Bengie Molina is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Texas Rangers. He was known for his strong defensive skills and ability to handle pitchers, as well as his clutch hitting in important games.
Molina began his career with the Angels in 1998 and quickly established himself as a reliable catcher. He won his first Gold Glove award in 2002 and helped lead the Angels to their first World Series championship in 2002. Molina was a key player in the postseason, hitting .373 with 2 home runs and 10 RBI in 16 games.
After spending 8 seasons with the Angels, Molina was traded to the Giants in 2007. He continued to excel defensively and was named an All-Star in 2009. Molina also helped lead the Giants to the World Series in 2010, where he hit .333 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI in 11 games. The Giants went on to win the championship, giving Molina his second ring.
In 2010, Molina was traded to the Rangers and helped lead them to their first World Series appearance in franchise history. Although they lost to the Giants, Molina played a key role in the postseason, hitting .293 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI in 15 games.
Molina retired after the 2010 season with a career batting average of .274, 144 home runs, and 711 RBI. He was known for his durability, playing in at least 100 games in 10 of his 13 seasons. Molina was also highly respected by his teammates and coaches for his leadership and work ethic.
After retiring, Molina became a coach and worked with several teams, including the Rangers, Cardinals, and Giants. He also served as a special assistant to the general manager for the Giants. In 2017, Molina was inducted into the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame.
Overall, Bengie Molina had a successful career as a catcher in Major League Baseball. He was known for his strong defensive skills, clutch hitting, and leadership abilities. Molina helped lead his teams to three World Series appearances and two championships, cementing his legacy as one of the best catchers of his era.
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