Jose Rodriguez (rodrijo01)

Jose Rodriguez
(El Hombre Goma)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 150 lb.

• Debut October 5, 1916
• Final Game September 2, 1918
• Born February 23, 1894 in Havana, Cuba
• Died January 21, 1953 in Havana, Cuba

BR page

Biographical Information

Jose Rodriguez was a Cuban who played three seasons in the majors.

The book Playing America's Game says that Rodriguez was signed by the New York Giants and assigned to the "Connecticut League" in 1916. He encountered a lot of hostility there towards him due to his Latin heritage, even though other Latin players had previously been in the league.

Rodriguez did play for New London, CT in the Eastern League as a first baseman, hitting .263 as the regular first baseman. The team went 86-34.

Rodriguez got into one major league game at the end of 1916 and seven games in 1917, and then had 50 appearances in 1918. After that he played semi-pro ball in New York.

Rodriguez coached for the Venezuelan national team in the 1940 Amateur World Series. He led the Sherman-Denison Twins to the Big State League championship in 1948, the same season his brother Oscar led the Havana Cubans to a title.

Later he managed several Almendares teams in the Cuban winter league. A photo can be found here: Rodriguez