selected as the Mexican League's 1966 Rookie of the Year. Professional baseball California Angels In August 1966, Rodríguez signed with the California Angels. He was assigned to the Seattle Angels of the Pacific Coast League, playing at shortstop and compiling a .254 batting average in 59 at bats during the 1966 season. He moved to third base in 1967, playing most of the season for Seattle and El Paso. He hit .308 for Seattle and .327 at El Paso and had 32 doubles, nine triples, 13 home runs and 64 RBIs in 315 at bats in the minors during the 1967 season. Rodriguez made his major league debut at the age of 19 with the Angels in September 1967. From 1967 to 1971, he appeared in 281 games for the Angels, 264 as the team's starting third baseman. While his .237 batting average was disappointing, he emerged as one of the American League's best defensive third basemen. In May 1968, Angels coach Don Heffner described Rodriguez as "the kind of player who can play anyplace" and predicted that Aurelio would be "around for a long time." Angels manager Bill Rigney boasted in March 1969: "He might be another Bobby Ávila. Aurelio Rodriguez could be the best Mexican player ever." In 1969, Rodriguez appeared in 159 games at third base and led the league's third basemen with 42 double plays turned and ranked second behind Brooks Robinson with 352 assists. On the other hand, his batting average was only .232, and he also led the league with 24 errors at third base in 1969. The most memorable error involving Rodriguez in 1969 was his Topps baseball card; the photograph on the card was actually the Angels' batboy, Leonard Garcia. When Rodriguez first signed with the Angels, he spoke no English: "When I came up in '66, I didn't speak English one word. I ate ham and eggs the first 10 days. I go to a restaurant and the lady would ask me what I want. I say ham and eggs . . . breakfast, dinner and supper for 10 days." He recalled being pressured by the Angels' general manager Dick Walsh to learn English: "He tell me if I no learn English, he no pay me any more money. I say, 'I can't believe it'." Rodriguez eventually picked up the language by watching television and going to cowboy movies. Rodriguez fell