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Groton Daily Independent
Monday, July 31, 2017 ~ Vol. 25 - No. 031 ~ 26 of 42
as yet another reminder of North Korea’s continued threat to the United States and our allies.” She said the command “remains unwavering in our con dence that we can fully defend the United States against this ballistic missile threat.”
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency said a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system located in Kodiak, Alaska, was successfully tested on Saturday night, Alaska time. It said that a medium-range ballistic missile was air-launched over the Paci c, and that the THAAD system detected, tracked and in- tercepted the target.
Hall of Fame ceremony an emotional time for inductees By JOHN KEKIS, AP Sports Writer
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — “Pudge” Rodriguez stared out at his father, wiping away tears as he spoke.
“I love you with all of my heart,” Rodri- guez said. “If I’m a Hall of Famer, you’re a Hall of Famer — double.”
Those words punctuated Rodriguez’s speech as he was inducted Sunday into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines, along with former com- missioner Bud Selig and front-of ce guru John Schuerholz also were enshrined on a picture-perfect summer day in front of over 27,000 fans.
“It’s always emotional when you see the fans cheering for you, and my whole fam- ily in front of me,” Bagwell said. “I’m an emotional person. It’s a dream just to be part of this beautiful group. Now I have that plaque forever. It’s unbelievable.”
Beforehestarted,Rodriguezreceiveda standingovationfromhundredsoffans, many wearing red-and-white jerseys with PuertoRicoemblazonedonthefront,and proceeded to give half his speech in Span- ish.
Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson, left, presents NationalBaseballHallofFameinducteeJeffBagwell withhisHallofFameplaqueduringaninductioncer- emony at the Clark Sports Center, Sunday, July 30, 2017,inCooperstown,N.Y.(APPhoto/HansPennink)
“This is such an incredible honor for me,” Rodriguez said. “A little kid from Puerto Rico with a big dream. Never let them take your dream away from you.”
The 45-year-old Rodriguez holds major league records for games caught (2,427) and putouts by a catcher (12,376). He hit 311 homers and batted .296 in his career. He’s also only the second catcher elected on the rst ballot, following in the footsteps of his childhood idol, Cincinnati Reds star Johnny Bench, who was seated on the dais behind him.
After speaking in Spanish, Rodriguez went back and repeated in English, concentrating on a message to youth.
“You have the right to dream,” he said. “Everything in life is possible. I speak from experience.”
Bagwell, who played his entire 15-year career in Houston, took the dais to an extended applause from the Astros fans who made the trip.
“You know I don’t like attention,” Bagwell said with a tinge of nervousness. “I’m so humbled to be here. I’m just really trying to gure out what’s going on.”
Bagwell started his speech by thanking his family, singling out his parents and wife.