Ellie Rodriguez worked at baseball and boxing in his youth, and he used both skillsets in the majors. He became a 2-time All-Star, a pioneer among Puerto Rican catchers, and part of a long-running, violent feud with Bill "Spaceman" Lee. Rodriguez died on April 22 at the age of 79.
You may remember Ellie Rodriguez as a catcher who played for five teams over a 9-year career in the majors. Or, if you've read The Wrong Stuff by Bill Lee, you remember him as one of Lee's nemeses, along with Don Zimmer and most other authority figures. Rodriguez, an excellent defensive catcher and 2-time All-Star, died on April 22 in his hometown of Fajardo, Puerto Rico. He was 79 years old. During his career, he played for the New York Yankees (1968), Kansas City Royals (1969-70), Milwaukee Brewers (1971-73), California Angels (1974-75) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1976).
