Ivan 'Pudge' Rodriguez Reacts to Receiving Hall of Fame Induction

On Monday night, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines. Before the official MLB Network reveal, the catcher received the good news via telephone.

The 14-time All-Star and winner of 13 Gold Glove Awards narrowly made the cut in his first year on the ballot, earning 76 percent of the votes. When the call to Cooperstown came, he gave his family a triumphant fist in the air before hugging his loved ones and expressing gratitude.

According to FanGraphs, he retired third among all catchers in WAR behind fellow Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Gary Carter. Rodriguez was a safe bet to eventually receive the induction but made the cut this year by five votes. 

[Ivan Rodriguez]