Bengie Molina
Born: 7/20/1974 in Rio Piedras, P.R.
MLB Debut: 1998-09-21 | Final Game: 2010-10-03
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Benjamin Jose Molina
Biography
Bengie Molina, born in 1974, was a talented catcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1998 to 2010. He established himself as a reliable and durable player throughout a career that spanned 1,362 games. Molina recorded 1,317 hits, showcasing his consistent ability to make contact at the plate, and he finished with a .274 batting average. He contributed significantly to his teams' offensive output, amassing 144 home runs and 711 RBIs, while also demonstrating speed on the bases with three stolen bases.
Known for his strong defensive skills, Molina was part of a notable era in baseball where catchers were expected to be both offensive contributors and defensive stalwarts. His playing style emphasized not only hitting but also the critical role of a catcher in managing pitching staffs and controlling the game from behind the plate. Over his career, Molina earned respect for his work ethic and leadership, making him a valued teammate. His legacy includes not just his individual statistics but also his contributions to the teams he played for, which included the Anaheim Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, and Texas Rangers.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1362 | 4812 | 457 | 1317 | 217 | 6 | 144 | 711 | 3 | 208 | 471 | 0.274 | 0.307 | 0.411 | 0.718 | -5885.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | LAA | AL | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1999 | LAA | AL | 31 | 101 | 8 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0.257 | -291.1 |
| 2000 | LAA | AL | 130 | 473 | 59 | 133 | 20 | 2 | 14 | 71 | 1 | 23 | 33 | 0.281 | -664.1 |
| 2001 | LAA | AL | 96 | 325 | 31 | 85 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 40 | 0 | 16 | 51 | 0.262 | -816.0 |
| 2002 | LAA | AL | 122 | 428 | 34 | 105 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 47 | 0 | 15 | 34 | 0.245 | -1823.5 |
| 2003 | LAA | AL | 119 | 409 | 37 | 115 | 24 | 0 | 14 | 71 | 1 | 13 | 31 | 0.281 | -228.8 |
| 2004 | LAA | AL | 97 | 337 | 36 | 93 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 54 | 0 | 18 | 35 | 0.276 | -446.8 |
| 2005 | LAA | AL | 119 | 410 | 45 | 121 | 17 | 0 | 15 | 69 | 0 | 27 | 41 | 0.295 | 300.6 |
| 2006 | TOR | AL | 117 | 433 | 44 | 123 | 20 | 1 | 19 | 57 | 1 | 19 | 47 | 0.284 | 110.7 |
| 2007 | SFG | NL | 134 | 497 | 38 | 137 | 19 | 1 | 19 | 81 | 0 | 15 | 53 | 0.276 | -493.1 |
| 2008 | SFG | NL | 145 | 530 | 46 | 155 | 33 | 0 | 16 | 95 | 0 | 19 | 38 | 0.292 | 59.6 |
| 2009 | SFG | NL | 132 | 491 | 52 | 130 | 25 | 1 | 20 | 80 | 0 | 13 | 68 | 0.265 | -605.3 |
| 2010 | SFG | NL | 61 | 202 | 17 | 52 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 19 | 0.257 | -394.3 |
| 2010 | TEX | AL | 57 | 175 | 10 | 42 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 0.240 | -394.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 132 | 14 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 0.273 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ALCS | TEX | 5 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0.312 |
| 2010 | ALDS1 | TEX | 4 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.357 |
| 2010 | WS | TEX | 4 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.182 |
| 2005 | ALCS | LAA | 5 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.118 |
| 2005 | ALDS2 | LAA | 5 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.444 |
| 2004 | ALDS1 | ANA | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.167 |
| 2002 | ALCS | ANA | 5 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.214 |
| 2002 | ALDS1 | ANA | 4 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.267 |
| 2002 | WS | ANA | 7 | 21 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0.286 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1285 | 1234 | 8122 | 659 | 52 | 70 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | ANA | C | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | ANA | C | 30 | 30 | 192 | 19 | 2 | 2 |
| 2000 | ANA | C | 127 | 123 | 683 | 61 | 7 | 9 |
| 2001 | ANA | C | 94 | 89 | 527 | 36 | 5 | 4 |
| 2002 | ANA | C | 121 | 114 | 707 | 60 | 1 | 6 |
| 2003 | ANA | C | 117 | 109 | 672 | 63 | 5 | 10 |
| 2004 | ANA | C | 89 | 89 | 597 | 56 | 3 | 5 |
| 2005 | LAA | C | 105 | 100 | 641 | 47 | 3 | 5 |
| 2006 | TOR | C | 99 | 98 | 614 | 48 | 2 | 6 |
| 2007 | SFN | C | 129 | 125 | 808 | 61 | 8 | 4 |
| 2008 | SFN | C | 136 | 132 | 987 | 71 | 5 | 6 |
| 2009 | SFN | C | 123 | 120 | 942 | 77 | 5 | 8 |
| 2010 | SFN | C | 58 | 55 | 396 | 36 | 1 | 4 |
| 2010 | TEX | C | 55 | 50 | 355 | 24 | 5 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1285 |
| Designated Hitter | 39 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Player of the Week | Week of 2010-07-18 |
| 2008 | Player of the Week | Week of 2008-05-24 |
| 2003 | Gold Glove | C |
| 2002 | Gold Glove | C |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | SFN | NL | $4,500,000 |
| 2009 | SFN | NL | $6,500,000 |
| 2008 | SFN | NL | $6,250,000 |
| 2007 | SFN | NL | $4,000,000 |
| 2006 | TOR | AL | $4,500,000 |
| 2005 | LAA | AL | $3,000,000 |
| 2004 | ANA | AL | $2,025,000 |
| 2003 | ANA | AL | $1,425,000 |
| 2002 | ANA | AL | $350,000 |
| 2001 | ANA | AL | $350,000 |
| 2000 | ANA | AL | $210,000 |
| 1999 | ANA | AL | $200,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $33,310,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Western College | Yuma | AZ | 1991, 1992 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 4th | 3.0 | 140 | 0 |