexican Southeast League. He split the '66 season as well, between the Campeche Pirates of the MSL and the St. Petersburg Cards of the Florida State League, hitting .248 in his only taste of the US-based minors.
Rodríguez began his Liga career in full in 1967 for the Tigers and then moved to the Veracruz Eagle, where he stayed through 1974. In '75 he switched to the Rieleros de Aguascalientes - in 1981 he hiot .300 for the first time in the Liga at the age of 37. He duplicated the feat in '82 but only had one more season as a regular. In 20 years in the Liga Chico hit .270/~.325/.348. He led the Liga in doubles in 1973 (35). He ranks among Mexico's all-time leaders in a few stats - as of 2000 he was 10th in games (2,210), 5th in AB )8,099), 26th in runs (970), 12th in hits (2,186) and 15th in doubles (330).
Rodríguez managed the Rieleros de Aguascalientes in 1984 and Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz in 1985-1986.
Rodríguez was voted into the Salon de la Fama in 2004, nine years after his brother was so honored.
