'The rest of baseball has confirmed what Tiger fans have claimed all along - that Aurelio Rodriguez is without peer among American League players in fielding at third base. It became official in 1976, when the always smiling senor from Mexico was voted his first Gold Glove trophy as the top fielding third baseman of the circuit with a mark of .978. The honor is one long overdue for Ridriguez, whose smooth throwing arm have produced gasps of admiration ever since he first appeared on the major league scene. Aurelio came to the Tigers at the end of the 1970 season to find a happy home at the hot corner at Tiger Stadium. His Gold Glove award, the 23rd awarded a Tiger player in 20 years, was won despite a serious ankle injury last August 29 which caused him to miss the rest of the season and knocked him out of winter baseball in Mexico for the first time.' Information from the 'Tiger 1977 Yearbook'.