DALLAS, Texas -- Cuauhtemoc "Chito" Rodriguez, one of the most dedicated and respected baseball executives in Mexico, was named the "2011 King of Baseball" Thursday night at the annual Baseball Winter Meetings™ Banquet. The "King of Baseball" is a long-standing tradition in which Minor League Baseball salutes a veteran from the professional baseball world for long-time dedication and service.

For the last 16 years, Rodriguez has served as the president of the Quintana Roo Tigres. His recruitment and development of players has resulted in five league championships, including one in 2011.

Prior to his current role, Rodriguez helped create a club in Nuevo Laredo in 1975, working for it for almost two decades. He served as the club's general manager for five years and then as its vice president for the next 14. His teams made the playoffs 15 times and appeared in five Final Series, winning Mexican League Championships in 1977 and in 1989.

Rodriguez served as the chairman of the Board of the Mexican League for two straight terms, the maximum tenure allowed by the circuit. He has also been a member of the Mexican National Baseball Team committee since 2003.

Rodriguez is currently serving his second term as the Mexican League's representative on the Minor League Baseball Board of Trustees.