Iván Rodríguez fixed his gaze where his parents, José and Eva, were, wiping away tears in their excitement at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

"To my father, José, my first baseball coach, my best friend... You were the one who advised me to switch from pitcher to catcher. If I'm here, looking you in the eyes as a Hall of Famer, you are a Hall of Famer," said the Puerto Rican star.

Addressing his mother, Rodríguez added: "Mom, mission accomplished, we did it. You did it, you have a 45-year-old son here in Cooperstown, receiving a plaque as one of the best baseball players... If my dad is a 'hall of famer', you are a double 'hall of famer'."

These moving words stood out in Rodríguez's speech on Sunday as he was enshrined as a new member in the temple of the immortals of the sport.

During the ceremony, on a perfect weather day before 27,000 fans, former players Tim Raines and Jeff Bagwell were also inducted into the Hall of Fame, as well as former commissioner Bud Selig and retired executive John Schuerholtz.

"It's an incredible honor for me," said Rodríguez, acclaimed by hundreds of spectators, many dressed in Puerto Rico jerseys.

In a speech in which he alternated between Spanish and English, Rodríguez highlighted his roots as he became the fourth Puerto Rican in the Hall of Fame, joining Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, and Roberto Alomar.

"I take this moment, as I'm here looking at all those beautiful Puerto Rican flags, I want you to raise them up high right now because I feel so proud to be Puerto Rican and to be the fourth 'hall of famer' that comes from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico," said Rodríguez in Spanish.

The catcher from Manatí, who is currently 45 years old, holds the records for the most games as a catcher in the majors (2,427) and the most outs by a catcher (12,376). He hit 311 home runs and had a career average of .296.

He is also only the second catcher enshrined in Cooperstown on his first appearance on the ballots of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). He received 76% of the votes.

Thus, he joined the idol of his childhood, Johnny Bench, the former star of the Cincinnati Reds.

He urged young people to pursue their ambitions: "A little boy from Puerto Rico, with a big dream. Never let them take away your dreams."

In 21 seasons, mainly with the Texas Rangers, Rodríguez was selected to the All-Star Game 14 times. He won the Gold Glove 13 times, another record, and won the Silver Slugger seven times.