Pudge and Bagwell cap stellar careers

COOPERSTOWN — It isn’t much of a surprise that Ivan Rodriguez is just the second catcher elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot, following in the footsteps of his childhood idol, Reds legend Johnny Bench.

Rodriguez, affectionately known as “Pudge,” holds the major league records for games caught (2,427) and putouts by a catcher (12,376), hit 311 homers and batted .296 in his career.

In 21 seasons, spent mostly with the Rangers (and including part of one season with the Yankees), Rodriguez was a 14-time AllStar, won a record 13 Gold Gloves and took home seven Silver Slugger awards.

“I think I just prepared myself,” Rodriguez said. ‘‘I’m talking about blocking thousands of balls, making thousands of throws to second base, trying to throw the ball to the right side of the base.

“You can have ability, but if you don’t have discipline, if you don’t work on things you have to do, it’s going to be hard for you to do it in your career.”

The 45-year-old Rodriguez’s career will be capped by his induction Sunday into the Hall. Joining him will be Tim Raines and Jeff Bagwell, along with former commissioner Bud Selig and retired Kansas City and Atlanta executive John Schuerholz, both elected by a veterans committee.

Raines, 57, received 86 percent of the vote by the Baseball Writers’ Associa- tion of America in his final year on the ballot.

The 48-year-old Bagwell, who played his entire 15year career with the Astros, was elected in his seventh year on the ballot. He is the only first baseman in history with 400 career home runs and 200 stolen bases.

“This is all overwhelming to me,” Bagwell said. “Parts of me wonder, ‘Why am I in here?’“