He was the biggest-boned kid in the 16-member Pedroia clan. At age 14, Rudy was downright husky as Pedroias went, graced with good looks and a sturdy physical stature freshly bestowed upon him by puberty. But in the harsh glare of the stadium klieg lights, he weighed only 87 pounds fully dressed in pads and gear, and a California health insurance<\/a> agent triumphantly emerged as the family\u2019s hero.<\/p>\n Bakersfield\u2019s Rudy Pedroia was a born athlete. At age ten, his father, Randy, first spied his son\u2019s potential. When the kid pranced barefoot in the summer heat, \u201cMy boy has an athlete\u2019s foot,\u201d he casually remarked. He was the biggest-boned kid in the 16-member Pedroia clan. At age 14, Rudy was downright husky as Pedroias went, graced with good looks and a sturdy physical stature freshly bestowed upon him by puberty. But in the harsh glare…<\/span><\/p>\n
\nRudy practiced. He knew every play. Fleet of athlete\u2019s foot, the day came when he made the varsity squad. A freshman, the Pedroia\u2019s little star sat on the bench on that fateful night. His wise parents had purchased a child\u2019s individual plan for their son, just in case. Rudy (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"