Cuando a finales de marzo de 2010 me enter\u00c3\u00a9 a trav\u00c3\u00a9s de los medios de comunicaci\u00c3\u00b3n que el \u00c3\u00a1rbitro Manuel Gonz\u00c3\u00a1lez, de amplia trayectoria en la LVBP, se convertir\u00c3\u00ada en el primer venezolano\u00c2\u00a0 en ponerse el traje azul y gris para sentenciar jugadas en la Gran Carpa; fue inevitable pensar en Alejandro \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pat\u00c3\u00b3n\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Carrasquel, el primer pelotero venezolano en Grandes Ligas. Pero tambi\u00c3\u00a9n mis recuerdos enfilaron hacia Armando Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez, el primer \u00c3\u00a1rbitro latinoamericano en participar de un juego en Grandes Ligas, el 04 de abril de 1974\u00c2\u00a0 en Arlington Stadium. Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez calific\u00c3\u00b3 las jugadas en\u00c2\u00a0 la tercera base de un juego ganado 7-2 por Oakland a Texas. Catfish Hunter se llev\u00c3\u00b3 la victoria y Jim Bibby sali\u00c3\u00b3 derrotado. La imagen de Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez\u00c2\u00a0 a su vez me traslad\u00c3\u00b3 al primer juego de la final de la LVBP en la temporada 1999-2000.<\/p>\n
Armando Humberto Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez Hern\u00c3\u00a1ndez naci\u00c3\u00b3 el 06 de diciembre de 1922 cerca del R\u00c3\u00ado Blanco, a una milla del Central Hershey, en Cuba. En los a\u00c3\u00b1os \u00e2\u20ac\u212230 jug\u00c3\u00b3 b\u00c3\u00a9isbol juvenil en Cuba, fue seleccionado para un mundial donde actu\u00c3\u00b3 como pitcher y primera base. Luego jug\u00c3\u00b3 pelota amateur al lado de grandes jugadores como: Sandalio Consuegra, Angel Fleitas, Limonar Mart\u00c3\u00adnez y hasta Lino Donoso.<\/p>\n
Debut\u00c3\u00b3 como \u00c3\u00a1rbitro en el estadio Tropical en 1938, acompa\u00c3\u00b1aba nada menos que al gran maestro Amado Maestri, all\u00c3\u00ad dio inicio a su carrera de 42 a\u00c3\u00b1os. Particip\u00c3\u00b3 en 16 Series del Caribe representando a Cuba y Venezuela. Fue instructor en Espa\u00c3\u00b1a e Italia. El 26 de octubre de 1957, tuvo dificultades al asestarle un caretazo al pitcher de los Elefantes de Cienfuegos, Danny McDevitt, qui\u00c3\u00a9n estaba molesto por haber concedido 7 boletos, golpeado a un bateador y cometido un error. Luego de incurrir en un balk fue amonestado por Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez. McDevitt reaccion\u00c3\u00b3 lanz\u00c3\u00a1ndole la pelota. Cuando Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez lo expuls\u00c3\u00b3, el pitcher lo agredi\u00c3\u00b3 f\u00c3\u00adsicamente a pesar de la vigilancia del receptor Rafael Noble. Pero Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez se defendi\u00c3\u00b3 peg\u00c3\u00a1ndole con al careta. Como resultado del altercado Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez fue suspendido por 15 d\u00c3\u00adas y McDevitt multado con 50 $.<\/p>\n
Despu\u00c3\u00a9s Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez trabaj\u00c3\u00b3 en la Liga Invernal de Nicaragua. Debut\u00c3\u00b3 en la Liga Mexicana en 1958; y en 1962\u00c2\u00a0 empez\u00c3\u00b3 a arbitrar en Venezuela donde trabaj\u00c3\u00b3 durante 16 temporadas. En 1966 lleg\u00c3\u00b3 a las Ligas Menores del b\u00c3\u00a9isbol organizado y m\u00c3\u00a1s adelante arbitr\u00c3\u00b3 partidos en la Liga de la Toronja hasta que fue llamado a la Gran Carpa en 1974.<\/p>\n
En 1974 mientras arbitraba en la Liga Invernal venezolana, Don\u00c2\u00a0 Armando cantaba strike cualquier pelota que pegaba en el brazo de C\u00c3\u00a9sar Tovar, qui\u00c3\u00a9n hab\u00c3\u00ada desarrollado la ma\u00c3\u00b1a de meter el brazo con disimulo para ir a primera base por pelotazo. En una oportunidad Tovar recibi\u00c3\u00b3 un bolazo en la espalda y Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez lo envi\u00c3\u00b3 a primera porque lo hab\u00c3\u00adan golpeado de verdad. Despu\u00c3\u00a9s del juego Tovar declar\u00c3\u00b3: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Tengo que reconocer que el hombre tiene clase.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Su mejor an\u00c3\u00a9cdota en las Grandes Ligas ocurri\u00c3\u00b3 en un juego de julio de 1974 entre Okland y Kansas City. Bert Campaneris sali\u00c3\u00b3 al robo de la intermedia y lleg\u00c3\u00b3 quieto en una jugada muy cerrada donde el catcher Frank Healy hizo el disparo hacia el camarero cubano Cookie Rojas qui\u00c3\u00a9n empez\u00c3\u00b3 a protestar la sentencia de Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez. El manager de los Reales Jack McKeon corri\u00c3\u00b3 hacia el terreno para ver que pasaba. De vuelta al dugout le preguntaron la raz\u00c3\u00b3n del altercado. McKeon respondi\u00c3\u00b3: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No s\u00c3\u00a9, yo no hablo espa\u00c3\u00b1ol.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
El primer juego de la final de LVBP en la temporada 1999-2000, me hizo recordar a Armando Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez porque este tom\u00c3\u00b3 la decisi\u00c3\u00b3n de confiscar el \u00c3\u00baltimo juego de la final 1975-76 entre Tigres y Cardenales porque el p\u00c3\u00bablico de Barquisimeto incurri\u00c3\u00b3 en una conducta poco respetuosa con el b\u00c3\u00a9isbol. En enero de 2000, para comenzar, la representaci\u00c3\u00b3n de la Liga brill\u00c3\u00b3 por su ausencia, hab\u00c3\u00ada exceso de p\u00c3\u00bablico en las gradas por falta de vigilancia del orden p\u00c3\u00bablico. A mediados del juego cuando Magallanes venc\u00c3\u00ada a las \u00c3\u0081guilas 5-1 desde la tribuna le lanzaron varios pedazos de hielo a un jardinero Navegante, luego empez\u00c3\u00b3 un tumulto que termin\u00c3\u00b3 con el desprendimiento de la baranda del jard\u00c3\u00adn central. Ante esto los \u00c3\u00a1rbitros permanecieron imp\u00c3\u00a1vidos y el manager Phil Regan retir\u00c3\u00b3 a sus jugadores del terreno. El jaleo continu\u00c3\u00b3 por m\u00c3\u00a1s de 20 minutos. Regan acept\u00c3\u00b3 salir a jugar pero indic\u00c3\u00b3 que al primer objeto que lanzaran de las tribunas\u00c2\u00a0 retirar\u00c3\u00ada a su equipo. Al poco rato de reanudado el juego lanzaron un objeto \u00c2\u00a0contundente y varios trozos de hielo al segunda base Richard Paz. El juego fue suspendido por mandato telef\u00c3\u00b3nico de la Liga. Se reanud\u00c3\u00b3 a continuaci\u00c3\u00b3n del cuarto juego de esa final.<\/p>\n
Sobre los \u00c3\u00a1rbitros de la actualidad Armando Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez declar\u00c3\u00b3: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Creo que les falta estudiar mucho las reglas del b\u00c3\u00a9isbol y tener m\u00c3\u00a1s personalidad.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00c2\u00a0Armando Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez falleci\u00c3\u00b3 el 27 de octubre de 2005 en Veracruz, M\u00c3\u00a9xico, debido a una neumon\u00c3\u00ada m\u00c3\u00baltiple.<\/p>\n
Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez ha sido exaltado a varios Salones de la Fama en Cuba, M\u00c3\u00a9xico, Miami, Nueva York, Washington y en el Pabell\u00c3\u00b3n de las Series del Caribe. En el Sal\u00c3\u00b3n mexicano hay una leyenda que se refiere a su trabajo y reza: “La disciplina que impon\u00c3\u00ada en el terreno de juego y la precisi\u00c3\u00b3n en sus decisiones en el home, bases y jardines le valieron la admiraci\u00c3\u00b3n, respeto y reconocimiento de sus compa\u00c3\u00b1eros, directivos, jugadores, cronistas y fan\u00c3\u00a1ticos”. Se espera que en reconocimiento a su labor de 16 a\u00c3\u00b1os como \u00c3\u00a1rbitro de gran calidad en la Liga Venezolana de B\u00c3\u00a9isbol Profesional, el Sal\u00c3\u00b3n de la Fama del B\u00c3\u00a9isbol Venezolano haga justicia al exaltarlo como uno de sus inquilinos.<\/p>\n
When at the end of March, 2010 I knew through the internet that the umpire Manuel Gonz\u00c3\u00a1lez would become the first Venezuelan to call outs, foul balls, fair balls, balls and strikes in an MLB game, I immediately thought in Alejandro Carrasquel, the first Venezuelan who played in MLB. But I also recalled Armando Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez, the first Latin American umpire who worked in an MLB game. On April 04th<\/sup>, 1974 at Arlington Stadium, Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez \u00c2\u00a0performed as third base umpire in a game where the Oakland A\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s and Catfish Hunter defeated Jim Bibby and the Texas Rangers 7-2. The image of Rodriguez took me to the first game of the Final Series of the 1999-2000 season in the Venezuelan Winter League.<\/p>\n Armando Humberto Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez Hern\u00c3\u00a1ndez was born on December 06th<\/sup>, 1922, nearby el R\u00c3\u00ado Blanco, a mile away from the Central Hershey, in Cuba. In the thirties, he played juvenile baseball in Cuba. He was selected to play in a World contest where he performed as pitcher and first basemen. Later he played amateur baseball together with great players as: Sandalio Consuegra, Angel Fleitas, Limonar Mart\u00c3\u00adnez and even Lino Donoso.<\/p>\n He made his debut as an umpire at the Tropical Stadium in 1938. Then he was the apprentice of the great master Amado Maestri. There he began his career of 42 years long. He umpired in 16 Caribbean Series, representing Cuba and Venezuela. He was instructor of umpires at Spain and Italy.<\/p>\n On\u00c2\u00a0 October 26th<\/sup>, 1957, Rodriguez had some troubles when\u00c2\u00a0 he hit with his mask the Cienfuegos Elephants pitcher \u00c2\u00a0Danny McDevitt, who was upset because he had given 7 walks, hit a batter and committed an error. After Rodriguez called McDevitt a balk. The pitcher reacted throwing the ball to Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez. When Rodriguez ejected him from the game, McDevitt attacked the umpire physically, despite the efforts of the catcher Rafael Noble. Rodriguez defended himself by hitting the pitcher with his mask. As the result of the fight, Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez was suspended for 15 days and McDevitt fined with 50$.<\/p>\n Afterwards Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez worked in the Nicaraguan Winter League. He made his debut in the Mexican League in 1958, and he began to umpire in the Venezuelan Winter League in 1962 where he worked for 16 seasons. In 1966 he arrived to the Minor Leagues of the organized baseball. And later he umpired games in the Grapefruit League until he was called to the Big Show in 1974.<\/p>\n In 1974, while umpiring in the Venezuelan Winter League, Armando called strike each ball that hit Cesar Tovar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s arm, who had developed the ability of exposing his arm to get hit by the ball. Once Tovar got hit in his back and Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez sent him to first base because he was truly hit. After the game Tovar said: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I have to recognize that the guy has class.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n His best anecdote in MLB happened in a game of July 1974 between the Oakland A\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s and the Kansas City Royals. Bert Campaneris left to steal second base and he arrived safe in a very close play, where the catcher Fran Healy threw the ball to the cuban second basemen Cookie Rojas, who began to complain the Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s sentence. The Royals manager, Jack McKeon, ran to the field to know what was going on. When he got back to the dugout, he was asked about the altercate. McKeon answered: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t speak spanish.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n The first game of the Final Series of the 1999-2000 season in the Venezuelan Winter League, made me remember Armando Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez because he decided to confiscate the last game of the Final Series of the 1975-76 season between the Lara Cardinals and the Aragua Tigers due to unacceptable behavior of the fans. In January 2000, to begin, there wasn`t any representative of the Venezuelan League at the ballpark, there was an excess of fans in the bleachers because of the absence of security guards.<\/p>\n In the fifth inning, when the Magallanes Navigators\u00c2\u00a0 defeated 5-1 the Zulia Eagles, some fans began to throw regular pieces of ice to the field and hit the outfielder Darryl Brinkley in the head forcing him to left the game. Then it began a tumult that finished with the fence of the center field bleacher falling down. In front of this facts the umpires remained paralyzed and the manager Phil Regan took his players out from the field.<\/p>\n The riot kept on for about 20 minutes. Regan accepted to play again but with the first object thrown from the tribune he would retire his team from the field. Few minutes after resuming the game some fans threw a hard object plus some pieces of ice to second basemen Richard Paz. The game was suspended via telephon call by the League representatives from their office in Caracas. It was resumed after the fourth game of the Final Series.<\/p>\n When asked about today`s umpires, Armando Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez said: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think they still need to study harder the baseball rules and they should develop a stronger personality.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez died on October 27th<\/sup>, 2005 in Veracruz, M\u00c3\u00a9xico as a consequence of a multiple pneumonia.<\/p>\n Rodr\u00c3\u00adguez has been elected to several Halls of Fame in: Cuba, M\u00c3\u00a9xico, Miami, Nueva York, Washington and in the Pavilion of the Caribbean Series. In the Mexican Hall there is a legend in reference to his work that says: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The discipline that he imposed in the game and the accuracy of his calls at home plate, the bases and the outfield paid him with the admiration, the respect and acknowledgment of his peers, owners, players, writers, and fans\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s expected that in acknowledgment of his 16 years umpiring at high grade in the Venezuelan Winter League, the Venezuelan Hall of Fame finally elect him as one of its residents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cuando a finales de marzo de 2010 me enter\u00c3\u00a9 a trav\u00c3\u00a9s de los medios de comunicaci\u00c3\u00b3n que el \u00c3\u00a1rbitro Manuel Gonz\u00c3\u00a1lez, de amplia trayectoria en la LVBP, se convertir\u00c3\u00ada en el primer venezolano\u00c2\u00a0 en ponerse el traje azul y gris para sentenciar jugadas en la Gran Carpa; fue inevitable pensar en Alejandro \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pat\u00c3\u00b3n\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Carrasquel, el […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[6005,6011,6008,6003,6000,6014,6004,6010,6013,6012,42,3312,6015,6007,905,6006,6009,6001,6002,295],"class_list":["post-4077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-arlington-stadium","tag-armando","tag-carpa","tag-catfish-hunter","tag-central-hershey","tag-dio","tag-espana-e-italia","tag-ganado","tag-maestro","tag-milla","tag-mlb","tag-mlb-game","tag-mundial","tag-pelotero","tag-primera-base","tag-rio-blanco","tag-recuerdos","tag-series-del-caribe","tag-texas-catfish","tag-umpire"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/75"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4077"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4077\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}