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By Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 24, 2000
Ex-Tiger killed in accident
DETROIT -- Aurelio Rodriguez, a model of consistency at third base for the Tigers during the 1970s, died Saturday after being hit by a car on the city's southwest side. He was 52.
Rodriguez was walking with an unidentified woman about 2 p.m. when the car apparently jumped a sidewalk and struck them before hitting a utility pole, police Sgt. Michael Matuzak said.
Rodriguez had to be pulled from beneath the vehicle and was pronounced dead at Henry Ford Hospital. The 35-year-old pedestrian was in critical condition and the female motorist was in good condition at Detroit Receiving Hospital, spokeswoman Mattie Majors said.
"We're shocked and saddened to have lost one of our own, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family," Tigers spokesman Tyler Barnes said.
Rodriguez, a native of Cananea Sonora, Mexico, broke into the major leagues with the California Angels in 1967. He was traded to the Washington Senators early in the 1970 season.
In what longtime Detroit general manager Jim Campbell called his biggest trade, Rodriguez went to Detroit along with shortstop Ed Brinkman and pitchers Joe Coleman and Jim Hannan in October 1970 for pitcher Denny McLain, third baseman Don Wert and outfielders Elliott Maddox and Norm McRae.
BLUE JAYS: Raul Mondesi, out since July 21 with an injured right elbow, returned to the lineup. Mondesi batted third and played rightfield. He hit an infield single in his first at-bat. Mondesi had surgery on his right elbow Aug. 14 and was activated from the disabled list Wednesday.
RANGERS: First baseman Rafael Palmeiro became the 32nd major-leaguer with 400 career homers when he hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning against Anaheim. Palmeiro hit a 3-and-1 pitch from reliever Scott Karl.
RED SOX: Manager Jimy Williams and closer Derek Lowe criticized general manager Dan Duquette for failing to discipline outfielder Carl Everett. Everett reported late for the opener of Thursday's doubleheader against Cleveland, breaking one of Williams' rules, then got into a shouting match with Darren Lewis and had to be separated from his teammate. Everett openly cursed Williams in the clubhouse. "If I was the general manager, I would back the manager, and if you can't, you probably need to get rid of me," Williams said. Lowe said Duquette's treatment of Everett was a slap at Williams and set a double standard. "You hope it doesn't snowball to the point where there's no rules at all," Lowe said.
ROCKIES: Right-hander Masato Yoshii is scheduled for surgery in Vail on Thursday to remove bone spurs in his right elbow. Yoshii, acquired from the New York Mets in January, struggled in a 12-6 loss to Los Angeles on Sunday.
WHITE SOX: Ray Durham was sipping soup at a table when chairman Jerry Reinsdorf walked into the visitors' clubhouse at the Metrodome. "Ray, you scared the heck out of us last night," Reinsdorf said. Durham collapsed on the Metrodome turf Friday night and was taken to a hospital where tests revealed he had bruised ribs, the result of a home plate collision in the top of the third inning. Durham was out of the starting lineup. "Everything checked out okay. It's just that the right side of my body from the waist up is real sore right now," Durham said.
YANKEES: David Cone's future with New York is in the bullpen. Manager Joe Torre announced that Cone, whose next scheduled start was to be Monday against Detroit, will be replaced by Dwight Gooden in the starting rotation. Cone (4-13), who threw in the bullpen before Friday night's game, struggled in two starts since dislocating his left shoulder while fielding a popped-up bunt on Aug. 30 at Kansas City. "You know Coney, it's more guts than anything as far as him enduring the pain," Torre said.