Arthur Rhodes was born on Friday, October 24, 1969, in Waco, Texas. Rhodes was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on August 21, 1991, with the Baltimore Orioles. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Arthur Rhodes baseball stats page.
"He's (Arthur Rhodes) amazing. He hit 94 [mph] on the gun the other night. I'm telling you, this guy's Methuselah, and I don't even know what that is." - Stark, Jayson. ESPN Analyst. Rumblings and Grumblings 27 May 2010.
Arthur RhodesArthur Rhodes Autograph on a 1992 Score Baseball Card (#736) |
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Biographical Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Arthur RhodesArthur Rhodes Pitching Stats |
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Year | Age | Team | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
1991 | 22 | Orioles | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 8.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36.0 | 174 | 47 | 32 | 35 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1992 | 23 | Orioles | 15 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 5 | .583 | 3.63 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 94.1 | 394 | 87 | 38 | 39 | 6 | 38 | 2 | 77 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
1993 | 24 | Orioles | 17 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 6 | .455 | 6.51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 85.2 | 387 | 91 | 62 | 62 | 16 | 49 | 1 | 49 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
1994 | 25 | Orioles | 10 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 5 | .375 | 5.81 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 52.2 | 238 | 51 | 34 | 34 | 8 | 30 | 1 | 47 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
1995 | 26 | Orioles | 19 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 5 | .286 | 6.21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75.1 | 336 | 68 | 52 | 53 | 13 | 48 | 1 | 77 | 3 | 0 | 1 | - |
1996 | 27 | Orioles | 28 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 1 | .900 | 4.08 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 53.0 | 224 | 48 | 24 | 28 | 6 | 23 | 3 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
1997 | 28 | Orioles | 53 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 3 | .769 | 3.02 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 95.1 | 378 | 75 | 32 | 32 | 9 | 26 | 5 | 102 | 2 | 4 | 0 | - |
1998 | 29 | Orioles | 45 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 4 | .500 | 3.51 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 77.0 | 321 | 65 | 30 | 30 | 8 | 34 | 2 | 83 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
1999 | 30 | Orioles | 43 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 4 | .429 | 5.43 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 53.0 | 244 | 43 | 32 | 37 | 9 | 45 | 6 | 59 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
2000 | 31 | Mariners | 72 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 8 | .385 | 4.28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69.1 | 281 | 51 | 33 | 34 | 6 | 29 | 3 | 77 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
2001 | 32 | Mariners | 71 | 0 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.72 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 68.0 | 258 | 46 | 13 | 14 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 83 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 31 |
2002 | 33 | Mariners | 66 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 4 | .714 | 2.33 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 69.2 | 257 | 45 | 18 | 18 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 81 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
2003 | 34 | Mariners | 67 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 3 | .500 | 4.17 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 54.0 | 228 | 53 | 25 | 25 | 4 | 18 | 2 | 48 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
2004 | 35 | Athletics | 37 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 3 | .500 | 5.12 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 38.2 | 182 | 46 | 22 | 23 | 9 | 21 | 4 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
2005 | 36 | Indians | 47 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | .750 | 2.08 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43.1 | 175 | 33 | 10 | 13 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 43 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
2006 | 37 | Phillies | 55 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 5 | .000 | 5.32 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 45.2 | 214 | 47 | 27 | 27 | 2 | 30 | 7 | 48 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 23 |
2008 | 39 | Mariners | 36 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | .667 | 2.86 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 22.0 | 92 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
2008 | 39 | Marlins | 25 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.68 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13.1 | 54 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
2009 | 40 | Reds | 66 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2.53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53.1 | 215 | 37 | 15 | 16 | 3 | 20 | 3 | 48 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 25 |
2010 | 41 | Reds | 69 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 4 | .500 | 2.29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55.0 | 217 | 38 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 50 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 26 |
2011 | 42 | Rangers | 32 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 3 | .500 | 4.81 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24.1 | 105 | 28 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
2011 | 42 | Cardinals | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 4.15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.2 | 33 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Career | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD | ||
20 Years | 900 | 61 | 161 | 87 | 70 | .554 | 4.08 | 5 | 3 | 33 | 1,187.2 | 5,007 | 1,033 | 538 | 560 | 126 | 516 | 48 | 1,152 | 43 | 16 | 3 | 231 |
Arthur RhodesArthur Rhodes Hitting Stats |
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Year | Age | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG |
1991 | 22 | Orioles | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
1992 | 23 | Orioles | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
1993 | 24 | Orioles | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
1994 | 25 | Orioles | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
1995 | 26 | Orioles | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
1996 | 27 | Orioles | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
1997 | 28 | Orioles | 54 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
1998 | 29 | Orioles | 45 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .500 | .500 |
1999 | 30 | Orioles | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2000 | 31 | Mariners | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2001 | 32 | Mariners | 71 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2002 | 33 | Mariners | 66 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2003 | 34 | Mariners | 67 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2004 | 35 | Athletics | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2005 | 36 | Indians | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2006 | 37 | Phillies | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2008 | 39 | Mariners | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2008 | 39 | Marlins | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2009 | 40 | Reds | 66 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2010 | 41 | Reds | 69 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2011 | 42 | Rangers | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
2011 | 42 | Cardinals | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Career | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ||
20 Years | 901 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .167 | .167 | .167 |
Arthur RhodesArthur Rhodes Fielding Stats |
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Team | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
1991 Orioles | P | 8 | 8 | 108 | 1 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 0.25 |
1992 Orioles | P | 15 | 15 | 283 | 14 | 0.9 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.34 |
1993 Orioles | P | 17 | 17 | 257 | 12 | 0.7 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .917 | 1.16 |
1994 Orioles | P | 10 | 10 | 158 | 3 | 0.3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .667 | 0.34 |
1995 Orioles | P | 19 | 9 | 226 | 12 | 0.6 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .833 | 1.19 |
1996 Orioles | P | 28 | 2 | 159 | 3 | 0.1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 0.51 |
1997 Orioles | P | 53 | 0 | 286 | 21 | 0.4 | 20 | 4 | 16 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .952 | 1.89 |
1998 Orioles | P | 45 | 0 | 231 | 9 | 0.2 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .778 | 0.82 |
1999 Orioles | P | 43 | 0 | 159 | 6 | 0.1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.02 |
2000 Mariners | P | 72 | 0 | 208 | 10 | 0.1 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.30 |
2001 Mariners | P | 71 | 0 | 204 | 13 | 0.2 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.72 |
2002 Mariners | P | 66 | 0 | 209 | 11 | 0.2 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.42 |
2003 Mariners | P | 67 | 0 | 162 | 7 | 0.1 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.17 |
2004 Athletics | P | 37 | 0 | 116 | 8 | 0.2 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.86 |
2005 Indians | P | 47 | 0 | 129 | 8 | 0.2 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .875 | 1.47 |
2006 Phillies | P | 55 | 0 | 138 | 7 | 0.1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.37 |
2008 Mariners | P | 36 | 0 | 66 | 2 | 0.1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 0.82 |
2008 Marlins | P | 25 | 0 | 39 | 2 | 0.1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.38 |
2009 Reds | P | 66 | 0 | 159 | 10 | 0.2 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .900 | 1.53 |
2010 Reds | P | 69 | 0 | 168 | 9 | 0.1 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.45 |
2011 Rangers | P | 32 | 0 | 72 | 1 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 0.38 |
2011 Cardinals | P | 19 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 0.2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 3.38 |
Career | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
P Totals | 900 | 61 | 3,561 | 172 | 0.2 | 163 | 38 | 125 | 9 | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .948 | 1.24 | |
20 Years | 900 | 61 | 3,561 | 172 | 0.2 | 163 | 38 | 125 | 9 | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .948 | 1.24 |
Arthur RhodesArthur Rhodes Miscellaneous Stats |
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Baserunning Statistics | Other Positions | Common Hitting Ratios | Common Pitching Ratios | |||||||||
Team | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
1991 Orioles | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.00 | 5.75 | 5.75 |
1992 Orioles | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.03 | 7.35 | 3.63 |
1993 Orioles | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.00 | 5.15 | 5.15 |
1994 Orioles | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.57 | 8.03 | 5.13 |
1995 Orioles | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.60 | 9.20 | 5.73 |
1996 Orioles | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.70 | 10.53 | 3.91 |
1997 Orioles | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3.92 | 9.63 | 2.45 |
1998 Orioles | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.44 | 9.70 | 3.97 |
1999 Orioles | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.31 | 10.02 | 7.64 |
2000 Mariners | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.66 | 10.00 | 3.76 |
2001 Mariners | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 6.92 | 10.99 | 1.59 |
2002 Mariners | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.23 | 10.46 | 1.68 |
2003 Mariners | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.67 | 8.00 | 3.00 |
2004 Athletics | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.62 | 7.91 | 4.89 |
2005 Indians | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.58 | 8.93 | 2.49 |
2006 Phillies | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.60 | 9.46 | 5.91 |
2008 Mariners | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.00 | 10.64 | 5.32 |
2008 Marlins | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.67 | 9.45 | 2.03 |
2009 Reds | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.40 | 8.10 | 3.38 |
2010 Reds | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.78 | 8.18 | 2.95 |
2011 Rangers | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.88 | 5.55 | 2.96 |
2011 Cardinals | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.00 | 6.23 | 3.12 |
Career | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
20 Years | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 2.23 | 8.73 | 3.91 |
Arthur RhodesArthur Rhodes Miscellaneous Items of Interest |
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Team | Roster | Uniform Numbers | Salary | All-Star | World Series |
1991 Baltimore Orioles | 53 | $100,000.00 | - | - |
1992 Baltimore Orioles | 53 | $109,000.00 | - | - |
1993 Baltimore Orioles | 53 | $155,000.00 | - | - |
1994 Baltimore Orioles | 53 | $230,000.00 | - | n/a |
1995 Baltimore Orioles | 53 | $275,000.00 | - | - |
1996 Baltimore Orioles | 53 | $300,000.00 | - | - |
1997 Baltimore Orioles | 53 | $1,600,000.00 | - | - |
1998 Baltimore Orioles | 53 | $2,850,000.00 | - | - |
1999 Baltimore Orioles | 53 | $2,200,000.00 | - | - |
2000 Seattle Mariners | 53 | $2,750,000.00 | - | - |
2001 Seattle Mariners | 53 | $3,250,000.00 | - | - |
2002 Seattle Mariners | 53 | $3,500,000.00 | - | - |
2003 Seattle Mariners | 53 | $3,500,000.00 | - | - |
2004 Oakland Athletics | 53 | $1,800,000.00 | - | - |
2005 Cleveland Indians | 53 | $3,700,000.00 | - | - |
2006 Philadelphia Phillies | 22 | $3,700,000.00 | - | - |
2008 Seattle Mariners | 53 | $1,500,000.00 | - | - |
2008 Florida Marlins | 53 | " " | - | - |
2009 Cincinnati Reds | 53 | $2,000,000.00 | - | - |
2010 Cincinnati Reds | 53 | $2,000,000.00 | Stats | - |
2011 Texas Rangers | 53 | $3,900,000.00 | - | - |
2011 St. Louis Cardinals | 53 | " " | - | Stats |
Arthur Rhodes Stats by Baseball Almanac |
Did you know that Arthur Rhodes is one of only eight players in Major League history to have played for both the American and National League teams that reached the World Series during the same season? Did you know that of the elite eight, only three of them actually appeared in a World Series game for one of the two teams (they appear below in bold print)?
Arthur Rhodes has appeared on the mound as a starting pitcher, a relief pitcher, and a middle reliever. In 2010, eighteen years after he made his debut, Rhodes was named to his first All-Star Game (2010) due in part to his thirty-three consecutive appearances that season on the mound, without allowing a single run (He was the fifth player to go to his first All-Star Game after age 40, joining Satchel Paige, Connie Marrero, Jamie Moyer and Tim Wakefield.). A reporter, after the record tying streak ended, asked Rhodes why he had recently begun writing "J R" in the dirt on the mound before he pitched:
Arthur Rhodes | Topps Style Baseball Card | 2010 (Creator Unknown)
Arthur Rhodes will leave tickets for five people at the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Anaheim. His mother will be there, and two sisters, a niece and his 16-year-old daughter, Jade. Five women supporting a 40-year-old rookie All-Star.
A boy will be there, too. Rhodes, a left-handed reliever for the Cincinnati Reds, is sure of it. Rhodes's son, Jordan, was 5 when he died in December 2008 of an undisclosed illness. Whenever Rhodes pitches, he scratches the initials "J R" in the dirt of the mound. He will do so again at the All-Star Game.
"I feel like he's right behind the rubber, watching me pitch," Rhodes said.
Rhodes spoke softly at his locker Tuesday before a game with the Mets at Citi Field. He rarely says much, anyway. He signed with the Reds the week his son died, but club officials never knew of his pain. On Sunday, when Manager Dusty Baker told Rhodes he had made the All-Star team, he said Rhodes was stoic.
"He wouldn’t be Arthur if he got all emotional," Baker said. "And he wouldn't be Arthur if he was talking all about it."
Rhodes did not speak publicly about his son’s death until last month. After he ended a streak of 33 consecutive appearances without allowing a run, which tied the single-season major league record, a reporter asked what Rhodes wrote in the dirt. Rhodes decided to answer. There was no reason to hide it anymore.
Rhodes could have retired after the 2008 season, but he said he kept playing to honor his son’s memory. The Reds are glad—and awed—that he did.
Source: The New York Times. Tyler Kepner. July 6, 2010. For the Reds’ Rhodes, Pitching Becomes a Tribute. Link.
In 1999, Major League Baseball began to recognize and record the hold statistic. In the rulebook, they wrote the following excerpt (Link) about the hold stat:
"The hold is not an official statistic, but it was created as a way to credit middle relief pitchers for a job well done. Starting pitchers get wins, and closers -- the relief pitchers who come in at the end of the game -- get saves, but the guys who pitch in between the two rarely get either statistic. So what's the most important thing one of these middle relievers can do? 'Hold' a lead. If a reliever comes into a game to protect a lead, gets at least one out and leaves without giving up that lead, he gets a hold. But you can't get a save and a hold at the same time."