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2006 Detroit Tigers: Where are they now?

By Andy Patton

DETROIT - OCTOBER 14: Players from the Detroit Tigers celebrate at home plate as Craig Monroe runs home on a 3-run walk-off home run, hit by Magglio Ordonez, against the Oakland Athletics during Game Four of the American League Championship Series October 14, 2006 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers won 6-3 to sweep the Athletics and advance to the World Series. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
DETROIT - OCTOBER 14: Players from the Detroit Tigers celebrate at home plate as Craig Monroe runs home on a 3-run walk-off home run, hit by Magglio Ordonez, against the Oakland Athletics during Game Four of the American League Championship Series October 14, 2006 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers won 6-3 to sweep the Athletics and advance to the World Series. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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LAKELAND, FL – MARCH 03: Ivan Rodriquez #7 of the Detroit Tigers readies to throw to third base during a Spring Training game against the Cleveland Indians on March 3,2007 at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
LAKELAND, FL – MARCH 03: Ivan Rodriquez #7 of the Detroit Tigers readies to throw to third base during a Spring Training game against the Cleveland Indians on March 3,2007 at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /

Ivan Rodriguez

‘Pudge’ as he was nicknamed, came to the Detroit Tigers as a free agent after the 2003 season. He endured himself to the Detroit faithful immediately, hitting .334 with 19 home runs in 2004. He was an All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, and finished 10th in MVP voting.

Rodriguez went on to play four seasons in Detroit, hitting .298 with four All-Star game appearances and three gold glove awards. In 2006, Rodriguez slashed .300/.332/.447 with 13 home runs.

Rodriguez was eventually traded in the middle of the 2008 season to the Yankees for reliever Kyle Farnsworth.

He finished his career in 2011 as a 39-year-old member of the Washington Nationals.

Rodriguez was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame his first go around on the ballot in 2017. He received 76% of the vote, joining Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines in the class of 2017.

Less than a month after his induction speech, Rodriguez was honored again. This time he was recognized as a Shadow representative by Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello. Essentially, this makes him like a congressmen for Puerto Rico, who is an unincorporated U.S. Territory.

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