ROD CAREW

Position: Second Baseman
Number: 29
Height: 6-0
Weight: 182
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Born: October 1, 1945 in Gatún, Panama Canal Zone
Resides: Coto De Caza, CA
How Obtained: Signed as a free agent, June 25, 1964
Elected to the Hall of Fame: January 8, 1991
Inducted to the Hall of Fame: July 21, 1991
Career Stats »

No Twins fan will ever forget the graceful power of Rod Carew's hitting stroke. Nor will any baseball enthusiast be able to forget the summer of 1977, when he made his determined run at the untouchable .400 mark, because, just as Killebrew embodied the power of the game, Carew represented the finesse. He was a career .328 hitter in his 19 major league seasons and was the winner of seven American League batting titles, all during his twelve years with Minnesota. Carew hit .300 or better 15 consecutive seasons and finished his career with 3,053 hits, which places him 16th among the all-time hit leaders and makes him one of only 21 players to collect 3,000-ormore career hits.

Carew, who won his only American League Most Valuable Player award in 1977 when he finished with a .388 average, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, January 8, 1991, the 22nd player so elected. He had his number 29 retired by the Twins on July 19, 1987.

Carew moved to the community of Anaheim Hills, California while playing with the Angels and remained there after his retirement. Carew was hired as the Angels hitting coach on November 5, 1991 and served in a similar capacity with the Milwaukee Brewers. He is credited with helping develop young hitters like Garret Anderson, Jim Edmonds, and Tim Salmon. Carew has also worked at various times as a minor league and spring training hitting and base running coach for the Twins and serves as an international youth baseball instructor for Major League Baseball.

Rod married second wife Rhonda in December 2001 and she has two children, Cheyenne and Devon. Devout Christians, the family attends Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. On January 19, 2004, Panama City's National Stadium was renamed "Rod Carew Stadium". In 2005, Carew was named the second baseman on the Major League Baseball Latino Legends Team.

Carew's number 29 was retired by the Angels on August 12, 1986 and he was the fourth inductee into the Angels' Hall of Fame on August 6, 1991. In 1999, he ranked #61 on "The Sporting News" list of 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was nominated as a finalist for Major League Baseball's All-Century Team. Carew was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in 2010.

In September 1995, Carew's youngest daughter from his first marriage, Michelle, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a relatively rare leukemia for a young person. Doctors wanted to perform a bone marrow transplant, but Michelle's rare ethnic heritage complicated the search for a matching donor; her father was black with West Indian and Panamanian roots and her mother was of Russian-Jewish ancestry. Carew pleaded for those of similar ethnic background to come forward. When no matching bone marrow donor was found, an umbilical cord blood transplant was performed in March 1996. Michelle died on April 17, 1996 at the age of 18. A statue of her has been installed in Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Carew began using chewing tobacco in 1964 and was a regular user up to 1992, when a cancerous growth in his mouth was discovered and removed. The years of use had severely damaged his teeth and gums, and Carew has spent a reported $100,000 in restorative dental work

PERSONAL: Rodney Cline Carew . . . wife: Rhonda (Fedden), step children: Cheyenne and Devon . . . ex-wife: Marilyn (Levy), children: Charryse, Stephanie and Michelle (Nov. 18, 1977 - Apr. 17, 1996) . . . graduated from George Washington (New York City) High School in 1964.

2010: Inducted into Latino Baseball Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class . . . Inducted into Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame.

2005: Inducted into Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame.

2002: Inducted into the United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame, in August, as he served in the Marine Reserves in the late sixties.

2000: Inducted into Twins' Hall of Fame, August 12.

1991: Inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame, July 21 . . . was California's fourth inductee into Angels' Hall of Fame, August 6 . . . appointed Angels' hitting instructor, November 5 . . . Received the 1991 Muscular Dystrophy Association Life Time Achievement Award in recognition of his accomplishments on and off the field.

1987: Had Twins' jersey number 29 officially retired, July 19.

1986: Had Angels' jersey number 29 officially retired, August 12.

1985: Disabled with fracture of left foot, May 20-June 10 . . . 3,000th career hit, singling in third inning off Frank Viola, August 4 vs. Minnesota.

1984: Had 57th career 4-plus hit game, April 13 at Oakland . . . named to American League All-Star Team for 18th consecutive season . . . disabled with irritation of cervical in neck, August 9-September 1.

1983: Hit fifth grand slam of career, off Matt Keough, April 9 at Oakland . . . seventh career 5-hit game, April 22 vs. Baltimore . . . second 4-plus hit game of season, April 24 vs. Baltimore . . . third 4-plus hit game of season, May 1 vs. Boston . . . fourth 4-plus hit game of season, May 4 at Baltimore . . . played in Major League All-Star Game, July 13 at Montreal . . . fifth 4-plus hit game of season, August 12 vs. Seattle . . . 56th career 4-plus hit game, August 22 at Cleveland . . . set Angels' club record with .339 batting average.

1982: Tied American League records for most putouts by first baseman in a game (32) and most chances accepted by a first baseman, April 13 (20 innings) . . . career-high and Angels' club-record 25-game hit-streak, going 41-99 (.414), May 23-June 21 . . . first 4-hit game of season, June 17 vs. Toronto . . . named to American League All-Star Team, but was replaced due to injury . . . second 4-hit game of season and 50th career 4-plus hit game of career, September 21 vs. Kansas City . . . 19-game hit-streak, going 31-83 (.373), August 16-September 4.

1981: Stole home for 17th time in career, April 12 at Seattle . . . had 4-hit game, May 19 at Cleveland . . . second 4-hit game of season, May 26 vs. Toronto . . . named to American League All-Star Team, August 9 at Cleveland . . . third 4-hit game of season, August 10 at Seattle . . . sixth 5-hit game and 48th 4-plus hit game of career, August 21 vs. Cleveland . . . 2,500th career hit, September 26 vs. Toronto.

1980: Had 18-game hit-streak, going 34-75 (.453), June 9-June 28 . . . season-high 4 RBI, June 11 vs. New York . . . scored 1,000th run of career, June 26 vs. Chicago . . . named to American League All-Star Team.

1979: Traded to California for outfielder Ken Landreaux, pitchers Paul Hartzell and Brad Havens and third baseman Dave Engle, February 3 . . . first 4-hit game of season, April 15 at Oakland . . . second 4-hit game of season, April 18 at Minnesota . . . 11-game hit-streak, going 19-43 (.442), May 9-20 . . . disabled with torn ligaments in right thumb, June 5-July 19 . . . named to American League All-Star Team, but replaced due to injury . . . third 4-hit game of season and 44th 4-plus hit game of career, July 29 vs. Minnesota . . . tied American League Championship Series record for most doubles in a four game series (3) and most hits in a four game series (7) . . . tied series record for times on losing club (4).

1978: Had 4-hit game, April 27 at Oakland . . . second 4-hit game of season, May 6 at Baltimore . . . third 4-hit game of season, July 5 vs. Milwaukee . . . set All-Star Game record with 2 triples, July 11 at San Diego . . . 200th career hit, off Bill Lee, July 15 at Boston . . . fourth 4-hit game of season, August 8 vs. Seattle . . . fifth 4-hit game of season and 41st 4-plus hit game of career, September 3 vs. Cleveland . . . led club in batting, runs, hits, triples and stolen bases . . . won seventh American League batting title . . . led league in intentional walks (19) . . . named first baseman on The Sporting News' All-Star Team.

1977: Had 4-hit game, April 18 at Kansas City . . . second 4-hit game of season, May 8 at Toronto . . . fifth 5-hit game of career, May 25 at Boston . . . fourth 4-plus hit game of season, June 2 vs. New York . . . fifth 4-plus hit game of season, June 22 vs. Texas . . . sixth 4-plus hit game of season, season-high 6 RBI and club-record 5 runs, June 26 vs. Chicago . . . 16th career steal of home, June 27 vs. Milwaukee . . . named American League Player of the Week batting .607, June 21-27 . . . named American League Player of the Month of June . . . was voted into starting lineup of American League All-Star Team for 11th consecutive season . . . seventh 4-plus hit game of season, August 7 vs. Cleveland . . . fourth career grand slam, off Jim Crawford, August 12 at Detroit . . . 36th 4-plus hit game of career, August 16 at Baltimore . . . 14-game hit-streak, going 19-56 (.339), August 11-August 24 . . . tied American League record for most double plays by first baseman in extra-inning game (6), August 29 (1st game, 10 inn.) . . . third career 2-homer game and tied season-high 9 total bases, September 3 vs. New York . . . 15-game hit-streak, going 29-62 (.468), September 3-18 . . . American League Player of the Month of September, batting .439, becoming first player to win "Player of the Month" award twice in one season . . . led club in every offensive category except home runs and RBI, and his average, hits, runs and triples were new club records . . . won his sixth American League batting title, beating the major league field by 50 points . . . his .388 average was highest in majors since Ted Williams matched the mark in 1957 . . . average was 50 points higher than next best in major leagues, Dave Parker's National League leading .338, representing largest margin in baseball history . . . 239 hits were most in majors since Bill Terry got 254 in his .401 season in 1930 with New York Giants . . . led league in runs, triples and intentional walks . . . second in league in total bases (351) and slugging percentage (.570) . . . won American League Most Valuable Player Award, Major League Player of the Year, Minnesota Sports Personality of the Year, and was recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award . . . set club fielding record for first baseman (.994) . . . had eight 4-plus hit games and has 37 on career . . . named first baseman on The Sporting News' American League All-Star Team . . . led American League first baseman in total chances (1590), double plays (161) and assists (121) . . . established American League record for multiple-hit games in season (131) . . . won sixth Calvin R. Griffith Award as Twins' Most Valuable Player.

1976: Converted to first baseman . . . first steal of home of season, May 17 at Oakland . . . first career grand slam, off Paul Mitchell and season-high 5 RBI, June 26 at Oakland . . . second career grand slam, off Sid Monge, July 4 vs. California (2) . . . named to American League All-Star Team and played in All-Star Game, July 13 at Philadelphia . . . first 4-hit game of season, August 28 at Cleveland . . . 15th career steal of home, August 30 vs. Milwaukee . . . 28th 4-plus hit game of career, September 5 vs. Chicago . . . American League Player of the Week of September 5, batting .467 with 9 runs, 5 RBI and a steal of home . . . pinch-hit grand slam, third slam of season and career, off Steve Hargan, September 9 at Texas (1) . . . led club in batting, games, at-bats, runs, hits, total bases, doubles, triples and stolen bases . . . led American League first baseman in double plays (149) . . . won fifth Calvin R. Griffith Award as Twins' Most Valuable Player.

1975: 13th career steal of home, May 14 vs. Cleveland . . . had second 2-homer game of career and season-high 9 total bases, June 5 vs. New York . . . American League Player of the Week of June 8, batting .647 . . . season-high 5 RBI, July 1 vs. California (2) . . . first 4-hit game of season, July 12 at New York . . . named to American League All-Star Team and tied All-Star Game record for most at-bats in a nine-inning game (5), July 15 at Milwaukee . . . 26th 4-plus hit game of career, July 25 at California . . . led club in batting, games, at-bats, runs, hits, total bases, doubles, RBI and stolen bases . . . won third consecutive batting title and fifth of career . . . led league in intentional walks (18) . . . named as second baseman on The Sporting News' American League All-Star Team . . . won fourth Calvin R. Griffith Award as Twins' Most Valuable Player . . . started last 14 games of season at first base.

1974: Had first 4-hit game of season, April 24 at Detroit . . . American League Player of the Month of May, batting .425 . . . second 4-hit game of season, June 16 at Cleveland . . . third 4-hit game of season, June 25 at Texas . . . played in Major League All-Star Game, July 23 at Pittsburgh . . . 24th 4-plus hit game of career, September 1 vs. Boston . . . led club in batting, games, at-bats, runs, hits, total bases and stolen bases . . . won fourth American League batting title and led league in hits . . . named as second baseman on The Sporting News' American League All-Star Team . . . won third Calvin R. Griffith Award as Twins' Most Valuable Player.

1973: Had 18-game hit-streak, going 31-77 (.403), May 30-June 19 . . . 1,000th career hit, off Dick Tidrow, June 6 at Cleveland . . . first steal of home of season, June 28 at Texas . . . first 4-hit game of season, June 12 vs. Milwaukee . . . second 4-hit game of season, July 2 at Kansas City . . . 15-game hit-streak, going 25-64 (.391), July 10-July 26 . . . named to American League All-Star Team and played in All-Star Game, July 24 at Kansas City . . . third 4-hit game of season, August 7 vs. Baltimore . . . fourth career 5-hit game, August 14 vs. Detroit . . . 20th 4-plus hit game of career, September 23 vs. California . . . 12th steal of home of career, August 27 at Detroit . . . led club in batting, games, at-bats, runs, hits, total bases, doubles, triples, stolen bases . . . won third American League batting title . . . led league in hits and tied for lead in triples . . . named as second baseman on The Sporting News' American League All-Star Team . . . won Calvin R. Griffith Award as Twins' Most Valuable Player.

1972: Had first 4-hit game of season, April 19 at California . . . third career 5-hit game and season-high 7 total bases, May 12 vs. Milwaukee . . . second 4-hit game of season, June 6 at Baltimore . . . 15th 4-plus hit game of career, July 14 vs. Boston . . . played in Major League All-Star Game, July 25 at Atlanta . . . 11-game hit-streak, going 22-51 (.431), August 12-23 . . . tenth career steal of home, September 1 vs. Cleveland . . . 13-game hit-streak, going 18-48 (.375), September 5-September 16 . . . named as second baseman on The Sporting News' American League All-Star Team . . . led club in batting, hits and triples . . . won second American League batting title, becoming first player to lead league in batting without a home run . . . won Calvin R. Griffith Award as Twins' Most Valuable Player.

1971: Ninth career steal of home, April 23 at New York . . . first 4-hit game of season, June 16 at Cleveland . . . named to American League All-Star Team and played in All-Star Game, July 13 at Detroit . . . second 4-hit game of season and 11th 4-plus hit game of career, September 5 vs. Oakland . . . led club in triples.

1970: Had second career 5-hit game, April 18 at Oakland . . . eighth career steal of home, May 7 at Detroit . . . 4-hit game, May 12 vs. Baltimore . . . hit for cycle, collecting season-high 10 total bases and ninth 4-plus hit game of career, May 20 . . . disabled with torn ligaments in right knee, June 24-September 1 . . . named to American League All-Star Team, but replaced due to injury . . . led club in batting.

1969: Had first career steal of home, April 9 at Kansas City . . . first 4-hit game of season, April 16 at Seattle . . . second steal of home of season, April 19 vs. California . . . second 4-hit game of season and sixth 4-plus hit game of career, April 26 at Chicago . . . third steal of home of season, April 30 vs. Seattle . . . tied major league record for most stolen bases in inning (3), including fourth steal of home of season, May 18 vs. Detroit (3rd inn.) . . . first career 2-homer game and season-high 8 total bases, May 26 at Washington . . . fifth steal of home of season, June 4 vs. New York . . . sixth steal of home of season, June 16 vs. California . . . tied season-high 8 total bases, July 4 vs. Oakland . . . seventh steal of home of season, tying major league record, July 16 vs. Chicago . . . 14-game hit-streak, going, 25-60 (.417), July 17-August 1 . . . named to third American league All-Star Team and played in All-Star Game, July 23 at Washington . . . military list, August 17- September 1 . . . won American League batting title . . . named as second baseman on The Sporting News' American League All-Star Team.

1968: Had third career 4-plus hit game, April 21 vs. New York . . . military list, June 8-24 . . . named to second American League All-Star Team, playing in All-Star Game, July 9 at Houston . . . 12-game hit-streak, going 23-52 (.442), July 31-August 13 . . . fourth career 4-plus hit game, August 11 at New York . . . named as second baseman on The Sporting News' American League All-Star Team.

1967: Made major league debut opening day and collected first major league hit, off Dave McNally, April 11 at Baltimore . . . first major league RBI, April 14 vs. Detroit . . . first major league home run, off Denny McLain, April 21 at Detroit . . . career-high 5 hits, May 8 vs. Washington . . . 15-game hit-streak, going 25-65 (.385), June 3-June 15 . . . named to first American League All-Star Team, playing in All-Star Game, July 11 at Anaheim . . . had 4-hit game, July 30 at Boston . . . led club in batting and triples . . . named American League Rookie of the Year by Baseball Writers' Association of America and by The Sporting News . . . named as second baseman on The Sporting News' American League All-Star Team.

1966: Led Florida Instructional League in stolen bases (20).

1965: Named second baseman for Florida State League All-Star Team.

1964: Tied for league lead in triples.