Born in Puerto Rico, Rodriguez grew up in the Bronx idolizing Yogi Berra but played just nine games with the Yankees. He was an agile catcher with a strong arm. With the Angels in 1974 he tied an AL record with 19 putouts in a nine-inning game and set another with 21 in an extra-inning game as Nolan Ryan struck out 19 each time. On June 1, 1975 he caught Ryan’s fourth no-hitter.
