JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Aurelio Rodriguez, one of the finest fielding third basemen of his era, was killed today when he was hit by a car in Detroit. He was 52.

The slick-fielding Rodriguez was so good with the glove that he spent 17 seasons in the major leagues despite a career batting average of .237 with virtually no power.

Rodriguez served as the Detroit Tigers' starting third baseman between 1971-1976. He broke in with the California Angels in 1967 and spent four years with the club before being traded to the Washington Senators during the 1970 campaign.

After leaving Detroit in 1979, Rodriguez played a season with the San Diego Padres and two with the New York Yankees.

He spent the 1982-83 campaigns with the Chicago White Sox before closing his career with Baltimore.

"Aurelio was a class act and one of the nicest fellows," Arizona manager Buck Showalter said. "One of the most respected players ever to come out of Mexico."

Rodriguez's best season came in 1970, when he hit .249 with 19 homers and 83 RBI. He won a Gold Glove Award in 1976 but was forced to compete with Brooks Robinson, who won the award 16 straight seasons.

Rodriguez participated in the playoffs with Detroit in 1971 and with the Yankees in 1981. For New York, he batted .417 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

Still the Tigers' single-season leader in fielding percentage at third base, Rodriguez was involved in one of the biggest trades in Detroit history. On October 9, 1970, Rodriguez, Eddie Brinkman, Joe Coleman and Jim Hannan were acquired from the Senators for 30-game winner Denny McLain, Don Wert, Norm McRae and Elliot Maddox.