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Wikipedia

Bengie Molina

March 14, 2023

"Bengie" redirects here. For the Puerto Rican politician, see Benjamín Cintrón Lebrón. For similar spellings, see Benjy.

Benjamin José Molina (born July 20, 1974), nicknamed "Big Money",[1] is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher. He played for the Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1998–2005), Toronto Blue Jays (2006), San Francisco Giants (2007–2010), and Texas Rangers (2010). He is the older brother of major league catchers José Molina and Yadier Molina.

Bengie Molina
Molina with the Texas Rangers in 2010
Catcher
Born: (1974-07-20) July 20, 1974 (age 48)
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 21, 1998, for the Anaheim Angels
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 2010, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Batting average.274
Home runs144
Runs batted in711
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Molina played a handful of games for the Anaheim Angels in 1998 and 1999. He became the Angels' regular catcher in 2000 and remained so through the 2005 season. In 2001, José became his teammate. Molina received his World Series ring in 2002 after the Angels defeated the Giants in the 2002 World Series. He won a Gold Glove in 2002 and 2003, leading American League (AL) catchers in percentage of attempted base stealers thrown out.

A free agent after the 2005 season, Molina sought a long-term contract but settled for a one-year deal with the Blue Jays, criticizing the Angels for not re-signing him. In 2007, he joined the Giants, replacing Mike Matheny. He won the team's Willie Mac Award in 2007 and 2008, set a career-high with 95 runs batted in (RBI) in 2008, and hit a career-high 20 home runs in 2009. Replaced by Buster Posey during the 2010 season, Molina was traded to the Rangers, reaching the World Series where the Giants this time defeated his team. Though regarded as one of the slowest baserunners of his day, Molina drew praise from many of the pitchers he caught for his skills at defense and calling a game.

Following his playing career, Molina served as a coach with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 and the Rangers in 2014. In 2016, he became the color commentator on the Spanish language radio broadcast for the Cardinals.

Early life

Benjamin José Molina, Jr., was born on July 20, 1974, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, to Gladys Matta and Benjamín Molina Sr., the oldest of three boys. He attended Maestro Ladislao Martínez High School in Vega Alta, graduating with honors. As baseball in Puerto Rico is a significant part of the island's culture, Molina's father played second base as an amateur and worked as a tools technician 10 hours per day in a Westinghouse factory. The all-time hits leader in Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (or Doble-A Beísbol) history, the elder Molina delivered a .320 career batting average and gained election to the Puerto Rican Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. Molina's two younger brothers, José and Yadier, also materialized into distinguished defensive catchers with lengthy careers in Major League Baseball (MLB), and each of the three won at least one World Series championship.[2][3][4][5]

Each day when he completed work, Molina's father went directly home, ate dinner with his family, and crossed the street from his family's home with his sons and his son’s friend Carlos Diaz to Jesús Mambe Kuilan Park, exhausting countless evening hours teaching them the fundamentals of the sport.[6] Bengie Sr. remained hopeful that his sons would become professional baseball players.[2] Bengie Jr. was not actually a catcher growing up; his primary positions were outfielder and pitcher.[1]

College career

After graduating high school, Molina came to the mainland United States. He enrolled at Arizona Western College (AWC) in Yuma in 1991, joining the school's baseball team that year.[1][7] Needing a shortstop, the AWC Matadors moved Molina to the position. "He was really skinny," remembered Matadors coach John Stratton. "He’s just turned 18. And he was not a slow baserunner. He wasn’t a burner, but he was very athletic and a decent runner."[1] Molina was named an All-Conference shortstop. He also pitched some for the Matadors, featuring a fastball and a slider, though the fastball only travelled 85 to 87 miles per hour (137 to 140 km/h).[1] Molina credited Stratton for improving his understanding of what to do in different situations during games.[1] After Molina played two years for the Matadors, Stratton attempted to help him earn a scholarship to the University of North Alabama, but a technicality prevented Molina from attending, and he returned to Puerto Rico.[1][7]

Professional career

Minor leagues

On May 21, 1993, scout Ray Poitevint of the Anaheim Angels was in Vega Alta to evaluate José. The boys' mother convinced Poitevint to examine Bengie too, and a workout was arranged. Bengie impressed Poitevint with his ability to hit line drives, but his slow baserunning threatened to be an obstacle to an MLB career. "Here’s a catcher’s mitt. Why don’t you throw down to second base, and we’ll see what it looks like?" Poitevint asked. Two days later, the Angels had signed Bengie to a $1,000 contract as a catcher for their organization. Molina said several elements of the shortstop position translated well to catching, such as the needs to throw accurately, block the baseball, and move the hands quickly.[1]

Molina's professional career began in 1993, when he played 27 games for the Rookie-level Arizona League Angels.[8] After serving as a designated hitter for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 1994, he made it all the way to the Class AAA level in 1995, though he spent most of the season with Class A teams and missed time with a broken wrist.[2][9] After playing in a career-high 108 games as the Class AA Midland Angels' catcher in 1996, Molina played winter baseball as the third-string catcher for the Indios de Mayagüez in the Puerto Rican winter league. The team's backup catcher taught him so much about how to play the position, Molina later said "That winter with Sal Fasano was like graduate school."[2]

Despite the education he received, Molina was sent down to the Class A advanced Lake Elsinore Storm to begin the 1997 season. "Too many catchers, not enough spots," he said.[10] Nevertheless, following an injury to one of the Midland catchers, Molina was promoted back to Class AA.[2] A hamstring injury limited his playing time.[9] He began the 1998 season with the Class AAA Vancouver Canadians for the first time since 1995, but he was demoted to Midland midseason. Shocked at getting sent down, Molina might have quit baseball, had his father and veteran minor league teammate Jovino Carvajal not implored him to keep playing.[2]

Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1998–2005)

The decision to continue playing brought dividends for Molina later that year. He was not initially a September callup, but when Charlie O'Brien broke his right index finger on September 15, Molina was promoted to the Angels.[2][11][12] At this time, the Los Angeles Times referred to him as "Ben" Molina.[12] He made his MLB debut on September 21, playing the final inning of a 9–1 loss to the Texas Rangers.[3][13] Molina also played one other game for the Angels before the end of the season.[3]

Despite receiving the late-season callup in 1998, Molina had "virtually no chance of making the Angels" out of spring training in 1999, according to the Los Angeles Times.[14] He spent most of the season with the Angels' Class AAA club, now the Edmonton Trappers, batting .286 with 69 hits, seven home runs, and 41 runs batted in (RBI).[8] On August 3, he replaced O'Brien for good, promoted to replace the veteran who was designated for assignment.[15] This time, he started many of the Angels' games.[16] He had four RBI (two apiece) in his first two, then had four RBI on August 19, including his first career home run, which came against Jim Parque in a 9–2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.[16][17] Molina's season ended on September 16, when he suffered a strained left hamstring while running the bases.[18][16] In 31 games (101 at bats), he batted .257 with 26 hits, one home run, and 10 RBI.[3]

2000–2001

 
Molina batting for the Angels in 2005.

In 2000, Molina spent spring training competing for the position of starting catcher with Todd Greene, a power hitter who had been viewed as the Angels' catcher of the future a few years before but was struggling offensively, and Matt Walbeck. Greene was released before the start of the season, and Molina won the job.[2][9] On May 12, he hit two home runs in a game for what would be the only time in his career, scoring four runs and recording four hits as well, though the effort came in a 13–11 loss to the Texas Rangers.[19] The game was the beginning of a 14-game hitting streak lasting through June 2, in which Molina batted .517.[19] Angel manager Mike Scioscia said, "Bengie has absolutely stepped up and done the things we thought he could do. The only question was his durability and stamina, but he definitely has the ability to lead a pitching staff to a championship."[20] In 130 games, Molina batted .281 with 133 hits, 14 home runs, and 71 RBI.[3] His 70 RBI while playing catcher were the most at the position in Angels history.[a][19] Defensively, he posted a .991 fielding percentage and threw out 37% of attempted base stealers.[3] Molina finished fourth in American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award voting, behind Kazuhiro Sasaki, Terrence Long, and Mark Quinn.[21]

Prior to the 2001 season, the Angels signed Molina to a four-year contract, with the option to either pay him $3 million for a fifth season in 2005 or pay him $100,000 to end the contract that year.[2] Molina remained their starting catcher in 2001.[22] However, he was on the disabled list from May 5 through June 26, having strained his right hamstring.[19] During this time, his brother José replaced him on the Angels' roster, having joined the organization as a free agent over the offseason.[19][23] "This was our dream as kids – to play baseball in the majors. We never thought we’d be together on the same team," Bengie said.[24] The brothers would remain teammates at the catcher position through the 2005 season, the first siblings to catch for the same MLB team since Amos and Lave Cross caught for the Louisville Colonels in 1887.[19] On August 22 and 23, Bengie had back-to-back four-hit games.[19] In 96 games (325 at bats), he batted .262 with 85 hits, six home runs, and 40 RBI. Defensively, he had a .991 fielding percentage and threw out 32% of attempted base stealers.[3]

2002–2003

In 2002, it was Molina's left hamstring that caused him to go on the disabled list, from July 17 to August 1.[19] Despite the time missed, he still appeared in 122 games.[19] In 428 at bats, he hit .245 with 105 hits, five home runs, and 47 RBI. Defensively, he made one error in 768 chances for a .999 fielding percentage and led AL catchers by throwing out 45% of attempted base stealers.[3] For his contributions, Molina won the Gold Glove Award, ending Iván Rodríguez's string of 10 straight won from 1992 to 2001.[19]

The Angels made the playoffs in 2002 as the AL's wild card entry.[25] Molina started every game at catcher for the Angels in the postseason.[26] He had a two-RBI double against Ramiro Mendoza in Game 4 of the AL Division Series (ALDS), as the Angels defeated the New York Yankees 9–5 to win the series three games to one.[27] Overall, Molina batted .267 with four hits and two RBI in the series.[3] Facing the Minnesota Twins in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series (ALCS), he had a two-RBI triple, his first in two years, against Mike Jackson as the Angels won 7–1.[19][28] He batted .214 with three hits and two RBI as the Angels defeated the Twins in five games.[3] Against the San Francisco Giants in the World Series, Bengie and José became the first brothers to play in a World Series game together since Felipe and Matty Alou did so for the Giants in the 1962 World Series.[19] Bengie reached base safely all five times he batted in Game 3, becoming the only MLB catcher ever to do so in a World Series as the Angels won 10–4.[29] In Game 4, his eighth inning passed ball allowed J. T. Snow to go to second base, where he scored the deciding run on a David Bell single as the Angels went on to lose 4–3.[30] After the Giants took a 1–0 lead in the first inning of Game 7, Molina had an RBI double against Liván Hernández to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. The Angels went on to prevail 4–1 for their first World Series championship.[2][31] Overall, Molina batted .286 with six hits and two RBI in the series.[3]

On pace for his best season ever offensively in 2003, Molina was a finalist for the All-Star Final Vote, which Jason Varitek ultimately won.[2][19] Against the Twins on September 4, he was involved in a collision at home plate as Dustan Mohr, a former linebacker, crashed into him, scoring the game's tying run, knocking the baseball from Molina's glove, and injuring the catcher, which allowed Shannon Stewart to score the winning run from second base. Molina fractured two bones in the vicinity of his left wrist, requiring season-ending surgery.[19][2][32] In 119 games (409 at bats), Molina batted .281 with 115 hits, 14 home runs, and 71 RBI. Defensively, he had a .993 fielding percentage and threw out an AL-leading 44% of attempted base stealers, winning his second consecutive Gold Glove Award.[3]

2004–2005

 
Molina scores a run in 2005 as Rod Barajas stands by.

Though Molina's wrist was healthy by the start of the 2004 season, hamstring issues caused him to miss two weeks of spring training as well as the first seven games of the regular season. Scioscia said that the 230 pounds (100 kg) catcher "battles his weight ... he needs to keep in tune with his body and his weight, because it can impact the length of your career."[33][34] In his first game back, on April 13, he hit a two-run home run against Joel Piñeiro as the Angels defeated the Seattle Mariners 7–5.[33] He was on the disabled list twice, from June 4 to 19 with a strained left calf and from August 1 to 17 with a fractured right index finger.[19][35] With speculation that the Angels might choose to promote 2001 first-round draft pick Jeff Mathis in 2005 rather than pick up Molina's $3 million option, Molina refused to speak with reporters until mid-August.[2] In 97 games (337 at bats), he batted .276 with 93 hits, 10 home runs, and 54 RBI. Defensively, he had a .995 fielding percentage but threw out only 26% of attempted base stealers.[3] In the playoffs for the AL West champion Angels, Molina started only two of Anaheim's three games, as José had emerged as Bartolo Colón's personal catcher and caught the pitcher in Game 2. Molina had one hit in six at bats as the Boston Red Sox swept Anaheim in the ALDS.[26][36][37] That November, the Angels decided to pay him $3 million for the 2005 season.[2]

Molina was on the disabled list from April 18 to May 12, 2005, with a right quadriceps strain.[19] He had four hits on his 31st birthday, July 20, in a 3–0 loss to the Oakland Athletics.[19][38] On July 31, he and José both hit home runs against Randy Johnson in an 8–7 loss to the Yankees.[39] In 119 games (410 at bats), he batted a career-high .295 with 121 hits, 15 home runs, and 69 RBI.[3] Only Víctor Martínez had a higher batting average (.305) than Molina among AL catchers.[19] Defensively, Molina had a .996 fielding percentage, though he led the AL with 10 passed balls. He threw out 31% of attempted base stealers.[3]

The Angels won the AL West again.[40] Against the Yankees in the ALDS, Molina homered in each of the first three games. He batted .444 with five RBI in the series as the Angels defeated the Yankees in five games. Against the Chicago White Sox in the ALCS, he batted just .118 as Chicago defeated the Angels in five games.[26]

Free agency (2005–2006)

Molina's contract with the Angels expired after the 2005 season, and the team decided not pursue him because they were not interested in offering him the long-term contract he sought.[41] The New York Mets made him an offer of a three-year, $18 million contract in November, but when Molina tried to negotiate for more, the Mets traded for Paul Lo Duca and rescinded their offer. Still unsigned in January 2006, Molina threatened to sit out the season if he did not get a contract to his liking. In February, he received offers on one-year contracts from the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. Though the Dodgers offered more money, he chose the Blue Jays' $5 million offer on February 6 because the team had fewer promising catching prospects, making it seem more likely they would offer him a long-term deal in the future.[42] After signing with the Blue Jays, Molina expressed his anger at the Angels over how he parted company with them. "The way they let me go without a notice, without calling me, that said a lot," Molina said. "They never let me know. They just threw me like a piece of trash."[41] However, Molina's agent Alan Nero later clarified that the Angels did indeed inform Molina of their decision.[43]

Toronto Blue Jays (2006)

Molina got off to a slow start to the 2006 season, throwing out only 13% of baserunners in the season's first two months and getting outhit by backup catcher Gregg Zaun.[44] Ultimately, manager John Gibbons decided to use a platoon system, with Zaun getting several of the starts against right-handed pitchers.[2] Molina was one of Toronto's most consistent hitters in August.[45] Against the Seattle Mariners on the 14th of that month, he caught all 14 innings of a game, ending the contest with a walkoff RBI single against Emiliano Fruto.[46] In 117 games (433 at bats), he batted .284 with 123 hits, 19 home runs, and 57 RBI.[3] He only threw out 18% of base stealers in 2006, a diminished total he blamed on pitchers' failure to hold runners close to the bases.[47]

San Francisco Giants (2007–2010)

2007

 
Bengie and Yadier

After the 2006 season, Molina became a free agent and signed a three-year, $16 million deal with the Giants, who needed a replacement at the position as Mike Matheny had to retire due to concussion problems.[47][48] On May 7, he hit two home runs in the fifth inning of a 9–4 win over the Mets, becoming the first Giant with two home runs in an inning since Willie McCovey in 1977. Molina also had five RBI in the game.[49]

Molina hit his 100th home run on September 5, 2007, off of Jorge Julio in the sixth inning of a 5–3 victory against the Colorado Rockies.[50] In a pregame ceremony on September 21, Molina was announced as the winner of the Willie Mac Award, which recognizes the Giant with the most spirit and leadership. He got the most out of 1,617 fan votes.[51] In the first inning of the game against the Reds, Molina recorded career RBI number 500 in the bottom of the first on a single that scored Dave Roberts. However, the Giants eventually lost 9–8 in 11 innings.[2] In 134 games (497 at bats), Molina batted .276 with 137 hits, 19 home runs, and 81 RBI.[3] He walked only 2.9% of the time, the lowest percentage in the National League (NL).[52] However, his 78 RBI as a catcher were at the time the second most in a season by a San Francisco Giant, trailing only Dick Dietz's 104 in 1970.[19] Defensively, he had a .991 fielding percentage and threw out 30% of base stealers. He led his league in passed balls for the second time, this year with 16.[3]

2008

In 2008 and 2009, Molina served as the Giants' cleanup hitter.[19] On April 8, 2008, Molina hit two home runs, including a walkoff one against Cla Meredith in the 11th inning of a 3–2 win over the San Diego Padres.[53] He had a 10-game hitting streak from May 17 to 28, winning the NL Player of the Week Award for May 19 through 25 after batting .652 with six doubles, a home run, and nine RBI.[19] On June 2, he had his 1,000th hit in a 10–2 victory over the Mets.[19][54] He batted .333 through June 9, then hit only .200 over his next 34 games through July 26, dropping his batting average to .282.[55] During that stretch, however, he hit two home runs on July 22 in a 6–3 win over the Washington Nationals.[56] He had a game-ending sacrifice fly on August 20 in a 6–5 win over the Florida Marlins.[57]

Molina received the Willie Mac Award for the second year in a row on September 26. During the game that night against the Dodgers, he became the first player in MLB history to hit a home run and not get credit for a run scored. In the sixth inning, he hit a ball off the right field wall at AT&T Park. The umpire said the ball was in fair play, and Molina wound up at first base. Emmanuel Burriss immediately ran out to first base to pinch run for him, as Giants manager Bruce Bochy discussed the matter with the umpires. After examining instant replay, the umpires ruled the hit a home run but refused Bochy the opportunity to reinsert Molina into the game, meaning Burriss was credited with the run. San Francisco continued the game under protest but won 6–5 in the 10th inning.[58] In a career-high 145 games and 530 at bats, Molina batted .292 with 16 home runs and a career-high 95 RBI. He led the major leagues with 11 sacrifice flies. Defensively, he had a .995 fielding percentage and threw out 35% of attempted base stealers.[3]

2009

On April 9, 2009, Molina had four RBI in a 7–1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.[59] His pinch-hit, 10th-inning double drove in the only run of the game in a victory over the Padres on April 22.[60] After starting his career 0 for 12 against Jason Marquis, he hit two home runs and had four RBI against the pitcher in an 8–3 win over the Rockies.[61] With two strikes on him and two outs in the eighth inning against the Diamondbacks on August 27, Molina hit a three-run home run against Chad Qualls, helping the Giants come from behind to win 4–3.[62] His eighth-inning home run against Todd Coffey snapped a tie and provided the winning margin in a 3–2 victory over the Brewers on September 4.[63] On September 29, he hit two home runs and had four RBI in an 8–4 win over the Diamondbacks.[64] In 132 games (491 at bats), he batted .265 with 130 hits, a career-high 20 home runs, and 80 RBI. Defensively, he had a .995 fielding percentage and threw out 23% of attempted base stealers.[3] He again led the majors with 11 sacrifice flies, though he walked in only 2.5% of his plate appearances, the lowest percentage in the majors.[65][66]

Following the 2009 season, sportswriter Daniel Brown called Molina "one the greatest offensive catchers in Giants history".[1] Brown cited Molina's .278 average over his three seasons with the Giants, the highest of San Francisco catchers who played 350 or more games. Molina's 256 RBI were the most among Giants catchers in a three-year span.[1]

2010

A free agent after the 2009 season, Molina was not expected to return to the Giants, as he wanted a multi-year contract and the Giants expected prospect Buster Posey to soon take over the role. The Mets were again reported to be interested in him, but that deal fell through. On January 19, 2010, Molina re-signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Giants.[67] He had four hits and four RBI on April 12 in a 6–1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.[68] He batted .344 in April but hit only .212 in the season's following two months.[69] Following a losing streak by the Giants, and with the emergence of Posey, who had been hitting well while playing first base since a callup towards the end of May, the Giants traded Molina to the Rangers on June 30 for relief pitcher Chris Ray and a player to be named later, eventually determined as minor league pitcher Michael Main.[3][70] In 61 games (202 at bats) for the Giants, Molina batted .257 with three home runs and seventeen RBI.[3]

Texas Rangers (2010)

With the Rangers, Molina replaced Matt Treanor as the starting catcher, though he and Treanor split playing time beginning in late August.[69][71] On July 16, Molina hit for the cycle in an 8–4 victory over Boston. He had (in order) a single, a double, a grand slam home run, and a triple, leaving the game with a minor leg injury after the triple. Teammate Michael Young was surprised that Molina accomplished the feat at Fenway Park, thinking the stadium's small dimensions would not allow the ball to get far enough away from the outfielders for the slow-running Molina to make it to third base for the required triple.[72] In 57 games (175 at bats) for the Rangers, he batted .240 with 42 hits, two home runs, and 19 RBI. His combined totals between the two ballclubs were 118 games (377 at bats), 94 hits, five home runs, and 36 RBI. Defensively, he had a .993 fielding percentage and again threw out 23% of attempted base stealers.[3]

The Rangers reached the playoffs as AL West champions.[73] In Game 1 of the ALDS, Molina had three hits, a home run, and two RBI in a 5–1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.[74] He stole a base for the first time since 2006 in Game 5 as the Rangers again defeated Tampa Bay 5–1, eliminating the Rays.[3][75] In Game 4 of the ALCS, with two out in the sixth inning and the Rangers trailing the Yankees 3–2, Molina hit a three-run home run against A. J. Burnett as the Rangers went on to win 10–3.[76] The Rangers won the ALCS in six games, reaching the World Series for the first time in franchise history.[77]

Since the Giants also made it to the World Series, Molina became the sixth player to play for both World Series teams in the same season, which guaranteed him a World Series ring regardless of who won.[78][79] He batted .182 with one RBI as the Rangers lost the series in five games.[26] After the season was over, Molina became a free agent.[3] Unsigned in 2011, Molina eventually announced his retirement on February 27, 2012.[80]

Legacy

Pitchers had great respect for Molina. "I haven’t seen all the catchers in baseball, but I think we’re very spoiled. … [He] takes a lot of pride in studying … knowing everyone’s game and going in with a solid game plan. There’s not a lot of whole lot of shaking off [signs] when we’re working together," said Angels starting pitcher Jarrod Washburn.[81] "I can’t tell you much about the National League, but in the American League no one stands above him. He can catch and throw with anyone, he can block pitches, and he can get a big hit for you any day of the week...To have that stability behind the plate is nice," said Angels closer Troy Percival.[81] "He helped me mature and succeed. I've said time and time again that he deserves half of those awards that I've gotten," said Tim Lincecum, who won the NL Cy Young Award with Molina catching him in 2008 and 2009.[82] "The things he's done for me – for calling a game, to give me confidence throwing different pitches in different counts – really, really, really benefited me," remembered Giants starter Matt Cain.[82]

During his career, Molina was known for his lack of speed. In a 2006 Sports Illustrated poll of 415 players, 56 percent picked Molina as baseball's slowest runner.[83] A panel of three scouts and an analyst put together by Baseball America that same year named him the second-slowest baserunner, behind Frank Thomas.[84] John Vorperian of the Society for American Baseball Research wrote that he is "[c]onsidered one of the slowest baserunners in his era."[2] His three stolen bases in his career are the second-fewest of any player with at least 5,000 plate appearances, behind only Cecil Fielder's two.[3][85][86]

Coaching and broadcasting career

 
Molina as a Rangers coach (2014)

On December 14, 2012, Molina was hired to be the St. Louis Cardinals' assistant hitting coach, helping out John Mabry in 2013.[87] He joined the Rangers' coaching staff for the 2014 season as their first base coach and catching instructor.[88] Molina was replaced by Héctor Ortiz for the 2015 season when Jeff Banister became the Rangers' new manager.[89] In 2016, he and Polo Ascencio became the Cardinals' first Spanish-language broadcasters in 2016.[90] Molina serves as the color analyst, while Ascencio calls the plays.[91]

Personal life

While at Arizona Western, Molina began dating fellow freshman Josefa, a native of San Luis, Baja California, Mexico. The couple became engaged in September 1992 and were married that December. They have two children, Kyshly (born in 1994) and Kelssy (born in 1998).[2] Molina is good friends with Ramón Castro, whom his father coached in Little League Baseball.[92]

Molina resides in Gilbert, Arizona.[93]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Molina had one RBI while serving as a designated hitter.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Brown, Daniel (March 18, 2010). "Giants: Bengie Molina chased down his dream". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Vorperian, John. "Bengie Molina". SABR. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Bengie Molina Stats". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Foster, Chris; Shaiken, Bill (October 17, 2002). "City of Brotherly Gloves". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  5. ^ Short, D. J. (October 4, 2014). "Yadier Molina: "If you're going to scream at me you've got to be ready to fight"". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  6. ^ Bernardino, Mike (March 30, 2005). "Catching Molina brothers wonder to behold". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "AWC Alums Lynne Pancrazi and Bengie Molina Inducted to the AWC Hall of Fame". Arizona Western College Foundation. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Bengie Molina Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Foster, Chris (April 13, 2000). "Baseball: Angels may have finally found their man behind the plate in the strong-armed Molina". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Molina with Ryan, p. 122
  11. ^ "After a Great Deal of Anticipation, Big Moment Finally Arrives". The Los Angeles Times. September 16, 1998. Retrieved October 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b "Transactions". The Los Angeles Times. September 18, 1998. Retrieved October 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Texas Rangers at Anaheim Angels Box Score, September 21, 1998". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  14. ^ DiGiovanna, Mike (March 2, 1999). "Molina Proves He's Sorely Needed". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Transactions". The Dispatch. Moline, IL. August 4, 1999. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b c "Bengie Molina 1999 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  17. ^ Greenstein, Teddy (August 20, 1999). "Shabby infield puts Sox up a creek". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Injury Report". The Sacramento Bee. September 17, 1999. Retrieved October 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Bengie Molina Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  20. ^ Newhan, Ross (May 14, 2000). "Angels May Have Real Catch in Rookie Molina". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "2000 Awards Voting". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  22. ^ "Bengie Molina 2001 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  23. ^ "Jose Molina Stats". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
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  • Molina, Bengie Jr.; Ryan, Joan (2016). Molina: The Story of the Father Who Raised an Unlikely Baseball Dynasty. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1451641059.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bengie Molina.
  • Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Achievements
Preceded by Hitting for the cycle
July 16, 2010 		Succeeded by
Sporting positions
Preceded by St. Louis Cardinals assistant hitting coach
2013 		Succeeded by
Vacant
Preceded by Texas Rangers first base coach
2014 		Succeeded by

March 14, 2023
bengie, molina, bengie, redirects, here, puerto, rican, politician, benjamín, cintrón, lebrón, similar, spellings, benjy, benjamin, josé, molina, born, july, 1974, nicknamed, money, former, major, league, baseball, catcher, played, anaheim, angels, angeles, an. Bengie redirects here For the Puerto Rican politician see Benjamin Cintron Lebron For similar spellings see Benjy Benjamin Jose Molina born July 20 1974 nicknamed Big Money 1 is a former Major League Baseball MLB catcher He played for the Anaheim Angels Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 1998 2005 Toronto Blue Jays 2006 San Francisco Giants 2007 2010 and Texas Rangers 2010 He is the older brother of major league catchers Jose Molina and Yadier Molina Bengie MolinaMolina with the Texas Rangers in 2010CatcherBorn 1974 07 20 July 20 1974 age 48 Rio Piedras Puerto RicoBatted RightThrew RightMLB debutSeptember 21 1998 for the Anaheim AngelsLast MLB appearanceOctober 3 2010 for the Texas RangersMLB statisticsBatting average 274Home runs144Runs batted in711TeamsAnaheim Angels Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 1998 2005 Toronto Blue Jays 2006 San Francisco Giants 2007 2010 Texas Rangers 2010 Career highlights and awardsWorld Series champion 2002 2 Gold Glove Award 2002 2003 Molina played a handful of games for the Anaheim Angels in 1998 and 1999 He became the Angels regular catcher in 2000 and remained so through the 2005 season In 2001 Jose became his teammate Molina received his World Series ring in 2002 after the Angels defeated the Giants in the 2002 World Series He won a Gold Glove in 2002 and 2003 leading American League AL catchers in percentage of attempted base stealers thrown out A free agent after the 2005 season Molina sought a long term contract but settled for a one year deal with the Blue Jays criticizing the Angels for not re signing him In 2007 he joined the Giants replacing Mike Matheny He won the team s Willie Mac Award in 2007 and 2008 set a career high with 95 runs batted in RBI in 2008 and hit a career high 20 home runs in 2009 Replaced by Buster Posey during the 2010 season Molina was traded to the Rangers reaching the World Series where the Giants this time defeated his team Though regarded as one of the slowest baserunners of his day Molina drew praise from many of the pitchers he caught for his skills at defense and calling a game Following his playing career Molina served as a coach with the St Louis Cardinals in 2013 and the Rangers in 2014 In 2016 he became the color commentator on the Spanish language radio broadcast for the Cardinals Contents 1 Early life 2 College career 3 Professional career 3 1 Minor leagues 3 2 Anaheim Angels Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 1998 2005 3 2 1 2000 2001 3 2 2 2002 2003 3 2 3 2004 2005 3 3 Free agency 2005 2006 3 4 Toronto Blue Jays 2006 3 5 San Francisco Giants 2007 2010 3 5 1 2007 3 5 2 2008 3 5 3 2009 3 5 4 2010 3 6 Texas Rangers 2010 4 Legacy 5 Coaching and broadcasting career 6 Personal life 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 External linksEarly life EditBenjamin Jose Molina Jr was born on July 20 1974 in Rio Piedras Puerto Rico to Gladys Matta and Benjamin Molina Sr the oldest of three boys He attended Maestro Ladislao Martinez High School in Vega Alta graduating with honors As baseball in Puerto Rico is a significant part of the island s culture Molina s father played second base as an amateur and worked as a tools technician 10 hours per day in a Westinghouse factory The all time hits leader in Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente or Doble A Beisbol history the elder Molina delivered a 320 career batting average and gained election to the Puerto Rican Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 Molina s two younger brothers Jose and Yadier also materialized into distinguished defensive catchers with lengthy careers in Major League Baseball MLB and each of the three won at least one World Series championship 2 3 4 5 Each day when he completed work Molina s father went directly home ate dinner with his family and crossed the street from his family s home with his sons and his son s friend Carlos Diaz to Jesus Mambe Kuilan Park exhausting countless evening hours teaching them the fundamentals of the sport 6 Bengie Sr remained hopeful that his sons would become professional baseball players 2 Bengie Jr was not actually a catcher growing up his primary positions were outfielder and pitcher 1 College career EditAfter graduating high school Molina came to the mainland United States He enrolled at Arizona Western College AWC in Yuma in 1991 joining the school s baseball team that year 1 7 Needing a shortstop the AWC Matadors moved Molina to the position He was really skinny remembered Matadors coach John Stratton He s just turned 18 And he was not a slow baserunner He wasn t a burner but he was very athletic and a decent runner 1 Molina was named an All Conference shortstop He also pitched some for the Matadors featuring a fastball and a slider though the fastball only travelled 85 to 87 miles per hour 137 to 140 km h 1 Molina credited Stratton for improving his understanding of what to do in different situations during games 1 After Molina played two years for the Matadors Stratton attempted to help him earn a scholarship to the University of North Alabama but a technicality prevented Molina from attending and he returned to Puerto Rico 1 7 Professional career EditMinor leagues Edit On May 21 1993 scout Ray Poitevint of the Anaheim Angels was in Vega Alta to evaluate Jose The boys mother convinced Poitevint to examine Bengie too and a workout was arranged Bengie impressed Poitevint with his ability to hit line drives but his slow baserunning threatened to be an obstacle to an MLB career Here s a catcher s mitt Why don t you throw down to second base and we ll see what it looks like Poitevint asked Two days later the Angels had signed Bengie to a 1 000 contract as a catcher for their organization Molina said several elements of the shortstop position translated well to catching such as the needs to throw accurately block the baseball and move the hands quickly 1 Molina s professional career began in 1993 when he played 27 games for the Rookie level Arizona League Angels 8 After serving as a designated hitter for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 1994 he made it all the way to the Class AAA level in 1995 though he spent most of the season with Class A teams and missed time with a broken wrist 2 9 After playing in a career high 108 games as the Class AA Midland Angels catcher in 1996 Molina played winter baseball as the third string catcher for the Indios de Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican winter league The team s backup catcher taught him so much about how to play the position Molina later said That winter with Sal Fasano was like graduate school 2 Despite the education he received Molina was sent down to the Class A advanced Lake Elsinore Storm to begin the 1997 season Too many catchers not enough spots he said 10 Nevertheless following an injury to one of the Midland catchers Molina was promoted back to Class AA 2 A hamstring injury limited his playing time 9 He began the 1998 season with the Class AAA Vancouver Canadians for the first time since 1995 but he was demoted to Midland midseason Shocked at getting sent down Molina might have quit baseball had his father and veteran minor league teammate Jovino Carvajal not implored him to keep playing 2 Anaheim Angels Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 1998 2005 Edit The decision to continue playing brought dividends for Molina later that year He was not initially a September callup but when Charlie O Brien broke his right index finger on September 15 Molina was promoted to the Angels 2 11 12 At this time the Los Angeles Times referred to him as Ben Molina 12 He made his MLB debut on September 21 playing the final inning of a 9 1 loss to the Texas Rangers 3 13 Molina also played one other game for the Angels before the end of the season 3 Despite receiving the late season callup in 1998 Molina had virtually no chance of making the Angels out of spring training in 1999 according to the Los Angeles Times 14 He spent most of the season with the Angels Class AAA club now the Edmonton Trappers batting 286 with 69 hits seven home runs and 41 runs batted in RBI 8 On August 3 he replaced O Brien for good promoted to replace the veteran who was designated for assignment 15 This time he started many of the Angels games 16 He had four RBI two apiece in his first two then had four RBI on August 19 including his first career home run which came against Jim Parque in a 9 2 victory over the Chicago White Sox 16 17 Molina s season ended on September 16 when he suffered a strained left hamstring while running the bases 18 16 In 31 games 101 at bats he batted 257 with 26 hits one home run and 10 RBI 3 2000 2001 Edit Molina batting for the Angels in 2005 In 2000 Molina spent spring training competing for the position of starting catcher with Todd Greene a power hitter who had been viewed as the Angels catcher of the future a few years before but was struggling offensively and Matt Walbeck Greene was released before the start of the season and Molina won the job 2 9 On May 12 he hit two home runs in a game for what would be the only time in his career scoring four runs and recording four hits as well though the effort came in a 13 11 loss to the Texas Rangers 19 The game was the beginning of a 14 game hitting streak lasting through June 2 in which Molina batted 517 19 Angel manager Mike Scioscia said Bengie has absolutely stepped up and done the things we thought he could do The only question was his durability and stamina but he definitely has the ability to lead a pitching staff to a championship 20 In 130 games Molina batted 281 with 133 hits 14 home runs and 71 RBI 3 His 70 RBI while playing catcher were the most at the position in Angels history a 19 Defensively he posted a 991 fielding percentage and threw out 37 of attempted base stealers 3 Molina finished fourth in American League AL Rookie of the Year Award voting behind Kazuhiro Sasaki Terrence Long and Mark Quinn 21 Prior to the 2001 season the Angels signed Molina to a four year contract with the option to either pay him 3 million for a fifth season in 2005 or pay him 100 000 to end the contract that year 2 Molina remained their starting catcher in 2001 22 However he was on the disabled list from May 5 through June 26 having strained his right hamstring 19 During this time his brother Jose replaced him on the Angels roster having joined the organization as a free agent over the offseason 19 23 This was our dream as kids to play baseball in the majors We never thought we d be together on the same team Bengie said 24 The brothers would remain teammates at the catcher position through the 2005 season the first siblings to catch for the same MLB team since Amos and Lave Cross caught for the Louisville Colonels in 1887 19 On August 22 and 23 Bengie had back to back four hit games 19 In 96 games 325 at bats he batted 262 with 85 hits six home runs and 40 RBI Defensively he had a 991 fielding percentage and threw out 32 of attempted base stealers 3 2002 2003 Edit In 2002 it was Molina s left hamstring that caused him to go on the disabled list from July 17 to August 1 19 Despite the time missed he still appeared in 122 games 19 In 428 at bats he hit 245 with 105 hits five home runs and 47 RBI Defensively he made one error in 768 chances for a 999 fielding percentage and led AL catchers by throwing out 45 of attempted base stealers 3 For his contributions Molina won the Gold Glove Award ending Ivan Rodriguez s string of 10 straight won from 1992 to 2001 19 The Angels made the playoffs in 2002 as the AL s wild card entry 25 Molina started every game at catcher for the Angels in the postseason 26 He had a two RBI double against Ramiro Mendoza in Game 4 of the AL Division Series ALDS as the Angels defeated the New York Yankees 9 5 to win the series three games to one 27 Overall Molina batted 267 with four hits and two RBI in the series 3 Facing the Minnesota Twins in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series ALCS he had a two RBI triple his first in two years against Mike Jackson as the Angels won 7 1 19 28 He batted 214 with three hits and two RBI as the Angels defeated the Twins in five games 3 Against the San Francisco Giants in the World Series Bengie and Jose became the first brothers to play in a World Series game together since Felipe and Matty Alou did so for the Giants in the 1962 World Series 19 Bengie reached base safely all five times he batted in Game 3 becoming the only MLB catcher ever to do so in a World Series as the Angels won 10 4 29 In Game 4 his eighth inning passed ball allowed J T Snow to go to second base where he scored the deciding run on a David Bell single as the Angels went on to lose 4 3 30 After the Giants took a 1 0 lead in the first inning of Game 7 Molina had an RBI double against Livan Hernandez to tie the game in the bottom of the inning The Angels went on to prevail 4 1 for their first World Series championship 2 31 Overall Molina batted 286 with six hits and two RBI in the series 3 On pace for his best season ever offensively in 2003 Molina was a finalist for the All Star Final Vote which Jason Varitek ultimately won 2 19 Against the Twins on September 4 he was involved in a collision at home plate as Dustan Mohr a former linebacker crashed into him scoring the game s tying run knocking the baseball from Molina s glove and injuring the catcher which allowed Shannon Stewart to score the winning run from second base Molina fractured two bones in the vicinity of his left wrist requiring season ending surgery 19 2 32 In 119 games 409 at bats Molina batted 281 with 115 hits 14 home runs and 71 RBI Defensively he had a 993 fielding percentage and threw out an AL leading 44 of attempted base stealers winning his second consecutive Gold Glove Award 3 2004 2005 Edit Molina scores a run in 2005 as Rod Barajas stands by Though Molina s wrist was healthy by the start of the 2004 season hamstring issues caused him to miss two weeks of spring training as well as the first seven games of the regular season Scioscia said that the 230 pounds 100 kg catcher battles his weight he needs to keep in tune with his body and his weight because it can impact the length of your career 33 34 In his first game back on April 13 he hit a two run home run against Joel Pineiro as the Angels defeated the Seattle Mariners 7 5 33 He was on the disabled list twice from June 4 to 19 with a strained left calf and from August 1 to 17 with a fractured right index finger 19 35 With speculation that the Angels might choose to promote 2001 first round draft pick Jeff Mathis in 2005 rather than pick up Molina s 3 million option Molina refused to speak with reporters until mid August 2 In 97 games 337 at bats he batted 276 with 93 hits 10 home runs and 54 RBI Defensively he had a 995 fielding percentage but threw out only 26 of attempted base stealers 3 In the playoffs for the AL West champion Angels Molina started only two of Anaheim s three games as Jose had emerged as Bartolo Colon s personal catcher and caught the pitcher in Game 2 Molina had one hit in six at bats as the Boston Red Sox swept Anaheim in the ALDS 26 36 37 That November the Angels decided to pay him 3 million for the 2005 season 2 Molina was on the disabled list from April 18 to May 12 2005 with a right quadriceps strain 19 He had four hits on his 31st birthday July 20 in a 3 0 loss to the Oakland Athletics 19 38 On July 31 he and Jose both hit home runs against Randy Johnson in an 8 7 loss to the Yankees 39 In 119 games 410 at bats he batted a career high 295 with 121 hits 15 home runs and 69 RBI 3 Only Victor Martinez had a higher batting average 305 than Molina among AL catchers 19 Defensively Molina had a 996 fielding percentage though he led the AL with 10 passed balls He threw out 31 of attempted base stealers 3 The Angels won the AL West again 40 Against the Yankees in the ALDS Molina homered in each of the first three games He batted 444 with five RBI in the series as the Angels defeated the Yankees in five games Against the Chicago White Sox in the ALCS he batted just 118 as Chicago defeated the Angels in five games 26 Free agency 2005 2006 Edit Molina s contract with the Angels expired after the 2005 season and the team decided not pursue him because they were not interested in offering him the long term contract he sought 41 The New York Mets made him an offer of a three year 18 million contract in November but when Molina tried to negotiate for more the Mets traded for Paul Lo Duca and rescinded their offer Still unsigned in January 2006 Molina threatened to sit out the season if he did not get a contract to his liking In February he received offers on one year contracts from the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays Though the Dodgers offered more money he chose the Blue Jays 5 million offer on February 6 because the team had fewer promising catching prospects making it seem more likely they would offer him a long term deal in the future 42 After signing with the Blue Jays Molina expressed his anger at the Angels over how he parted company with them The way they let me go without a notice without calling me that said a lot Molina said They never let me know They just threw me like a piece of trash 41 However Molina s agent Alan Nero later clarified that the Angels did indeed inform Molina of their decision 43 Toronto Blue Jays 2006 Edit Molina got off to a slow start to the 2006 season throwing out only 13 of baserunners in the season s first two months and getting outhit by backup catcher Gregg Zaun 44 Ultimately manager John Gibbons decided to use a platoon system with Zaun getting several of the starts against right handed pitchers 2 Molina was one of Toronto s most consistent hitters in August 45 Against the Seattle Mariners on the 14th of that month he caught all 14 innings of a game ending the contest with a walkoff RBI single against Emiliano Fruto 46 In 117 games 433 at bats he batted 284 with 123 hits 19 home runs and 57 RBI 3 He only threw out 18 of base stealers in 2006 a diminished total he blamed on pitchers failure to hold runners close to the bases 47 San Francisco Giants 2007 2010 Edit 2007 Edit Bengie and Yadier After the 2006 season Molina became a free agent and signed a three year 16 million deal with the Giants who needed a replacement at the position as Mike Matheny had to retire due to concussion problems 47 48 On May 7 he hit two home runs in the fifth inning of a 9 4 win over the Mets becoming the first Giant with two home runs in an inning since Willie McCovey in 1977 Molina also had five RBI in the game 49 Molina hit his 100th home run on September 5 2007 off of Jorge Julio in the sixth inning of a 5 3 victory against the Colorado Rockies 50 In a pregame ceremony on September 21 Molina was announced as the winner of the Willie Mac Award which recognizes the Giant with the most spirit and leadership He got the most out of 1 617 fan votes 51 In the first inning of the game against the Reds Molina recorded career RBI number 500 in the bottom of the first on a single that scored Dave Roberts However the Giants eventually lost 9 8 in 11 innings 2 In 134 games 497 at bats Molina batted 276 with 137 hits 19 home runs and 81 RBI 3 He walked only 2 9 of the time the lowest percentage in the National League NL 52 However his 78 RBI as a catcher were at the time the second most in a season by a San Francisco Giant trailing only Dick Dietz s 104 in 1970 19 Defensively he had a 991 fielding percentage and threw out 30 of base stealers He led his league in passed balls for the second time this year with 16 3 2008 Edit In 2008 and 2009 Molina served as the Giants cleanup hitter 19 On April 8 2008 Molina hit two home runs including a walkoff one against Cla Meredith in the 11th inning of a 3 2 win over the San Diego Padres 53 He had a 10 game hitting streak from May 17 to 28 winning the NL Player of the Week Award for May 19 through 25 after batting 652 with six doubles a home run and nine RBI 19 On June 2 he had his 1 000th hit in a 10 2 victory over the Mets 19 54 He batted 333 through June 9 then hit only 200 over his next 34 games through July 26 dropping his batting average to 282 55 During that stretch however he hit two home runs on July 22 in a 6 3 win over the Washington Nationals 56 He had a game ending sacrifice fly on August 20 in a 6 5 win over the Florida Marlins 57 Molina received the Willie Mac Award for the second year in a row on September 26 During the game that night against the Dodgers he became the first player in MLB history to hit a home run and not get credit for a run scored In the sixth inning he hit a ball off the right field wall at AT amp T Park The umpire said the ball was in fair play and Molina wound up at first base Emmanuel Burriss immediately ran out to first base to pinch run for him as Giants manager Bruce Bochy discussed the matter with the umpires After examining instant replay the umpires ruled the hit a home run but refused Bochy the opportunity to reinsert Molina into the game meaning Burriss was credited with the run San Francisco continued the game under protest but won 6 5 in the 10th inning 58 In a career high 145 games and 530 at bats Molina batted 292 with 16 home runs and a career high 95 RBI He led the major leagues with 11 sacrifice flies Defensively he had a 995 fielding percentage and threw out 35 of attempted base stealers 3 2009 Edit On April 9 2009 Molina had four RBI in a 7 1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers 59 His pinch hit 10th inning double drove in the only run of the game in a victory over the Padres on April 22 60 After starting his career 0 for 12 against Jason Marquis he hit two home runs and had four RBI against the pitcher in an 8 3 win over the Rockies 61 With two strikes on him and two outs in the eighth inning against the Diamondbacks on August 27 Molina hit a three run home run against Chad Qualls helping the Giants come from behind to win 4 3 62 His eighth inning home run against Todd Coffey snapped a tie and provided the winning margin in a 3 2 victory over the Brewers on September 4 63 On September 29 he hit two home runs and had four RBI in an 8 4 win over the Diamondbacks 64 In 132 games 491 at bats he batted 265 with 130 hits a career high 20 home runs and 80 RBI Defensively he had a 995 fielding percentage and threw out 23 of attempted base stealers 3 He again led the majors with 11 sacrifice flies though he walked in only 2 5 of his plate appearances the lowest percentage in the majors 65 66 Following the 2009 season sportswriter Daniel Brown called Molina one the greatest offensive catchers in Giants history 1 Brown cited Molina s 278 average over his three seasons with the Giants the highest of San Francisco catchers who played 350 or more games Molina s 256 RBI were the most among Giants catchers in a three year span 1 2010 Edit A free agent after the 2009 season Molina was not expected to return to the Giants as he wanted a multi year contract and the Giants expected prospect Buster Posey to soon take over the role The Mets were again reported to be interested in him but that deal fell through On January 19 2010 Molina re signed a one year 4 5 million contract with the Giants 67 He had four hits and four RBI on April 12 in a 6 1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates 68 He batted 344 in April but hit only 212 in the season s following two months 69 Following a losing streak by the Giants and with the emergence of Posey who had been hitting well while playing first base since a callup towards the end of May the Giants traded Molina to the Rangers on June 30 for relief pitcher Chris Ray and a player to be named later eventually determined as minor league pitcher Michael Main 3 70 In 61 games 202 at bats for the Giants Molina batted 257 with three home runs and seventeen RBI 3 Texas Rangers 2010 Edit With the Rangers Molina replaced Matt Treanor as the starting catcher though he and Treanor split playing time beginning in late August 69 71 On July 16 Molina hit for the cycle in an 8 4 victory over Boston He had in order a single a double a grand slam home run and a triple leaving the game with a minor leg injury after the triple Teammate Michael Young was surprised that Molina accomplished the feat at Fenway Park thinking the stadium s small dimensions would not allow the ball to get far enough away from the outfielders for the slow running Molina to make it to third base for the required triple 72 In 57 games 175 at bats for the Rangers he batted 240 with 42 hits two home runs and 19 RBI His combined totals between the two ballclubs were 118 games 377 at bats 94 hits five home runs and 36 RBI Defensively he had a 993 fielding percentage and again threw out 23 of attempted base stealers 3 The Rangers reached the playoffs as AL West champions 73 In Game 1 of the ALDS Molina had three hits a home run and two RBI in a 5 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays 74 He stole a base for the first time since 2006 in Game 5 as the Rangers again defeated Tampa Bay 5 1 eliminating the Rays 3 75 In Game 4 of the ALCS with two out in the sixth inning and the Rangers trailing the Yankees 3 2 Molina hit a three run home run against A J Burnett as the Rangers went on to win 10 3 76 The Rangers won the ALCS in six games reaching the World Series for the first time in franchise history 77 Since the Giants also made it to the World Series Molina became the sixth player to play for both World Series teams in the same season which guaranteed him a World Series ring regardless of who won 78 79 He batted 182 with one RBI as the Rangers lost the series in five games 26 After the season was over Molina became a free agent 3 Unsigned in 2011 Molina eventually announced his retirement on February 27 2012 80 Legacy EditPitchers had great respect for Molina I haven t seen all the catchers in baseball but I think we re very spoiled He takes a lot of pride in studying knowing everyone s game and going in with a solid game plan There s not a lot of whole lot of shaking off signs when we re working together said Angels starting pitcher Jarrod Washburn 81 I can t tell you much about the National League but in the American League no one stands above him He can catch and throw with anyone he can block pitches and he can get a big hit for you any day of the week To have that stability behind the plate is nice said Angels closer Troy Percival 81 He helped me mature and succeed I ve said time and time again that he deserves half of those awards that I ve gotten said Tim Lincecum who won the NL Cy Young Award with Molina catching him in 2008 and 2009 82 The things he s done for me for calling a game to give me confidence throwing different pitches in different counts really really really benefited me remembered Giants starter Matt Cain 82 During his career Molina was known for his lack of speed In a 2006 Sports Illustrated poll of 415 players 56 percent picked Molina as baseball s slowest runner 83 A panel of three scouts and an analyst put together by Baseball America that same year named him the second slowest baserunner behind Frank Thomas 84 John Vorperian of the Society for American Baseball Research wrote that he is c onsidered one of the slowest baserunners in his era 2 His three stolen bases in his career are the second fewest of any player with at least 5 000 plate appearances behind only Cecil Fielder s two 3 85 86 Coaching and broadcasting career Edit Molina as a Rangers coach 2014 On December 14 2012 Molina was hired to be the St Louis Cardinals assistant hitting coach helping out John Mabry in 2013 87 He joined the Rangers coaching staff for the 2014 season as their first base coach and catching instructor 88 Molina was replaced by Hector Ortiz for the 2015 season when Jeff Banister became the Rangers new manager 89 In 2016 he and Polo Ascencio became the Cardinals first Spanish language broadcasters in 2016 90 Molina serves as the color analyst while Ascencio calls the plays 91 Personal life EditWhile at Arizona Western Molina began dating fellow freshman Josefa a native of San Luis Baja California Mexico The couple became engaged in September 1992 and were married that December They have two children Kyshly born in 1994 and Kelssy born in 1998 2 Molina is good friends with Ramon Castro whom his father coached in Little League Baseball 92 Molina resides in Gilbert Arizona 93 See also EditList of Major League Baseball career putouts as a catcher leaders List of Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle List of Puerto Ricans List of St Louis Cardinals coachesPortals Baseball Puerto Rico BiographyNotes Edit Molina had one RBI while serving as a designated hitter References Edit a b c d e f g h i j Brown Daniel March 18 2010 Giants Bengie Molina chased down his dream San Jose Mercury News Retrieved June 2 2010 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Vorperian John Bengie Molina SABR Retrieved October 12 2021 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Bengie Molina Stats Baseball Reference Retrieved October 13 2021 Foster Chris Shaiken Bill October 17 2002 City of Brotherly Gloves Los Angeles Times Retrieved September 30 2013 Short D J October 4 2014 Yadier Molina If you re going to scream at me you ve got to be ready to fight NBC Sports Retrieved October 30 2021 Bernardino Mike March 30 2005 Catching Molina brothers wonder to behold South Florida Sun Sentinel Retrieved September 29 2013 a b AWC Alums Lynne Pancrazi and Bengie Molina Inducted to the AWC Hall of Fame Arizona Western College Foundation Retrieved October 12 2021 a b Bengie Molina Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference Retrieved October 15 2021 a b c Foster Chris April 13 2000 Baseball Angels may have finally found their man behind the plate in the strong armed Molina The Los Angeles Times Retrieved October 18 2021 via Newspapers com Molina with Ryan p 122 After a Great Deal of Anticipation Big Moment Finally Arrives The Los Angeles Times September 16 1998 Retrieved October 17 2021 via Newspapers com a b Transactions The Los Angeles Times September 18 1998 Retrieved October 17 2021 via Newspapers com Texas Rangers at Anaheim Angels Box Score September 21 1998 Baseball Reference Retrieved October 17 2021 DiGiovanna Mike March 2 1999 Molina Proves He s Sorely Needed The Los Angeles Times Retrieved October 24 2021 via Newspapers com Transactions The Dispatch Moline IL August 4 1999 Retrieved October 24 2021 via Newspapers com a b c Bengie Molina 1999 Batting Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved October 24 2021 Greenstein Teddy August 20 1999 Shabby infield puts Sox up a creek The Chicago Tribune Retrieved October 24 2021 via Newspapers com Injury Report The Sacramento Bee September 17 1999 Retrieved October 24 2021 via Newspapers com a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Bengie Molina Stats Fantasy amp News MLB com Retrieved October 25 2021 Newhan Ross May 14 2000 Angels May Have Real Catch in Rookie Molina The Los Angeles Times Retrieved October 25 2021 via Newspapers com 2000 Awards Voting Baseball Reference Retrieved October 26 2021 Bengie Molina 2001 Batting Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved October 26 2021 Jose Molina Stats Baseball Reference Retrieved October 26 2021 Crasnick Jerry August 25 2002 Molina s act catching on South Florida Sun Sentinel Retrieved October 26 2021 via Newspapers com 2002 Anaheim Angels Statistics Baseball Reference Retrieved October 26 2021 a b c d Bengie Molina Postseason Batting Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved October 26 2021 2002 American League Division Series ALDS Game 4 Yankees at Angels October 5 Baseball Reference Retrieved October 26 2021 2002 American League Championship Series ALCS Game 4 Twins at Angels October 12 Baseball Reference Retrieved October 26 2021 Plaschke Bill October 23 2002 Halos hitting a thing of duty The Capital Times Madison WI Retrieved October 26 2021 via Newspapers com Nadel John October 24 2002 Rodriguez tastes 1st playoff loss The Desert Sun Retrieved October 26 2021 via Newspapers com 2002 World Series Game 7 Giants at Angels October 27 Baseball Reference Retrieved October 26 2021 Anaheim Angels at Minnesota Twins Box Score September 3 2003 Baseball Reference Retrieved October 26 2021 a b Angels pound on Mariners The Spokesman Review April 14 2004 Retrieved October 26 2021 via Newspapers com DiGiovanna Mike April 11 2004 Molina Will Be Judged on a Different Scale The Los Angeles Times Retrieved October 26 2021 via Newspapers com Millar Cabrera help Red Sox clip Blue Jays The Bangor Daily News August 18 2004 Retrieved October 26 2021 via Newspapers com 2004 Anaheim Angels Statistics Baseball Reference Retrieved October 26 2021 DiGiovanna Mike Gutierrez Paul October 7 2004 Washburn Might Be Back on Short Rest The Los Angeles Times Retrieved October 26 2021 via Newspapers com Oakland Athletics at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Box Score July 20 2005 Baseball Reference Retrieved October 27 2021 Fitzpatrick Mike August 1 2005 Giambi Sparks Yankee Comeback The Signal Santa Clara CA Retrieved October 27 2021 via Newspapers com 2005 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Statistics Baseball Reference Retrieved October 27 2021 a b Molina angry at Angels Hillenbrand to stay with Jays ESPN February 9 2006 Retrieved October 30 2021 DiGiovanna Mike February 7 2006 Molina Ends Up With Blue Jays The Los Angeles Times Retrieved October 12 2021 via Newspapers com DiGiovanna Mike November 3 2006 Kennedy leaving on good terms The Los Angeles Times Retrieved October 12 2021 via Newspapers com Sandler Jeremy May 27 2006 Zaun making most of role as backup National Post Toronto ON Retrieved October 12 2021 via Newspapers com Mora tees off against Blue Jays Star Phoenix Saskatoon SK August 19 2006 Retrieved October 12 2021 via Newspapers com Blue Jays drown Mariners on Molina s single in 14th ESPN July 15 2006 Retrieved October 14 2021 a b Draper Rich December 6 2006 Giants lock up Gold Glover Molina MLB com Archived from the original on May 5 2016 Retrieved September 16 2009 Giants Matheny forced to retire CBC February 1 2007 Retrieved October 12 2021 Molina hits two HRs in one inning as Giants cruise ESPN May 8 2007 Retrieved October 27 2021 Shea John September 6 2007 762 is no match for 100 Molina hits career milestone Bonds extends record San Francisco Chronicle Retrieved October 14 2021 Regan Becky September 21 2007 Notes Molina wins Willie Mac Award MLB com Archived from the original on March 5 2016 Retrieved October 27 2021 Lowest Walk Percentage MLB 2007 Fangraphs Retrieved June 1 2010 Molina hits two homers including walk off in 11th as Giants snap four game skid ESPN April 9 2008 Retrieved October 27 2021 New York Mets at San Francisco Giants Box Score June 2 2008 Baseball Reference Retrieved October 27 2021 Bengie Molina 2008 Batting Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved October 27 2021 Zito wins second straight decision as Molina HRs lift Giants ESPN July 23 2008 Retrieved October 27 2021 Giants blow lead beat Marlins in 9th on Molina sac fly ESPN August 21 2008 Retrieved October 27 2021 Molina s instant replay homer sparks Giant s 10th inning defeat of Dodgers ESPN September 26 2008 Retrieved October 27 2021 Martinez scare clouds Giants defeat of Brewers ESPN April 9 2009 Retrieved October 30 2021 Molina Giants finish homestand with 10 inning win vs Padres ESPN April 22 2009 Retrieved October 30 2021 Molina breaks through against Rockies to power Giants to victory ESPN May 7 2009 Retrieved October 30 2021 Molina s homer carries Giants past D backs ESPN August 26 2009 Retrieved September 7 2021 Giants pick up rare Miller Park win after Molina pounces on Brewers in 8th ESPN September 5 2009 Retrieved October 30 2021 Molina s HRs Sandoval s four hits lift Giants to win ESPN September 30 2009 Retrieved October 30 2021 Most sacrifice flies MLB 2009 ESPN Retrieved September 17 2018 Lowest Walk Percentage MLB 2009 Fangraphs Retrieved September 17 2018 O Donnell Dennis January 19 2010 Molina Signing Deal To Stay With SF Giants CBS 5 Archived from the original on January 22 2010 Retrieved June 1 2010 Zito wins again as Giants stretch strong start to 6 1 ESPN April 13 2010 Retrieved October 30 2021 a b Bengie Molina 2010 Batting Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved October 30 2021 Cox Chris June 30 2010 Texas trades for San Fran catcher Molina MLB com Archived from the original on May 7 2016 Retrieved October 16 2021 Matt Treanor 2010 Batting Gamelogs Baseball Reference Retrieved October 30 2021 Rangers ride Molina s cycle grand slam to victory over Red Sox ESPN July 16 2010 Retrieved October 14 2021 2010 Texas Rangers Statistics Baseball Reference Retrieved October 30 2021 2010 American League Division Series ALDS Game 1 Rangers at Rays October 6 Baseball Reference Retrieved October 30 2021 2010 American League Division Series ALDS Game 5 Rangers at Rays October 12 Baseball Reference Retrieved October 30 2021 Bengie Molina s 3 run shot leads homer happy Rangers to 3 1 ALCS lead ESPN October 20 2010 Retrieved October 30 2021 Nelson Cruz Vladimir Guerrero catapult Rangers into first World Series ESPN October 23 2010 Retrieved October 30 2021 Hickey John October 21 2010 Bengie Molina has rooting interest in both Rangers Giants MLB Fanhouse Archived from the original on October 23 2010 Retrieved October 24 2010 Gone but not forgotten Those who got World Series rings NBC Sports October 27 2015 Retrieved October 16 2021 Bengie Molina Officially Announces Retirement CBS Sports February 27 2012 Retrieved October 30 2021 a b DiGiovanna Mike March 14 2004 Are Squatter s Rights in Force The Los Angeles Times Retrieved October 27 2021 via Newspapers com a b Haft Chris July 1 2010 Molina trade could pave way for another deal MLB com Archived from the original on May 6 2016 Retrieved July 1 2010 Molina slowest in majors by miles The Province Vancouver BC August 15 2006 Retrieved October 14 2021 Brown Daniel August 26 2006 The worst that baseball has to offer Edmonton Journal Retrieved October 14 2021 via Newspapers com Cabrera homers for his 2 000th career hit Tigers rout O s Fox Sports April 4 2014 Retrieved October 14 2021 Cecil Fielder Stats Baseball Reference Retrieved October 14 2021 Gleeman Aaron December 14 2012 Bengie Molina accepts offer to become Cardinals assistant hitting coach NBC Sports Retrieved October 30 2021 Durrett Richard November 12 2013 Rangers hire Bengie Molina ESPN Retrieved August 1 2019 Wilson Jeff November 1 2014 Lewis decides to test market Fort Worth Star Telegram Retrieved October 14 2021 via Newspapers com Nolla Luis September 9 2019 With Yadier Molina s help Polo Ascencio and Bengie Molina share Cardinals gospel in Spanish La Vida Baseball Retrieved October 14 2021 How to Listen to Cardinals Spanish Language Broadcast KSDK April 7 2021 Retrieved October 30 2021 Lennon David October 9 2005 Molina s stock skyrockets Newsday Retrieved October 27 2021 via Newspapers com Broadcasters St Louis Cardinals MLB com Molina Bengie Jr Ryan Joan 2016 Molina The Story of the Father Who Raised an Unlikely Baseball Dynasty New York Simon and Schuster ISBN 978 1451641059 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bengie Molina Career statistics and player information from MLB or ESPN or Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors AchievementsPreceded byJody Gerut Hitting for the cycleJuly 16 2010 Succeeded byKelly JohnsonSporting positionsPreceded byJohn Mabry St Louis Cardinals assistant hitting coach2013 Succeeded byVacantPreceded byDave Anderson Texas Rangers first base coach2014 Succeeded byHector Ortiz Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bengie Molina amp oldid 1133377453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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