Pudge Rodriguez throws out first pitch for Tigers, gets heckled by Rangers
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In four-plus years in Detroit, Ivan Rodriguez hit 62 homers, made four All-Star teams and won three Gold Glove Awards. His veteran presence behind the dish even helped an up-and-coming Tigers team reach the World Series in 2006. So it's only fitting that, prior to Saturday's Rangers-Tigers game, Detroit invited the catcher back to Comerica to throw out the first pitch -- to Justin Verlander, whose first no-hitter Pudge caught back in 2007. Feelings were felt, hugs were shared:
... except, well, remember how we said Detroit was playing the Rangers? You know, the team that signed Pudge out of Puerto Rico as a 17-year-old? The team for which he played 12 seasons and won an AL MVP? The team whose front office he now works for? As it turns out, the Texas dugout was excited to see Pudge too -- and a little confused by his wardrobe:
Come on, Texas. Sharing is caring. Besides, there are plenty of Pudges on the way.